Live music streaming, virtual tip jars, home cooked meals to-go, and bar madness – how the restaurant industry in Baltimore is handling the recent crisis and what to do if you want to support local!

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It’s been a mere 16 days since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the recent Coronavirus as a global pandemic. It’s shifted lives, businesses and general daily practices to a new level of ‘normal.’ As much as I like to joke and use more informal lingo on my page, it’s serious business when we consider that vast majority of our U.S. and global population awaits puzzled as news and updates are provided on an ad hoc basis.

Those that know me personally, know my hubby owns and operates a local bar & restaurant in the historic Federal Hill neighborhood of Baltimore, MD. It’s been a tough learning experience for us, and equally as tough, if not even more impactful for our fellow hospitality friends. 

I encourage those reading to do what you can to support those striving to maintain an income – whether it be via moral support [ [ check in on those you love! ] ] , or financially if your situation allows.

In this entry, I’m providing a number of fun and creative ways you can support local!

  1. Live Music Streaming

Musicians alike, have been severely impacted by government mandates to suppressed gathering, closed bars and restaurants, postponed weddings, and the like. In response, and frankly not a surprise from these innovative folks, a number have launched live music streaming initiatives to not only engage with their fans, but also provide a positive and uplifting activity for those being responsible and bunkering down in their homes.

TONIGHT, I’m plugging my all-time favorite: Chris Diller. Catch his live stream on Facebook at 9PM sharp by clicking on his profile!

2. Virtual Tip Jars

Shout out to local cocktail enthusiast, bartender and DJ pioneer herself, Abby Hopper, who led the charge in setting up the Baltimore Tip Jar for enabling patrons to continue support of their favorite bartenders! You can access a full listing of Venmo handles for individuals employed by the hospitality industry that have been impacted by the recent economic change. Various campaign initiatives have been circulating – from dedicating (2) tips a day to (2) random bar staff on the list, to a variety of other ideas and cadences.

3. Home Cooked Meals & Drinks To-Go

If there’s anything learned through the transition of working from an office to home atmospheres, it’s that it’s been [ [  T O U G H  ] ] to keep up with the expectation of providing dinner and general meal prep with no breaks in what’s now non-stop home life. In response, a number of restaurants have stepped up to provide more creative means of their offerings to go for continued enjoyment at home:

– Blue Agave Baltimore:

Is offering their famous house and spicy guavarita mixes! You can stop by their location at 1032 Light Street and pick up your favorite. The house sour mix is just $10 for a 28 oz size that makes about (7) margaritas. The spicy guavarita ( ( my favorite! ) ) also comes in the 28 oz size, and includes tequila for just $35! UMMM… YUM!! And, you’re welcome for this Friday celebration tidbit!

– Don’t Know Tavern:

Let’s be honest – working from home, PLUS grocery shopping, PLUS meal prepping/planning, PLUS cleaning the house, PLUS dog walking, PLUS homeschooling kids that have been suspended for yet another month before returning to school… can be ROUGH. Don’t Know Tavern is offering a different pre-prepared platter daily on special that serves 2-4 for just $20! Just pop it in the oven for 15-20. While demand fluctuates, availability is driven by preorder/demand, so be sure to call to reserve yours in advance!

4. New Swag!

HUGE shout out to Matt Berry, who has helped SO many local businesses advertise NEW t-shirts via the Baltimore Neighbors page. You can find a slew of bars/restaurants to support including:

NOTE: For every t-shirt purchased, Matt is generously donating $10 BACK to that business throughout the shutdown!

5. Bar Madness

First off, let me give the biggest shout out of this entire post to @bmorebetches, who over the past few days, have quite nearly, [ [ shut. down. instagram. ] ] They’ve owned the social media game in the Federal Hill, Fells Point, Canton, and other surrounding neighborhood network – some comments reigning in from across the country! All orchestrated by their setting up a March Madness-like bracket of 16 local bars and basing round advancements off of tagged business comments!
Have you been following your favorite bar through the brackets?! If you’re looking for a little fun & local competition, tune into their page to see who ‘takes all/wins all’ in their ‘BAR MADNESS’ competition here. Next up: the final championship round!

