How to spend: 24 hours in Leeds

Four hours and thirty minutes from London and we arrived at our destination. We only spent a short amount of time in Leeds, but it was really exciting exploring somewhere new and seeing what the city had to offer.

Leeds is pretty similar to London, it's very hip and has a buzzing atmosphere. Theres tons of amazing options for food, the night life is great and it's perfect for some good old' retail therapy. One thing that really differentiates Leeds from London is that everyone is SO friendly, from the hotel staff, shop assistants and even strangers on the street. It's a breath of fresh air for someone you don't know to say hello or even smile as you casually walk by sipping your chai latte...

Where to stay: The Village Hotel.

I haven't come across 'The Village' hotels before, but there are quite a few dotted around the UK. Joe and I loved our stay here, the rooms are super stylish and modern. We had the comfiest bed in the world and I had the best night's sleep I've had in months. Also, the rainfall shower was a delight to use in the morning. (I desperately want one in my future home!)

There were also many perks to our stay, we got to use the gym, swimming pool and sauna free of charge. AND we got a complimentary fry up the following morning. As well as this, there was a little Starbucks inside our hotel. I'm more of a Costa girl myself, but it's super convenient for all the Starbucks lovers out there.

Where to eat: Friends of Ham

Ok I have to admit the name of this restaurant drew me in... Hell yes, I'm friends with Ham. This quirky little place serves a variety of interesting beers and has a wide selection of charcuterie and cheeses.

Joe and I shared a heavenly meaty platter. We had an assortment of different types of ham, Culaccia di Parma, Serrano Gran Reserva, Carne Salata Beef which came with baby gherkins (adorable), and Old Winchester cheese paired with these interesting looking crackers.

We had a lovely time here, food was delicious and the staff were so helpful and lovely.

If you're not in to charcuterie and cheeses, another option would be to visit Trinity Kitchen for incredible street food - they have food trucks who sell Vietnamese, Italian, Indian, BBQ and more.

Where to go for coffee: Opposite - the hidden gem of caffeine goodness. Tucked away near Leeds University, this coffee shop is the bomb dot com. My chai latte was perfect, honestly one of the most deliciously creamy chai latte's I've had in a long time. Joe had a cappuccino and he was super impressed too! Highly recommend stopping by.

Things to do: Shop until your credit card statement makes you want to cry...

I've been on a bit of a spending ban recently, well since I got into the whole 'minimalism thing' a few months ago - which I'm sure I'll talk about in another post at some point. But sometimes, you just need a bit of a splurge to spice up your wardrobe every now and again.

Trinity is a great shopping centre with all my (and possibly yours) favourite high street brands, they have TOPSHOP, PRIMARK, New Look, H&M, Mango, River Island and much more. I treated myself to some really pretty midi and maxi dresses, two pairs of wide legged culottes (big fan of these), the most gorgeous polka-dot jumpsuit, a pair of tanned sandals and a few more basic tops.

Also, visit the beautiful Roundhay Park, it's utterly stunning and is said to be one of the biggest city parks in Europe. You could catch some rays and enjoy a picnic here if the weather is nice (damn you unpredictable UK weather).

So there we have it - a mini guide on what to do in Leeds in 24 hours! Hope this was somewhat helpful to anyone interested in visiting the hip city. If anyone has any recommendations on other restaurants and things to do please leave them in the comments section below.

Follow me @zoeyoliviablog to see what I get up to daily. You can also reach me on twitter: @zoeyoliviablog. Or, if you like Bloglovin', I'm kind of new to it but follow me on there. I also have Pinterest, I'm often procrastinating and pinning my life away... So do get in touch :).

The Amsterdam Travel Guide

Amsterdam, what a beautiful majestic little city!

Amsterdam has been on my travel bucket list for quite some time and I'm glad to say I've now ticked it off. During our four day stay we visited some amazing cafes, restaurants and sights, which of course I was dying to share!

Where to stay: Amsterdam is known for it's quirky little hotels, from the CitizenM, The Tire station, Qbic Hotel Amsterdam and Fletcher Hotel to name a few. We stayed at The Ramada as my husband collected lots of points from business trips away, so it worked out pretty cheap to stay there. Our room was lovely, it was on the 16th floor and we had a spectacular view of the city.

How to get around: Almost everyone cycles in Amsterdam - no wonder the Danes are so slim and healthy! Hire a bicycle for a few days, it's the most convenient way of traveling around and experiencing Amsterdam as a local.

What to do: Did you know Amsterdam has 75 museums?! The most well known include the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House.
There are also so many quirky ones, such as The Sex Museum, The Cow Museum, The Tulip Museum, there was even a Cheese Museum! They're all very random, but they are definitely worth the visit!

The Heineken experience was really good and I would highly recommend it. I'm not usually a fan of beer (I'm more of a G&T kind of girl), but Joe wanted to go and we really enjoyed it. You learnt the history behind the company, how beer is made, had a little bit of beer tasting, played lots of interactive games and got to enjoy two beers at the end of the experience.

