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Hand holding croissant up with bite on street in front of a bakery in Paris

A Paris Chef Shares How to Find the Best Pastries in Town (& Avoid Tourist Traps)

After an afternoon of sightseeing around the butte Montmartre, a nibble or two of French pastry is well-deserved.  Rather than settling into an anonymous café on the rue des Abbesses, head west until the street narrows and forks. Tucked away just off the main drag, La Bossue awaits. Known for its generous brunch, cozy vintage atmosphere, […]

The Inudeak eta Artzaiak parade is one of our favorite festivals in San Sebastian.

How to Enjoy San Sebastian in February

This blog post was originally posted on January 9, 2019 and was updated on January 15, 2020.  The weather may be cold, but with so much going on in San Sebastian in February, you’ll hardly notice the chilly temperatures. After all, you’ll be busy getting immersed in authentic cultural events, spending quality time with your special […]

One of our favorite Saint-Germain-des-Prés restaurants is actually a cafe serving excellent coffee and pastries.

The 7 Best Places for Coffee in Paris + Essential Coffee Vocab

In Paris, cafe culture runs deep.  Coffee culture, well—as others have reported, it’s still developing.  For many years, the only available coffee options in Paris were very average, at best. This is for a number of reasons, among them strict regulations for opening new cafes, France’s history of colonialism, and general lack of innovation in […]

Not sure how to order coffee in French? A tip: refer to how "tight," or "serré," you want your coffee, not how "strong."

How to Order Coffee in French Like You Know What You’re Doing

It seems like an easy task: ordering a coffee. But as with many things in France, there’s a right and a wrong way.  French coffee culture is guided by a number of spoken and unspoken rules. There’s the somewhat confusing nomenclature, unique coffee shop dynamics and a strong tendency toward over-caffeination.  As a visitor to […]

Rome's Ponte Milvio district is home to some of the best food, coffee, and wine in town.

Rome Then & Now: Cafes

When you think of Italy, we bet you think of pizza, pasta and coffee. But let’s focus on the third thing for now. There’s a good reason why Italy is synonymous with charming sidewalk cafes and flavorful coffee—in fact, it would practically be a sin to come here and not indulge in an espresso, cappuccino […]

Practice responsible travel in Rome to help preserve the city's history.

10 Ways to Know You’re Completely Obsessed with Rome

Roma. Caput Mundi. Romanitas. Modern day Romanitas requires and reflects the same kind of virtues that Romans valued a few thousand years ago, and we’re guessing you’ve made them a part of your life, too. You probably find yourself having to explain to your less Rome-obsessed pals what it means to be Roman. Things like […]