P.S. Throw in a vote for Don’t Know Tavern if you can, haha 😉

Anddddddd, that’s a wrap! I’ll be sure to monitor and post new ideas and ways to support in the coming weeks.

Talk soon!
xoxo
Brittany

How Do You Spell, “Love?”

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Piglet: How do you spell “love” Pooh? 
Pooh: You don’t spell it, you feel it. 

💕💕💕 

Happy Valentines Day, y’all!!

Whether you’re spending the day loving your partner, significant other, family, girlfriends, or the most important – your true, real, unique, amazing & incredible dang self!

Enjoy it – smile, eat, dance, sing. Let all that you do be in love.

Eat that cookie.

Drink the rosé.

Snack on that chocolate.

Throw your sparkle everywhere.

photography by: Rachael Serra Photography

And most of all, do what makes YOU happy today – celebrate love in all the forms it comes. But, know one of the most valuable actions you can do today is to make someone else feel loved too. After all, love is simply a word until someone brings it to life and gives it meaning! You can put a price on the power of love.

❤

 PSSSST…. You can instantly shop my looks by following me on the LIKEtoKNOW.it shopping app http://liketk.it/2KkRP @liketoknow.it, or visiting my SHOP page!

Talk soon!
xoxox
Brittany

Black on Black on Black … Leather!

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Happy Saturday, folks! With Valentine’s less than a week away, it’s still not too late you get your outfit details on point! I put together this sassy & sultry combo that is super fitting for your plans next weekend (or any weekend rendezvous 😜) – whether with your special someone or with your favorite gals! And, who doesn’t love a quality, statement leather jacket?! My top is a ridiculously soft velvet, with cold shoulder style sleeves and plummeting deep-v in the front from Yumi Kim.

Now… JEANS! Ive tried possibly hundreds upon hundreds of jeans at varying price points and my preference never falters. These jeans are from my all time favorite, and often surprise to others – American Eagle! The fit, length (I typically actually buy the short!) overall comfort (appreciate pants I can actually move and confidently bend over in 🤣) and price point have yet to be beat in my book.

And lastly, all outfits need that signature piece that makes an ensemble – this flipping amazing faux leather studded jacket find !!! Made by Pistola, I thought this cropped moto jacket totallyyyyy made the look. There’s a cute little accent belt to it too that I used when it was zippered up. TBH – I felt somewhere between fashion icon and bad to the bone motorcycle babe, haha!

I received a TON of compliments on this one – snag it while you can!!

photography by: Rachael Serra Photography

Talk soon!
xoxox
Brittany

🌹❤️💖💗💕💫✨

‘‘Tis the Month of Love

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Are you counting down the days?! Only 8 days remain until Cupid’s renowned holiday: Valentine’s Day!

Now the REAL question… what. to. wear.

Whether going out to dinner or looking for a cute option to wear into the office, I found this super cozy and soft, monogrammed heart pullover from a fun company I love – I Love Jewelry, (no joke – that’s actually the name!) that I have a “Monthly Monobox” subscription to.

I’m a B-I-G fan of anything monogrammed. Heck, I would put it on my car if I could!! LOL, well… maybe not my CAR, but practicallyyyy anything else I own. I have pajamas, scarves, hats, gloves, boots, you name it – ALL from I Love Jewelry. Their items are adorable and quality! I first subscribed to their Monobox when it was released a little over two years ago and still own majority of the items! Their “Monobox Subscription” option is only $22 and each month, you get one monogrammed item + TWO coordinating goodies!
BUT – if you visit their subscription page, you’ll find a few other super fun options if you’re not quite ready to commit to the monthly monogram overload, haha!

While it’s a little late to subscribe for the February box (spoiler alert: I got this in mine!), you can still snag this festive heart patterned pullover for just $28 in time for V-Day 💖💗💕

P.S. for those less thrilled about the personalization, you can also totally opt-out of the monogramming for the shirt and get it without the customization too 🙌🏼👍🏼💖

In the coming days, I have a more sultry outfit combo for the later evening date night and single ladies! 😉

Stay tuned!