If the weather is nice you have to visit Vondelpark, it's utterly stunning. We enjoyed cycling around the whole park and soaking up some rays here.
If horticulture is up your street, you'll also love the floating flower market which is so vibrant and pretty. It's also said to be the only floating flower market in the world!

Another thing to do is just get lost and wonder around the streets of Amsterdam. There's so much to see - from trendy little shops to niche little cafes. It's also breathtaking to walk around at night time, with all the pretty lights around the bridges and the gorgeous street lamps lit up.

Where to go for brunch: Oh boy does this city have so many amazing food options!

Mook Pancakes: If you're in the mood for some delicious pancakes, I'd highly recommend
Mook Pancakes! I ordered the 'good morning' and it was incredible. I also had a healthy ginger tea which was also lovely and well... you know, you have to balance out the bad with the good ;).

Metropolitain: What a little gem! This spot is right in the city centre and serves the most wonderful sandwiches, burgers, and salads. I had peaches, parma ham, walnuts and cream on toast. And, Joe had a salmon burger with truffle chips. Also, the strawberry lemonade was delightful - just what you need on a hot Summer's day.

Teds: another great spot to grab some brunch is Teds! I can see why this is a local's favourite as I had the most amazing chicken, rocket and avocado sandwich here. Highly highly recommend.

Bakers & Roasters: Bakers & Roasters, a locals favourite and I now know why!
This was the only restaurant where we had to wait - only 10 minutes or so, so it wasn't too bad... where as some locals had said they have waited up to an hour to eat here!

If you go here, you have to try the banana nut French toast, seriously seriously amazing. Joe had a pretty interesting brunch with pulled Pork, chiplotte sauce, poached eggs, avocado, melon, sourdough toast, with a side of bacon, which he loved.

I also tried a Turmeric latte for the very first time - it has a little bit of a kick, but very enjoyable.

Where to go for sweet treats!

Sticky fingers: Oh my these little pies of goodness were right up my street. I wish I could have stuffed ten in my suitcase!

We shared the lemon meringue and banoffee pies. Both equally incredible. We also had a hot chocolate and cappuccino, mmm so creamy and lovely.

I also loved the interior. Very Instagrammable - a designers dream!

There are some great ice cream shops that you have to stop by. One being Banketbakkerij v.d Linde. The most amazing whipped creamy ice cream. Another two great options are Yscuypje and Cons IJSFabriek Monte Pelmo.

Coffee stop.
The white label coffee: If I lived in Amsterdam, I could see myself working here every day! The atmosphere is very chilled and they serve delicious coffee.

Where to go for dinner:

Foodhallen: If you can't decide on what to eat, the Foodhallen is a great place to go! It's full of a variety of trendy food stalls. Options include; dim sum, burgers, Dutch cheese balls, pizza, Vietnamese and much much more. We came here twice as we loved the atmosphere and food so much!

If you do stop by, you have to try The Butcher's succulent burgers, De BallenBar's incredible melty cheese balls and the delicious dim sum from Dim Sum Thing.

There's also a dedicated gin & tonic bar! On one of the day's we went it was world gin day so they had lots of special options to choose from.

If you're in a meaty mood, you have to check out is Cafe De Klos' ribs. Joe's sister and boyfriend recommended this place and boy oh boy did it live up to the expectations! The ribs were so succulent and juicy.

If you're planning on visiting Amsterdam, do let me know if you pop by any of the above places in the comments below! Or if anyone else has any suggestions of things to do/see/eat in Amsterdam, also leave them in the comments section so this post can be helpful to fellow travellers.

Follow me @zoeyoliviablog to see what I get up to daily. You can also reach me on twitter: @zoeyoliviablog. Or, if you like Bloglovin', I'm kind of new to it but follow me on there. I also have Pinterest, I'm often procrastinating and pinning my life away... So do get in touch :).

Where to eat in Copenhagen: Cheap Eats | Part 2

If you saw my last post, I talked about all the great little coffee stops to check out if you’re planning on visiting Copenhagen. This time round, I'll be discussing my recommendations for cheap eats in Copenhagen.

If you haven’t heard, Copenhagen is pretty expensive in general, especially going out to eat, but the bakeries and lovely cafes we went to were not only delicious, but didn't break the bank too.

The Donut Shop – “The best doughnut shop in Denmark.”
If you’re feeling a bit peckish, you have to check out the famous ‘Donut Shop’. The vibe is really cosy as you can relax on the sofas, eat your doughnuts and play board games or you can simply sit back and enjoy the tunes. They had the Weeknd playing in the background when we popped by, big fan.

The selection of teas here is great; they have a range of Clipper, one of my favourite tea brands. I went for a calming camomile and Joe had a berry one. To complement our teas, we had some incredible doughnuts, I had the ‘dime doughnut’ and Joe had the ‘chocolate crunch’ one. Both amazing! They cost 18kr for one, which is around £1.50, so not too shabby.

