Bruges: Where to Stay, What to Eat & What to Do

Bruges, or if ya nasty and write it like the locals: Brugge, is an astonishingly beautiful medieval town in Belgium. Quaint cobble streets, stone-built houses and shops and, at the time of my visit, in late June, streets in bloom with an array of flowers. Spoiler alert: Bruges is a romantic city. My reason for visiting was a work trip, but thanks to a little ingenuity and bargain flights, I was able to turn it into a romantic getaway with my partner. Here's a quick snapshot of Bruges, Belgium: Where to Stay, What to Eat and What to Do.

Sleep Somewhere Lovely

Perks of a fully-comp'd work trip? Luxurious and indulgent hotel stay without the pricey hotel bill! We stayed in the stunning Hotel Dukes' Palace. On arrival, as our Uber rolled us over the cobbled streets and up to the courtyard, I noticed the hotel's spire and immediately felt like Belle checking out her new digs. This slice of luxury is like living in a Disney fairy tale, complete with champagne breakfast and an entirely unique treat: slabs of Belgian milk, white and dark chocolate that you could carve yourself to have alongside your croissants and pastries. Or in lieu of, with your breakfast mimosa. Height. Of. Decadence. When I wasn't gorging myself on the posh breakfast, I spent some time in the hotel garden, reading my book, sipping rosé and eating those delicious croquettes. 

Eat with a View

Bruges is a secret foodie town! Okay, maybe it's not a secret, but I wasn't expecting it! Along with its picturesque cobble streets, the food scene produces truly stunning platescapes, so eating with a view is a delicious double entendre. When I find something I like — restaurant, dish, cute little cafe — I make a point of visiting again in the space of a trip. Even on a short trip, I don't consider it a waste: if something is good enough to send me back for seconds, I think it's worth it! The place I just couldn't get enough of on this trip was Restaurant Julien, in my hotel! On the left we have a beef carpaccio with truffle (which I had on two separate occasions!) and on the right a luscious crème brûlée. Our dinner bill came to €318 for two, although €118 of that was drinks, including a €110 bottle of Whispering Angel.

It's not all rich, indulgent dinners in Bruges. We had a lovely bit of brunch at super popular That's Toast, a brunch restaurant specialising in all-day breakfast bread-based dishes. It's walk-ins only, which means you might end up queuing on the weekend or a particularly busy day, but it's worth the wait. Also, try the drinks! I had a delicious lemonade! 

Go Underground for a Beer

First thing to note? How ridiculously happy my love is with a flight of beers! Beer isn't usually my thing, but a visit to Le Trappiste was top of this one's list and there was no way I could disappoint him by refusing! So off we went, descending the stone steps into the vaulted cathedral of hops. Le Trappiste is a specialist beer bar in an 800-year-old medieval cellar. Hands down, the coolest (temperature-wise and The Fonz-wise) place I've ever choked down a beer! The cellar originally stored barrels made by the coopers who worked in this part of medieval Bruges; it was later sealed and forgotten before being rediscovered during demolition work in 1973. Pretty nifty, yes? And that little snifter I'm holding in the title photo of this post? That's a taster of Cherry Chouffe, an 8% cherry beer that made the whole foray into the depths of the cellar worthwhile for me.

Wander Without an Itinerary

While I spent my days in a conference centre, my love ventured about, taking in the sights and getting to know Bruges much better than I was able to. He made it to the top of the Belfry of Bruges, climbing all 366 steps to visit one of the iconic locations from In Bruges. He loved it; we'll have to take his word for it. My city exploration was a bit more relaxed. As the sun set, we wandered the twisty streets, peering in shops, snaffling cones of fries with mushroom sauce and ending each night with a decadent Belgian waffle. If independent shops are your thing: come to Bruges. The place is rampant with independent fashion boutiques! 

Would I Go Back?

Yes! Bruges was my first visit to Belgium and I am itching to visit again! On a repeat trip, I'd like to spend more time in the square (check out this Instagram carousel for a video of the square) and maybe visit a gallery or a museum and make my way back to the Dukes' for that crazily indulgent breakfast and these stunning views.

Oh, before you go, I should say: the reviews and places visited on this trip were 100% organically what we decided to do. At no point was I invited to visit, offered anything in exchange for name-dropping locations or paid to promote any establishment or place mentioned. 