Talk soon,
xoxox
Brittany

Did Someone Say … OVERALLS?!

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photography by: Rachael Serra Photography

With Super Bowl on the horizon and top of mind, and I would be lying if I didn’t say I was a little… well… let’s say… DEVASTATED that our beloved Baltimore Ravens aren’t in the running, as anyone who knows me, knows I #BleedPurple 😉

All things aside, Super Bowl means my five FAVORITE “F” words: friends, fun, football, food and … FASHION! Okay, so maybe I added that last one, but you’re not showing up to your friend’s super bowl party naked … am I right? (Let’s hope so, but who am I to judge?)

Between the cooking, beyond the commercials, amongst the beer, wine and cocktails, I’m always on the hunt for a cute and cozy outfit for casually hanging and cheering.

This outfit is by far one of my favorite combos to date and totally makes me feel like I’m screaming ‘fall football’ all day day long! Plus, I’m a sucker for a stylish pair of overalls!

Personally, I’m a little short for these overalls in particular (I’m 5’4″), so I added these comfy blush pink sneaker wedges and the length was absolutely perfect.

Visit my SHOP page to get direct links to all these awesome finds via my LIKEtoKNOWit!

P.S. are flares still a thing? I’m totally feeling them… let me know your thoughts and if you would rock this outfit!

Talk soon!
xoxox
Brittany

#TruthTuesday: Stay Close to the People Who Make You Feel Like Sunshine

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WEEK 2 of keeping up with my weekly cadence of sharing some sort of truth about myself/my thoughts each week! Hoping some of y’all follow, read or comment along the way ☺️🌸🙏🏼

So, here we go!

This statement couldn’t be truer. There are days when all is right with the world – the sun? Shining bright! The warm breeze? Softly blowing! (Not the kind where your hair is out of control though, the kind when it’s photo shoot worthy) Your skin? Glistening! Your hair? On point! Everything seems to be going exactly your way!

And, then … well, THEN there are the other days. The days you just can’t seem to catch a break. The days when traffic jams last forever, the days when you step head-first into the ONLY rain puddle, the days when you realize the meeting you thought you had time to prepare for tomorrow is actually in 20 minutes, the days when you get a ticket for the yellow/red light you ran, the days when you forgot it’s pajama day at school for your kids and they’re the only ones in normal clothes …

These are the days you need them most – the people that make you feel like sunshine. Too often in my life did I try to keep friendships, relationships, career moves, and the like that, quite frankly, weren’t the best or always the healthiest for me. But, I couldn’t see it. I always wanted to be everything, to everyone, all the time – even those who didn’t encourage or support me to be the greatest version of myself in return.

Whether you think it or not right now, it’s true – everyone needs a littleeeee bit of sunshine. When you surround yourself with those who support you, care about your success and thrive when you thrive, those are the keepers! It’s simple really – a day without sunshine is, you know, night 🤪. Stay close to them. Support them. Love them. Encourage them like they have you. And most importantly, remember to spread the sunshine – it makes the world go round ☀️😎💖💗💕🌎✨💫

You Betta Belize It! Check Out Cheery & Charming’s Must See Spots (+ What You Need to Know) if You’re Considering A Visit to Ambergris Caye’s Great Barrier Reef!

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This past New Year’s Eve, we decided to celebrate a little ‘less’ traditionally: we planned a trip to Ambergris Caye, Belize!!

Some of you may know this trip was our second time visiting Belize; our first adventure being on our honeymoon! Throughout our first visit, we realized quickly we loved the country, the scenery, the water, and especially the people and culture so much so that we simply couldn’t get enough. We knew we wanted (and needed) to go back and, after this most recent trip, we still haven’t gotten our fill!

If you’re looking for a new spot to add to your travel bucket list, please do yourself the favor in adding this gorgeous destination to your vision board. While it’s relatively affordable and easier to get to than other exotic options, there are a few tips and pieces of advice I’m sharing here to get the smoothest experience out of your travel, and start building your list of MUST sees!!

