As we near the month of May, this gloomy English weather is not giving way for Spring which we can only hope means a hot summer coming our way. In the meantime, I needed another holiday to look forward to so I got researching into our options for a European get away in mid July.
After considering the South of France as well as other Greek Islands, we settled on the beautiful Island of Santorini. Whilst I’m aware it is a very popular holiday destination and won’t be cheap, Santorini is simply iconic with its white brick towns set against the vivid blue ocean, not to mention it’s incredibly romantic too.
We’ve treated ourselves to a deluxe suite with hot tub and sea views at Cresanto Luxury Suites, just outside of the capital Fira. I can’t wait for sunbathing in our own private paradise and sundowners in the hot tub with those breathtaking views.
It will be a week of pure bliss in stunning sunshine enjoying delicious Greek food and wine whilst soaking up endless sunsets; bring on Euro Summer 24 ❤
Happy Sunday! As quickly as the weekend rolls around, it’s coming to an end before you know it. Saturday evening is date night for us, so we enjoyed a weekend wine down at the local wine bar followed by an Indian for dinner.
At 7pm we headed for sundown drinks at Auriol Wines, a local wine shop in our village which recently expanded into a wine bar; I’m thrilled to finally have a sophisticated wine bar just on our doorstep.
It might be April, but there is still very much a chill in the air so I wrapped up warm for al fresco pre-dinner drinks.
I wore my oversized grey trench coat from Nakd with a pair of dark wash Hollister jeans, a black off the shoulder blouse from Pretty Little Thing, Maroon square toe ASOS boot heels, a Stradivarius check print baker boy hat and my signature print Coach Mira handbag.
With the light spring evening and pretty sunset, we decided to sit out in the cosy huts and stayed warm with the heated fur blankets.
I enjoyed a delicious glass of Sicilian white wine, whilst my boyfriend sampled three different reds with the flight taster.
We walked over the road for our 8pm reservations at the Monsoon Indian restaurant in Hartley Wintney where it was buzzing on a Saturday night. After some popadoms to start as we browsed the menu, I had a vegetable bhuna curry with green salad, whilst my boyfriend had his usual chicken korma with peshwari naan and coconut rice to share.
Sometimes the simplest of date nights are the most wholesome and fun and every once in a while nothing beats indulging in a classic curry at the local Indian. Cheers to the weekend wine down ❤
This weekend I had the pleasure of being invited along with my boyfriend to stay at the De Vere Hotel Cotswold Water Park. Nestled in the heart of 152 lakes that spread across the unique Cotswolds Water Park, its the perfect escape from the city surrounded by the honey-coloured villages and gently rolling hills of The Cotswolds.
Arriving late on Friday afternoon, we were greeted with a bottle of English Sparkling wine and personalised robes in our room.
After a quick dip in the spa pool, we popped the bubbly and enjoyed a drink on our balcony overlooking the serene scenes of the lake.
A quick outfit change and I was ready for 7pm drinks. I wore a pair of white Topshop jeans, a lace peplum Miss Selfridge cami top, Django and Juliette black mules and my velvet green Sandro handbag.
Whilst enjoying our drinks and scrumptious canapés, we were shown around the gorgeous event spaces where we are looking to host an event later this year.
I really liked the main ballroom with exposed brickwork and lovely bright furnishings with a view over the lake.
At 8pm we were treated to a private seated dinner with our group of about 15 other clients. Starter was sharing antipasti boards which is my favourite kind of appetiser and they didn’t disappoint.
For main course I had the seabass with a miso broth and dessert was a delicious chocolate fondue. All the food was exquisite and the service impeccable.
Thank you to the sales team at De Vere Cotswold Water Park for hosting such a wonderful evening and looking after us so well during our stay.
I’d highly recommend a trip to The Cotswolds for a weekend staycay in the UK and this hotel is the perfect destination with plenty to do in the surrounding area too, including all the fun water-sports on the lakes during summer. To book, visit their website here – https://www.devere.co.uk/cotswold-water-park-hotel
Summer holidays are the perfect time to have fun with fashion and get creative with pieces you might not get much chance to wear back home. I’m a sucker for boho beachwear and cute bikinis so naturally these become my everyday essentials on holiday, as well as summer hats and always a pair of statement sunnies to complete the look. From a casual coffee date look to the more glam beach club fit, I want to feel my very best everyday on holiday and it’s a chance to switch things up with different accessories like shell earrings and stacked beaded bracelets. Every night is date night when you’re on vacation too, so there’s always an excuse to get dolled up and show off that glowing holiday tan.
As we can finally get excited for the summer season ahead, I hope this lookbook I filmed in Bali gives you some inspiration for your next holiday. Continue reading to get the details of each look, and don’t forget to watch the full edit on my YouTube channel here – https://youtu.be/QMJs0h4XnYY?si=2YI06phcVMj6CIIV
If you’re looking for endless options of cool cafes, boojie bars and delicious delicacies from cuisines all over the world, then Canggu is the place to satisfy your ultimate foodie cravings. From the stunning smoothie bowls full of the freshest fruits and all day brunching options galore, to classic Mexican, Italian, Greek, Asian or Australian… you really are spoilt for choice!
