Ciao!
I’m Sarah 👋
By trade, I’m an educational consultant. By instinct, I’m a wanderer with a talent for finding the best spritz and the worst cobblestones in any city. I’ve lived in Italy on and off since 2016, bouncing between Venice and New Orleans — two places with more charm than functional infrastructure.
Venice is my husband’s hometown and my daughter’s birthplace. We lived there full-time for six years in a tiny apartment in the heart of San Marco overlooking Ponte de le Ostreghe — the kind of bridge you’ve definitely seen on a travel brochure. From our window, we heard off-key gondolier serenades, clapping tourists, and the occasional marriage proposal float by. Magical? Absolutely. Inconvenient? Often.
Now that we live in the U.S., we return to Italy every summer for a couple of months. And every year, friends (and friends of friends) ask me the same thing: “Where should I eat? Where should I stay? What’s actually worth it?” So I built this site — not to become an influencer or collect brand deals, but to share the places I personally trust, the ones I go back to.
Whether it’s a shoemaker in Puglia whose sandals outlive fashion cycles, or the tavern in Verona with a wine I still dream about, or the Treviso spot that may or may not have invented Tiramisu (jury’s out, but the dessert was excellent), these recommendations are actually really good.
If you're the kind of traveler who prefers what’s genuine over what’s popular, welcome. I hope these tips help you skip the tourist traps and stumble into something better.
The view from our bedroom in this tiny little San Marco apartment ~
Rapid Fire Questions
Spritz or Negroni?
Spritz, obviously — the Aperol kind. I’m not a huge fan of Campari, but occasionally I’ll order a “Bastardo” which is a blend of both. When it’s particularly hot and gross outside, nothing quenches thirst better than a Spritz Bianco: prosessco, sparkling water, ice, and lemon.
The one exception I have is the smoked negroni (“negroni affumicato”) at Blue Drop.
First thing you do when arriving in Venice?
Knowing me, this will be a food response. Based at Venice Lido, I head straight to Salumeria Da Ciano for a smattering of deli meats and some bread to boot. Salame ungherese, prosciutto, fresh mozzarella. Then, I walk across the street to La Bottiglieria di Jaccheo Linda to grab 1 liter of house-made sparkling wine.
Most underrated Italian city?
Verona. Most American friends breeze through it on their way to somewhere else, which is a mistake. It’s walkable, elegant, full of excellent food and wine, and somehow manages to feel like a hidden gem while still having an ancient arena in the middle of town. It’s got all the charm, none of the chaos, and the piazzas aren’t aggressively trying to sell you selfie sticks.
Italian phrase you overuse (or misuse)?
“Ciapa!” It’s Venetian dialect for “Take it!” or “Here you go!” I say it all the time, and it never fails to make the locals who know I’m American crack a smile. Something about hearing it with my accent, I think — or maybe just the unnecessary confidence.
Food hill you’ll die on?
Northern Veneto cuisine doesn’t get nearly enough love. Everyone’s busy chasing cacio e pepe or debating the best pizza in Naples, and meanwhile I’m over here eating gamberi in saor and baccalà mantecato like it’s my last meal. If you've never had creamed codfish on grilled polenta while overlooking a canal, you haven’t experienced Venice.
What’s always in your bag in Italy?
Mosquito spray. Always. Add in the noise of euro coins jingling deep in a corner, a half-finished bottle of hand sanitizer, and a pair of sunglasses — and that’s pretty much my mobile command center. Italians don’t just own sunglasses, they curate them. 😎
Explore My Recs
No fluff, no filters, no sponsored posts — just real travel recommendations from someone who splits her life between Venice and New Orleans. Each guide shares tips for food, stays, and things to do. Divertivi!