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

  1. Southwest flies here! This makes booking travel super easy and fairly affordable to most. Even better – get yourself a Southwest credit card! I was able to hook us up with free flights using points from my everyday purchases. While I haven’t been able to find a direct flight via any airline just yet, most layovers are a mere hour or so.
  2. Arriving Checklist:
    – You’ll fly into the mainland (BZE airport). From there, you will have needed to arrange travel in advance for getting from the mainland to the island, Mon! Options are by air or by sea.
    OPTION 1: There’s a water ferry that transports guests to the island for about $40-$50/way, but PSA: it does take a little over 2 hours from point A to point B, not including the time it takes to get to the boat port from the airport.
    OPTION 2: Personally, our preference is to save a few extra pennies and splurge for the puddle jumper plane to and from San Pedro. Thankfully, there are only (2) airline options, so it makes your decision easy between Tropic Air & Maya Island Air. While this option is a tad more expensive alternative, est. $170/pp/way, you’re there in only 20 minutes, and you get to see the gorgeous clearwater views on your final stretch.

    – Once you’ve landed on the island, there isn’t much, if any, public transit available. You will want to pre-schedule some variation of pickup of yourself and your luggage with your resort/staying accommodations from the San Pedro airport.

    FUN FACT: There are little to no cars on the island! The most common method of transportation is via gas-powered golf carts, which you’ll want to be sure you reserve in advance for getting around town/around the island. Last visit, we used Sam’s Golf Cart Rentals and couldn’t have had a better experience! They even were super flexible with us in extending our golf cart rental at the last second for a few additional days. 🙂

YOU’VE ARRIVED! …. now what?

While everyone has different vacation agendas, here’s a list of my favorite spots compiled from both visits! While there’s still a ton to see on this little gem of an island, I sure my list barely even scratches the surface in regards to unique finds 😉
I hope to be able to update and/or add a new entry the next time we make it back. The island is full of new business development, so there’s always new shops and concepts emerging as well as restaurants popping up. If you happen to stumble on a favorite or two, please comment at the bottom of this article so I can keep adding to my “MUST-see list” !!

  1. Estel’s Dine By the Sea
    THE breakfast spot in Ambergris Caye! It’s downtown on Front Street/right on the beach front. You’ll want to arrive early, or earlier than starvation mode as this spot is always packed, but the food is 100% worth the wait!
  1. Crocs Sunset Sports Bar
    In town during football season? This is the coolest spot to post up for any sports game watching on the island. If you’re sweet to the staff, they’ll ensure the game you’re there to watch is streamed on the nearest TV to your seat 😉 PLUS – don’t miss the stunning views of the lagoon side of the island at sunset!
  2. Matachica – Mambo Restaurant
    Incredible dinner spot on the Matachica Resort! While it’s a little further out from town – think 20 minutes or so of golf cart riding, it’s worth the hike. You may want to head this direction before the sun sets though, as this restaurant is well past where the more formal road paving ends and there’s limited lighted streets.
    You can’t go wrong with the menu! It’s MUCH larger and filled with more seafood options when you arrive in person versus what’s noted on their site. We enjoyed the authentic Italian bruschetta, tenderloin carpaccio, calamari fritti, and spicy gazpacho from the app section! I don’t see the fresh seafood entrees we went with on here, but everything we had was mouth watering.
  3. Secret Beach – Maruba Beach Klub
    We actually missed going to this spot the first time we made it to Ambergris Caye and man was I bummed once we did made it!! It’s quite a drive (about 4 mi north of the downtown bridge, and then west another 3.5 mi), but a really unique area filled with restaurants, beach chairs, bars, massage and pedicure options – IN THE WATER! (does it get any better than that?!), colorful swings, local shops and more.
    P.S. While it’s called ‘secret beach,’ it’s far from a secret anymore, as it’s likely one of the most touristy spots on the island, but totally worth the visit 😉
    Maruba Beach Klub was my favorite place we saw with great service, yummy drinks, tasty food, and comfy adjustable lounge chairs for posting up in right on the water . Although we really wanted to make it back a second day to explore the other spots!!
  1. Rain Rooftop Restaurant
    Beautiful view! We spent our New Year’s Eve dinner here, before heading down town and enjoyed the vibrant decor, live music and friendly staff. Also a really great location, as part of The Grand Caribe Resort – you don’t have to go far!
  1. PUR Boutique Cabanas & Taco Bar
    Loved this little gem! Really great tacos! PUR Boutique Cabanas is new since we last had been to Ambergris Caye. A cozy & tranquil spot just south of The Grand Caribe resort, this boutique hotel is adorned with 6 queen & king suites – some even with their own private plunge pools!
    While we didn’t stay here (maybe next time!), we enjoyed dinner al fresco adjacent the multicolor LED lit pool. They had both vegan, low-card and gluten free options available!
  1. Carambo Restaurant & Bar
    THIS. PLACE. WAS. THE. BOMB. !!!
    We had no idea what we were getting into at Carambo. We stumbled on this as a local recommendation by one of the bartenders we befriended at Crocs Sunset Bar and it absolutely was NOT one to miss.