They often sell out pretty quickly, so I’d recommend going as early as you can.

Sankt Peders Bageri. If you like a sweet treat in the morning or an afternoon snack, you have to visit Sankt Peders Bageri for some lovely Danish pastries, it’s where all the locals are, so it must be pretty darn good.
I was on the hunt for the best cinnamon roll, and this place definitely hit the spot.

The American Pie Co.

Not your traditional Danish restaurant, but if you’re in the market for a slice of pie, sweet or savoury, then check out this place. They have a selection of pies from lemon meringue, apple pie to chicken and thyme and cottage pie. We both went for chicken and thyme and it was lovely. And, I treated myself to a coke (which is very rare for me), which came in a glass bottle and made me feel a little nostalgic inside.

I also love the cool interiors, it has that ‘diner style’ look and feel. And, is of course Insta friendly.

Flottenheimer is a cosy little lunch spot to go to if the weather isn’t particularly great. We came here on our first day when it was raining and really enjoyed ourselves. We both went for the sandwich option, which came with chips. I had avocado and halloumi on rye bread and Joe had steak. So so good!

Also, I loved the hygge vibe with the white candles, cushions, wooden tables and low-key lighting. Was very warm and relaxing.

Unmercato is listed as one of the best ‘cheap eats’ in Copenhagen, so we had to check it out whilst we were in the area. It’s located just outside of the food market, Torvehallerne.

For a sandwich, rosemary fries and a drink it only cost 115kr, which is around £10 (This may seem quite expensive for some, but trust me it’s really good value for Copenhagen). Oh also, the homemade mayonnaise is to die for!!

It does get very busy, but people are usually in and out fairly quickly. If there’s a queue, you can always take-away and sit outside and people watch!

And that’s a wrap for my Where to Eat in Copenhagen series. I really enjoy writing about my food experiences so expect more things like this on the old’ blog in the near future.

As always you can follow me @zoeyoliviablog to see what I get up to daily. You can also reach me on twitter: @zoeyoliviablog. Or, if you like Bloglovin', I'm kind of new to it but follow me on there. I also have Pinterest, I'm often procrastinating and pinning my life away... So do get in touch :).

Where to eat in Copenhagen: Best Coffee Shops | Part 1

Being the foodies that myself and Joe are, we did our research and took full advantage of visiting some of the best restaurants, bakeries and coffee shops in Copenhagen and I wanted to share them all with you.

In part one, I'll discuss all the great little coffee shops we went to! So if you like your coffee keep on reading.

Coffee Stops

Democratic Coffee Bar, what aren't you in my life every day?! This place has a really cool vibe and is where a lot of students hang out. They sell the most delicious and wonderful almond croissants with almond butter inside. Seriously seriously amazing... I’m still dreaming of that wonderful croissant. The coffees are great too, we had two lattes and they were lovely and creamy.

I would happily go back here again and again, and if I were student in Copenhagen, this is definitely where you’d find me!

The Collective Coffee. Whist wandering around Copenhagen, we stumbled across this vibrant little food market called Torvehallerne. Inside they had quirky food stalls and coffee shops. It smelt amazing in there!

Anyway, we came across The Collective Coffee, a trendy little coffee corner that caught my eye. They filtered their coffee in a really unusual way, using these weird metal and glass filter tubes. And being a sucker for beautifully designed packaging, I wanted my cappuccino in one of those cool geometric plastic cups, saddo I know. But honestly, this was one of the best cappuccino’s I’ve ever had and it’s a great spot for people watching!

Grannys House. Another great little place inside Torvehallerne is Granny’s House, who sell an assortment of pastries, tea’s and coffee’s.

The atmosphere has a real cosy, welcoming feel. The tables have been decorated in knitted and crochet covers, with decorative flowers on. And the chairs are painted in bright colours. Very instagrammable.

We stopped by to have a refreshing tea and it came in a tall glass with an unusual paper tea bag. The milk came in a gorgeous china pot too. T’was really lovely, I highly recommend stopping by and checking it out.

Original Coffee is a little out the way, but if you’re visiting Olufsvej to see the beautiful colourful houses then I recommend stopping by here.
It’s a really cool modern coffee shop with all décor black and white. It’s fairly small inside, but it’s a great spot to charge your phone or do a bit of work whist you enjoy sipping one of their amazing coffees! I have to say, I’m a huge fan of their chai latte’s, so creamy and delicious.

So there we have it, four amazing little coffee stops for you to check out if you’re planning on going to the wonderful Copenhagen soon.

I’ll chat about all the quirky little cafes and bakeries we went to in my next post, so be sure to check back in the next couple of days for that.

As always you can follow me @zoeyoliviablog to see what I get up to daily. You can also reach me on twitter: @zoeyoliviablog. Or, if you like Bloglovin', I'm kind of new to it but follow me on there. I also have Pinterest, I'm often procrastinating and pinning my life away... So do get in touch :).