Work Travel Diaries; 48 Hours In Vienna

Our 48 hours in the Austrian capital felt like stepping onto the set of a beautifully shot old school film; elegant, charming and full of delicious food. We caught the 7am flight from London Heathrow Airport and by 10am we were already wandering the streets of Vienna, ready to make the most of every second.

There’s something so effortlessly romantic about Vienna. Grand boulevards lined with opulent architecture, hidden wine bars tucked between historic buildings and the kind of café culture that makes you want to slow down and savour every moment.

Lunch on day one was at Trattoria Martinelli and it was the perfect start to the trip.

We began with a mozzarella, pesto, basil, tomato and rocket salad which tasted so fresh and summery.

To follow was the veal ravioli and although I’m not a big meat eater, this was absolutely divine.

Later that afternoon we checked into Le Méridien hotel right in the centre of the city. The rooms were incredibly spacious and stylish with views overlooking Vienna’s vast streets below.

After an early start, a coffee from the Nespresso machine was very much needed before getting ready for dinner.

For the evening I wore the cutest pinstripe collared halter neck from Stradivarius paired with my black jeans from Zara, gold detail mule heels, and a check pattern blazer also from Stradivarius to complete the look.

Work appropriate but equally chic and stylish for an evening of wining and dining in the city.

We started with drinks at the hotel bar You, where I had my first taste of local Austrian white wine. Crisp, refreshing and dangerously easy to drink.

Dinner was at Collina am Berg, a contemporary fine dining restaurant with an effortlessly cool and classy atmosphere.

To start, we had salt baked beets with sheep’s curd and hazelnut pesto which was undeniably exquisite, everyone’s plates were clean.

For my main course, I chose the vegetarian option of confit kohlrabi with onion purée and puffed buckwheat, beautifully presented and full of flavour.

Dessert was one for the chocolate lovers, a salted caramel chocolate mousse topped with hazelnuts, absolute perfection.

From the delicious food and attentive service to the stylish interiors and vibrant ambience, everything was 10/10. Collina Am Berg is a hidden gem in the heart of Vienna.

Day two greeted us with glorious sunshine, so naturally it called for an effortlessly simple outfit formula. I wore my white linen trousers from Reserved with a simple black vest from Topshop, a black and white neck scarf from H&M, brown sandals and my Celine sunnies.

Sometimes the simplest of outfits really do make the chicest looks, the philosophy I use when curating my work wardrobe for events.

Walking the streets of Vienna in the Spring sunshine was genuinely magical. The city feels almost untouched by time with its incredible original architecture still standing proudly today.

As Vienna was not heavily bombed during the war, so much of its historic beauty remains intact, making every corner feel steeped in history and grandeur.

The buildings are so opulent and cinematic that at times it honestly felt like we were wandering through a movie set.

Our final lunch was at Zum Weissen Rauchfangkehrer, a traditional Austrian restaurant filled with fascinating interiors that made us feel as though we’d stepped back in time.

We enjoyed a traditional lunch of pork schnitzel with potatoes, followed by an apple strudel that genuinely changed my life.

I in fact opted for the vegetarian main course of a stuffed pepper served in a vegetable bean stew and it was absolutely delightful. Comforting, hearty and full of flavour.

Before we knew it, it was time to head back to the airport for our 5pm flight home to London.

What a brilliant whistle-stop tour of the Austrian capital, a city and country I already know I’ll have to return to one day.

Elegant, historic, stylish and full of incredible culture and delicious food; I’ll see you again soon Vienna ❤

NYC Diaries; An Afternoon Wandering The West Village

Our afternoon exploring the West Village started long before we ever set foot in its leafy streets.

On the way downtown, we made a quick stop at the iconic Grand Central Station to grab some shots.

That celestial ceiling and the constant ballet of travellers moving beneath it makes this place feel magical.

As another location where many films are shot, it almost felt like we were on set starring in our own movie.

From there, we hopped on the subway and made our way to the West Village in search of the Friends apartment building on Bedford Street.

As a longtime Friends show fan seeing it in person was surreal, like stepping straight into the TV screen I grew up watching on repeat.

It’s funny how a simple building can hold so much nostalgia.

Every corner of this neighbourhood looks like it has been pulled from a movie set; brownstones with perfectly worn stoops, tree-lined streets, tiny cafés with outdoor tables, and endless photo-worthy pockets of charm.

We didn’t manage to find Carrie Bradshaw’s actual apartment from Sex and the City, but we did stumble across a stoop that looked almost identical.

Naturally, I couldn’t resist getting a few fun outfit snaps.

I was even wearing a Carrie Bradshaw inspired fit: a chic shift dress, my favourite sand coloured long boot heels, my new Polène handbag, and classic YSL black sunnies to complete the look.

As the afternoon went on, we kept discovering more of the West Village’s character. Quiet pockets of calm, stylish locals walking their dogs, bookstores tucked into corners, and that unmistakable creative buzz that only New York seems to have.

There’s so much more to see and I can’t wait to wander those streets again on our next trip, latte in hand, camera at the ready, soaking in every inch of that West Village charm ❤

NYC Diaries; One Afternoon Over Brooklyn Bridge

As one of the most photographed spots on Instagram in New York, walking over Brooklyn Bridge to get one of those iconic shots with Manhattan in the background is a must when visiting the city for the first time.

On the Monday afternoon we headed downtown and grabbed a slice at Joe’s Pizza for lunch.

Grabbing a slice of authentic American pizza was on my list of foodie experiences to do whilst in New York and it didn’t disappoint.

I opted for a spinach and ricotta topping whilst my boyfriend went for a classic slice of greasy pepperoni.

Fuelled up on pizza and we were ready for the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.

It would seem the bridge is busy at most times of the day unless you were to come super early in the morning, but that didn’t effect our experience.

Whilst it was an overcast day it was still quite warm at about 23 degrees, so the perfect weather for a pleasant stroll over the bridge in shorts and a light jacket.

A few stops for photos along the way and we finally made our way over to DUMBO.

DUMBO (Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass) is another very famous neighbourhood known for its picturesque streets and trendy art scene.

We found ourselves on Washington Street, the most popular street in DUMBO for that iconic view of the Manhattan Bridge framed by the cobblestone street and red-brick buildings.  

As expected it was very busy during the afternoon, so we got the shot and continued exploring the area.

From the bridge we had spotted an awesome looking rooftop bar overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline, so we headed there for an early evening cocktail.

Located on top of the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, Harriet’s Rooftop is a stylish bar serving lovely cocktails to enjoy whilst taking in those unbeatable views of the city.

I had a classic Paloma cocktail whilst my boyfriend had a local Brooklyn pilsner beer.

As you can imagine it was very pricey, but we couldn’t complain given the brilliant views we got to soak up whilst enjoying our drinks.

It was soon time to make our way back over the bridge and with the early evening drawing in and the city lighting up, the skyline became even more photogenic.

I can see why so many people love this part of New York; there’s a certain romantic quality about it that makes you feel like the main character in a movie.

Once we reached the other side of the bridge we caught a cab back to the hotel and on our drive through Manhattan, there was the most beautiful sunset of purple and pink hues.

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge over to DUMBO was one of my favourite experiences during our visit to New York, and I’m super keen to see more of this trendy neighbourhood on our next trip to NYC ❤