    The decor and family heritage made me feel similarly to if I had stepped into an island version of the legacy Tio Pepe Baltimore restaurant. After being greeted by our server, we were prompted escorted outside – yes, outside – to pick out our dinner!

    Lining the front of the restaurant was an open, market-like spread of all the fresh caught seafood you could imagine: lobster tail, shrimp, red snapper, yellow snapper, scallops… enough to make your stomach full just by looking at the spread!! How to order you ask? By simply walking with your server down the line to hand pick exactly what you’d like prepared on your plate to perfection!
    Seriously one of the coolest spots we’ve found to date on the island!!
  2. Palapa Bar
    Into night life? Palapa bar is a fun, happening spot in the center of downtown in you’re looking for a little post-sunset fun! While most places tend to wind down earlier on the island (think 9-10PM), this is a great option for keeping the fun going. There’s typically a live DJ every night and a lively crowd. If you visit during the day, they have inner tubes tied by the dock that you can float on in the crystal clear water while you enjoy your snacks and bevvies 🙂
    PPSSSTT… there’s also a buy 1, get one FREE drink coupon on their website!

I think that wraps it up!

Got questions? Reach out to me! I have even more photos over on my instagram and ove connecting with my readers!

Check me out at @brittanyleighxo

Cheers & talk soon!
xoxo
Brittany

Foraging At Its Finest

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I’ll be the first to admit …

I’m not the most ‘adventurous’ eater in town. So, I was a little nervous (but also SUPER excited) to try out Foraged: A Hyper-Seasonal Eatery in Hampden to celebrate our friend’s birthday! And, boy did I have ZERO clue what I was in for…

For ONE, I learned what foraging is! Turns out, Foraging is the act of finding and harvesting wild foods. Some call it “gathering.” It most commonly refers to mushroom hunting – who ever knew there was such a thing? However, I also learned that “mushroom hunting” is something only people practiced in the fine and delicate art of mushroom identification should engage in.

Onto TWO – the restaurant. Everything from the advertised hyper-seasonal apps and entrées to the cozy setting, UBER awesome service, courtesy of Nico Bustos, and secret dinosaur decor search (can you find them all?! 🦖🦕) was absolutely incredible. I’m not the best at food photography, so most definitely not going to even attempt in that arena, but earmarking this as a place for all to check out for sure!!!

🍄

P.S. check out that handsome crew – HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATT !!!

What are your secret restaurant spot recos?!
Talk soon!

xoxo
Brittany

The Best InfuZed Bottle You’ll Ever Buy

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Recently, I was surprised & delighted to win the pre-launch/kick off contest held by The Infuzed Bottle and I couldn’t’ have been more thrilled! (Lizzie was pretty intrigued as well 🙂 )

I’ve had on my radar to check these little ‘infuser’ guys out, read reviews and find the best one for me, but in typical fashion, I kept putting it off. While I’m not much of an adventurer of anything outside of drinking water, I do love to mix up my water – from a fizzy sparkling water to a variety of fruit infused water blends. Having these combination options helps me to not get bored of my water, while keeping up my hydration consumption!

Today, I’m sharing my review of The Infuzed Bottle and why you should or why you shouldn’t invest in one.

It’s So Pretty!