Bruges Nibbles

When: June 2025
Where: Historic Centre, Bruges
Stayed: Hotel Dukes' Palace
Best meal: Restaurant Julien - Beef Carpaccio with Truffle
Don't miss: Ending every night with a Belgian waffle à la mode from Oyya
Perfect for: A city break or a boujee work trip

Sicily: Where to Stay, What to Eat & What to Do

Sicily, a small island off the coast of Italy with a big attitude and bigger reputation. Known for its ties to film and TV, from The Godfather to the more modern White Lotus, Sicily is a must-visit destination. Whether you're a culture vulture, crazy for Italian cuisine, or just want to bask in the sun and sea, pop Sicily top of your list. Here's a snapshot of where to stay, what to eat and what to do on a short Sicilian break. 

Sleep Somewhere Lovely

First up, you'll need somewhere lush to get your beauty rest. Like most destinations, Sicily has a great mix of budget-friendly to break-the-bank accommodation made for splurging. We stayed just outside Taormina in Giardini Naxos at the beautiful boutique Hotel Villa Daphne. We stayed in May just before high season kicked off and had the best of both worlds: cooler mornings perfect for breakfasting on the patio and balmy afternoons where we lounged beside the pool, ordering caipirinhas and toasted sarnies.

Eat with a View

When it comes to restaurants with a view, you'll be spoiled for choice in Sicily, but our favourite restaurant has to be La Cambusa on the beach in Giardini Naxos. We visited on two separate occasions, choosing to stroll to the restaurant in the mild evenings. Though it was always busy with customers, booking in the off-season wasn't necessary. I imagine you'd not get away with just turning up without a reservation at the height of summer, so bear this in mind when you visit. 

From delicious and filling pasta dishes to fresh seafood offerings, the menu offered an incredible range of options. The staff were attentive and friendly and nothing was ever any trouble. On our second visit, they even recognised us and made us feel right at home. 

Make Your Own Cannoli

We wanted a fun and unusual activity to break up the sightseeing (which was fabulous). Our hotel concierge helped us book onto a cannoli making class in Porta Messina, Taormina and we had a fantastic time. Our small group was given a demonstration by chef Stefano and then it was our turn to make cannoli and the filling. It was a great way to spend half the day: cultural and we left with yummy treats to take back to the hotel. 

Get Out on the Water

The best way to view Sicily is from a boat, hands down. We took an evening dolphin spotting tour and spent a couple of hours chasing dolphins in the Ionian Sea. It was also my birthday, so the captain, crew and everyone on board sang happy birthday to me and shared pizza and a couple bottles of Prosecco! Dolphin-spotting on your birthday? 10/10 recommend. Want to hear a lovely group of strangers singing happy birthday to me? Check out this Instagram carousel.

Pay Your Respects to The Godfather

Okay, confession time. Since I was a little girl, The Godfather has been one of my favourite film franchises. When my partner suggested Sicily for my birthday, the first thing I did was a Google deep dive to find out everything I could about The Godfather. We went on a day tour, visiting movie locations, learning secrets from the film, all guided by someone related to one of the original cast members. The tour takes you on some white knuckle switchback lanes where you feel you're precariously dangling on the edge of Sicily itself! All fans of the movie must go. Highlights of the tour included: Vitelli's Bar (where we met an actual Vitelli family member) and the church where Michael Corleone and Apollonia got married.

Wander Without an Itinerary

As much as I love doing a bit of research before a trip, I always leave time to wander and discover my destination without an itinerary. Our wandering took us through Taormina where we spotted some lovely street art, had the most incredible sandwich worth the 20-minute queue at La Focaccia and visited the Ancient Theatre of Taormina. 

Would I Go Back?

Yes, 100%. Before this trip, I'd only ever visited Milan on mainland Italy. Sicily's vibes felt different from mainland Italy. I'm a sucker for island life and breathtaking scenery and Sicily delivered on all fronts. Also, I want to say I wasn't gifted any element of this trip. No one asked me to review their establishment or include them on this blog. This trip is 100% authentic and is a snapshot of what we organically experienced, where we actually ate and stayed and what we did. 

Sicily Nibbles

When: May 2025
Where: Giardini Naxos, Sicily
Stayed: Hotel Villa Daphne
Best meal: La Cambusa
Don't miss: A dolphin boat tour
Perfect for: A birthday escape or a long weekend for two