Whether you’re vegan or in search of somewhere healthier to eat, or you’re wanting to treat yourself to something more indulgent and would like to experience some fine dining, there is something to suit everyone’s tastes in Canggu. We were blown away by the standard of the food everywhere we ate at and the prices were incredibly reasonable, hard to believe compared to the price of restaurants in the UK!
Whilst there wasn’t enough time to try every place recommended during our short stay in Canggu, we did sample some of the most famous cafes and restaurants in the area and I’ve narrowed it down to seven of my favourite.
The ultimate destination for vegans, vegetarians and health food lovers, The Shady Shack offers a big menu which includes an all-day breakfast, nutritious smoothies and juices, burgers and salads, share plates, delicious mains and decadent vegan desserts. I opted for one of their Insta famous salad bowls of grilled haloumi, pickled beetroot, quinoa, rocket, cucumber, avocado, tomato, roasted peppers, olives, baba ganoush, served with a creamy tahini dressing, crispy chickpeas & za’atar. Brimming with plenty of greens and colourful veggies, this Mediterranean inspired bowl of goodness was the perfect post-flight refuel my body needed. At 85K IDR, this salad cost only £4.25.
Another fully plant-based cafe, Kynd Canggu was right next to our hotel and became my boyfriend’s favourite place for lunch. Despite not being vegan, we loved it here and over the course of our stay my boyfriend sampled the loaded fries with chipotle aioli, crunchy onions & jalapeños, their take on a Mexican Burrito, and not forgetting the Kynd Bigger Mac. I was excited to try their aesthetic Acai Bowl complete with fruit lettering to spell out BALI, a cliche I know but it had to be done.
They know their Mexican food in Bali, so I was keen to try out Canguu’s top rated for Mexican eats, Lola’s. With an edgy, buzzing vibe, this cool spot on the shortcut seemed the place to be for a night out with friends. I started with a cheeky Marg of course before we had some naughty loaded nachos with all the toppings to share.
For a main course I hade their Mexi Bowl which comprised of a bed of lettuce with beans, sautéed mushrooms, spinach, red cabbage, pico de gallo, guacamole, cashew sour cream, tortilla chips, and I added BBQ jackfruit. A taste sensation of authentic Mexican flavours, I couldn’t believe it was only £3.75 for this meal, I would go here on repeat if I could.
My number one destination for date night or even just a glass of lovely vino, this Mediterranean inspired restaurant serves up sharing plates using cooking techniques like smoking and wood fire grilling to coax maximum flavour from minimal ingredients.
With its Scandi style interiors and romantic cosy courtyard adorned with fairy-lights, we went here for the perfect Friday date night and shared a scrumptious feast of small plates. Highlights included the cured meat selection, homemade hummus with burnt chilli butter & crispy bits, and those wonderfully sweet wood fired carrots with yoghurt & dukkah.
There is even a secret speakeasy bar at the very back of the restaurant where we enjoyed our after dinner drinks, it oozes sophistication and style.
For a taste of Italy and another atmospheric restaurant ideal for date night, Azoria is a newly opened Italian in the heart of Canggu already making a name for itself. Serving traditional Italian dishes amongst the setting of its rustic Mediterranean inspired decor, it felt like we were transported to Europe as we sipped our red vino and the Italian guitar music set the ambience.
To start we shared an exquisite Caesar salad, and for main my boyfriend had the Beef Ragu, whilst I made my own pasta of pappardelle, tomato sauce, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, garlic, spinach and basil. The pasta was so fresh and I loved the idea of making your own pasta so I could personalise the meal to my taste. We never regretti our spaghetti ❤
Whilst this restaurant promotes itself as low calorie and super healthy, that doesn’t mean it sacrifices on quality or options to suit all tastes. My boyfriend had the pork ribs with sweet potato fries and he said it was one of the best dinners he’d had on the trip – although we said that after every meal to be honest!
I opted for the grilled fish topped with a mango chilli salsa, served with baked pumpkin and lots of fresh salad. A nicely balanced plate high in protein, complex carbs from the pumpkin, fats from the fish and heaps of nutrients from all the salad; I love this kind of food good for the body and soul. They also have live musicians on guitars every night from 7-9pm, making for the perfect al fresco dining experience.
The final foodie destination I had to have on my list of favourites was Zin Cafe, the restaurant within the hotel we were staying. We had breakfast here every morning and whilst my boyfriend made his way through the extensive menu of savoury and sweet brunch options, I couldn’t get enough of the fresh fruit platter and yummy smoothie bowls. The cafe spans multiple levels spilling into the co-working space, which is like an awesome tree-house perfect for chilled working vibes. We ordered lunch to our terrace one afternoon and I had a delightful plate of roasted vegetables with green tahini. We also had their local Indonesian Curry for dinner in the restaurant one evening which didn’t disappoint, it was everything I hoped for and more.
So that’s a roundup of my top food spots in Canggu. There are many more incredible cafes and brilliant restaurants we didn’t have time to visit of course, but safe to say you won’t be disappointed wherever you go to eat in Bali; it’s true foodie heaven ❤
Dani Aneka 