How could you NOT want to strut around the office, the gym, your daily errands, etc. without this little beauty in your hands? From day one when I started using the chic, gold topped, fashionable glass bottle, E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E I saw wanted to know where I got it from. It’s a show-stopper!

It’s Easy to Clean! (AND – It’s good for the environment)

With an elegant glass structure, you have to be delicate. BUT – I personally always feel I’m able to get glass clean or sanitized versus plastic. Plastic harbors Bisphenol-A, a chemical known as BPA, which can mimic naturally occurring hormones in the body like estrogens, androgens, and thyroid hormones. A.K.A. TOSS/RECYCLE YOUR PLASTIC BOTTLES FROM YOUR KITCHEN CABINET. As quotes by The Infuzed Bottle, “Friends don’t let friends use plastic!” Exposure to BPA is a concern because it creates possible health effects on the brain, can have a direct correlation to high blood pressure, as well as health effects related to behavior and prostate glands. Yikes!

For Infuzed Bottle, you can get it sparkling clean by simply hand washing your bottle in warm soapy water. AND – know you’re being socially responsible!

It’s Easy to Keep Tabs on Your Hydration!

The Infuzed bottle holds 500 ML of water, equivalent to approximately 17 fluid Oz, so if you’re one to aim for the ideal of eight 8-once glasses of water in a day, you only need four full helpings to exceed your goal.

It’s Healthy!

I know what you’re thinking … of course it’s healthy, Brittany, it’s W-A-T-E-R for goodness sake! But, I mean even more than that – Don’t fall for flavored waters, vitamin waters, etc. that can be filled with artificial sugars and sweeteners! Maintain your nutrients and vitamins by using FRESH fruits and veggies. PLUS – they’re a great snack afterwards J

There are SO Many Ways to Use it!

Not in the mood for cold infuzed water? Try a hot mixture! The Infuzed Bottle has both hot and cold functionality. Don’t worry – whatever you decide to mix it with will get caught in the stainless steel strainer. That means so extra seeds, chunks or tea leaves for you! Not sure where to start? Here’s a few of my favorites combos for you to try:

  1. Strawberry + Cucumber + Mint
  2. Lemon + Lime + Splash of Ginger
  3. Grapefruit + Pineapple
  4. Raspberry + Lemon (tastes like pink lemonade!)

HINT HINT: It’s always best to chop, slice or dice your fruit into bite sized chunks before adding to your Infuzed Bottle. It helps to get the natural juices released and flowing! If you’re adventuring into berries, you can even try muddling them before you add them in for some extra bold flavor!

Still need some convincing? Try it for yourself! They’re on sale for a limited time – just $39! PLUS – if you use code BRIT10 you can get an added 10% OFF!
I promise you that you will fall in love <3 <3

Until next time!

xoxo
Brittany

Cheery & Charming’s Traveler’s Guide: 10 MUST See Places When Visiting San Juan, Puerto Rico

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Well, well, well . . . Puerto Rico – like other islands we’ve had the blessing to visit, was absolutely beautiful. The sunsets were stunning, the food was amazing and the culture of Old San Juan was priceless! I wish we had the time to visit all the reco’s we received before visiting, but with a jam-packed, short four days, I’m posting my personal, favorite finds here:  

1. Serafini Beach Hotel
This spot was absolutely STUNNING. Talk about feeling like you’re on the edge of the ocean – a quaintly designed infinity pool, waves crashing and live jams. I was super bummed to have stumbled here on our last day, as we weren’t able to take full advantage of the amenities, but the staff was warm, welcoming and nice enough to hold onto our luggage while we explored during our last day – even with not having stayed there!

2. Cochina Abierta 
Umm… YUM. That’s all I have to say. Although, to be transparent that it was definitely more on the pricey side of the meal options we had while in San Juan, it was worth it for sure. Wanting to try everything on the menu, the four of us went family style, which also made it feel like we got a lot more ‘bang for our buck.’ They have a seasonal, farm-to-table menu, but in the event you see any repeats, here we the table favs!

