The sun didn’t come out today and I didn’t even mind. There’s just something about being on the lake – it’s calm, serene, picturesque.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a total beach babe, but hanging your feet over the end of a dock perched above still-water is beyond relaxing. Which is why my Saturday was a pleasant one – an afternoon with family, good drinks and the swans 🙂
Hope you had a great Saturday – one for the books!
Quaint cafes, bakeries and tearooms are my jam. Whether I’m trying to be productive and get piles of work accomplished or going to brunch with a friend, I always eventually find myself perched on a comfy armchair ordering a chaippuccino (my new obsession!) –
Over the past few weeks I’ve been Instagramming at these venues A LOT – I mean who can resist snapshotting an adorable latte with a half-eaten chocolate croissant, anyway?
Here are my top picks for cafes for both work and play – in the District and from my Eurotrip 🙂 Who doesn’t love espresso and sweets?
1. Tryst | Coffeehouse – Bar – Lounge | Adams Morgan, Washington, D.C.
Tryst is my go-to. Whenever I want to grab a coffee, put my headphones in and cross a few tasks off my to-do list, I go to Tryst. They also have an amazing chaippuccino served with animal crackers (pictured below), half-priced wines at 4 p.m. and live music on select nights. What more could you ask for?!
2. Angelina Tearoom | Paris, France
Angelina is perfection. A historic tearoom on Rue de Rivoli in Paris. It’s a perfect pitstop between a morning of shopping and an afternoon at the Louvre. You can’t deny it – those desserts are pristine and mouthwatering. Great cappuccinos and little gifts, as well!
3. Caelum | Barcelona, Spain
Caelum has such a humble, family oriented vibe. You could tell that every cake, croissant and quiche was baked right in the shop. The intimate setting, over beautiful hardwood floors with a small crystal chandelier floating above, was a perfect way to start off a day of sightseeing in Barcelona. Not to mention, beyond delicious!
4. Colorova Patisserie | Paris, France
And we’ve switched back over to French tearooms! My friend Diana and I discovered Colorova on Vogue’s Weekend Guide – and thank goodness we did. This casual, colorful, loungy tearoom ended up being the best bang for our buck with a high quality of presentation and flavor 🙂 For a fixed price we received mint tea, a variety of spreads, poached eggs, cauliflower soup and a fresh fruit salad in an orange blossom dressing. It was all scrumptious. Colorova, I will be back!
Sometimes the most delicious brunch is at home! My amazing cousin Emily whipped up this outstanding morning meal – eggs benedict with homemade hollandaise sauce, hashbrowns and fresh berries. And of course we couldn’t forget my coffee fix! Emily’s Tearoom’s specialities are always made with love 🙂
Which one do you think sounds like your kind of place? Honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of these gems 🙂
Tomorrow’s Saturday, so happy brunch, loves!
Since I moved to DC, I have found myself at brunch almost every single Saturday and Sunday – and I’m not hating it one bit.
Honestly, I didn’t think it was possible to beat New York in the brunch competition – but DC has come on strong. The District is King when it comes to a variety of venues offering bottomless barrels of mimosas and bloody marys alongside delicious breakfast plates.
I love new dining experiences – and my Instagram definitely reflects that. Take a look at two of my brunch shots below.
I know it’s Monday, but the weekend will be here before we know it!
And yes, brunch can be used as a verb. We brunch.
You may have noticed that I take an excessive amount of photos of autumn trees.
Today was no exception. How gorgeous is this?!
TGIF – and isn’t that the truth. There’s just a undeniable happiness that goes hand-in-hand when you’re able to use the words “fall” and “Friday” in the same sentence. Festive fall scenes have been calling my name all morning (and now lovely afternoon.)
I recently read that the “magic hours” to capture autumn’s best angles are in the early morning and late evening – and boy, were they right. I snapped this gem this morning. Look at those gold, red and orange leaves glow.
I know, I know – I am guilty of incorporating a little Instagram filter here and there, but I have no shame. Nature’s color combinations are impossible to beat – so why not highlight them? I also really enjoy the filters and photo enhancements Aviary provides. Definitely an app to check out if you’re a wannabe-photography like me!
Fast forward to lunch time. After sitting at my (very cute) desk for five hours, I’m ready for some sunshine. I cannot resist an outdoor lunch with a good friend – and especially with this weather. Clubmasters on, taking in the beautiful day. It’s always a relief to me that I’m not the only one with a mild obsession for photography – my lunch buddy is the same. Needless to say, lunch turned into a mini photo shoot.
What do you like to capture quick snapshots of? Nothing more therapeutic than dishing into your creative side – we all have one somewhere!
Coffee & Cobblestones 