– Croquettes filled with porcini mushrooms, truffle oil & tomato chutney
– Octopous causa over a bed of purple potatoes, black olive “crema,” & hibiscus pickled quail egg
– Fresh local catch ceviche seasoned with chiles, cucumber & tropical fruits
– Goat cheese and ortica leaf ravioli over charred tomatoes Passata, parmesean cheese & roasted pine nuts
– And accompaniments Gratin of creamy yucca and cauliflower + Ember roasted veggies

… is your mouth watering yet?!

3. Tacos & Tequila by Patron – inside the Condado Vanderbuilt Hotel
Yet ANOTHER breathtaking spot. This gem, located inside the Condado Vanderbuilt Hotel is another space we stumbled on during our last day that I wish we had more time to enjoy. The views were incredible and they had multiple areas to lounge in the ocean-side, shallow infinity pools & hot tubs.
But, one thing we WERE able to enjoy were the giant margaritas and delicious tacos! I had (2) crispy fish tacos and (1) pork belly taco – some had (3) of all different kinds! It was fun that you can order all three the same, or mix and match what’s on the menu.

4. Alambique Beach Lounge – NEXT DOOR: “For Lifeguards Only”
The day we visited Isla Verde Beach, we were in search of… you guessed it… even MORE tacos! While the Alambique Beach Lounge was hopping, we decided to try the smaller, more intimate spot to the side of it called “For Lifeguards ONLY,” and SO happy we did! In recapping our trip, this place, hands-down, had the BEST fish tacos we had the entire time we were there. The staff made you feel like family as they graciously served you tacos OVERFLOWING with goods and crisped to perfection. Deliciouso!!

5. Piu Bello Gelato & Restaurant
Being a firm believer that you can’t let any vacation go without the local ice cream and/or gelato, Piu Bello was great! We ended up having a great chat with the owner, who coincidentally used to live in Baltimore! What a small world!! Oh, and the gelato was delightful. I mean, who doesn’t like a sprinkle cone?!

6. La Placita de Santurce
Definitely a must see! This is the “party-scene” of San Juan – a full “block-like” plaza square of everything you could imagine having in one spot:
music, dancing, clubs, some food, nightlife, fine dining and casual bars and restaurants alike. While we were there on a Wednesday, it wasn’t quite as “hopping” (which was honestly sort of nice), but it was cool to pop around a number of spots without having to jump back into an uber or cab.

7. Barrachina 
Eeeee! One of my favorites!! Barrachina is most well-known for a traditional Spanish bartender Don Ramon Portas Mingot, who in 1963, created what became one of the world’s most famous drinks: the Piña Colada.  With the reputation of 50 years in the business, they certainly did not disappoint. Look at that beaut!

8. Isla Verde Beach 
While we had a beautiful view and beach where we stayed, at Condado Del Mar, I think everyone agrees that you shouldn’t spend an entire vacation in one spot. SO, this is my top beach pick for the places we were able to make it to during our time in San Juan. There are a number of beach bars, convenient to the beach so you can grab a quick bite to eat, without losing too much beach time. Plus, it’s always fun to immerse yourself in more of the local culture – everyone we encountered here was friendly and welcoming. Then again.. who wouldn’t be on a nice day at the beach? 🙂

9. Fortaleza Street – Old San Juan
A bustling street in Old San Juan full of shops and boutiques! I really can’t place enough emphasis on the true, authentic sense of San Juan’s culture you receive by visiting here. From handmade treasures to uniquely manufactured Puerto Rican finds, there’s an array sights for everyone to see – including my favorite – Fortaleza street, which is lined with parasoles! And, depending on when you visit, they’re always different colors, so no visit is ever the same.

10. Di Zucchero
And, finally… DiZucchero! This was our first night’s dinner adventure and WHAT an adventure it was – CHECK. OUT. THAT. FISH. Located across from the San Juan Condado Mariott, this final “must see” could very well be listed first. The food was incredible, the drinks amazing (they’re know for their fresh squeezed/crushed daiquiris) and our server was the best! It was a great kick off to our trip, and an awesome way to close out this post 🙂

And that’s a WRAP! I hope you enjoyed scrolling through my reco’s and feel compelled to share some of yours!

Until next time…

xoxo
Brittany