Season 5, Travel - Where to Drink

Episode 101 | Italy: Verona

In this episode, the girls take you back to Italy to one of its most charming and often overlooked destinations: Verona. Known as the setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, this episode explores how the city blends history, incredible food and drinks, and a relaxed pace, making it an ideal stop during a trip to Italy.

The journey begins with the easy train ride from Venice to Verona, in first class, of course. After arriving at Verona Porta Nuova station, it’s only a short ride to the historic center, where cobblestone streets, Roman ruins, and centuries of architecture set the stage for their stay.

Molly checked into Vista Verona, a luxury boutique hotel located in the heart of the city. The property blends modern Italian design with ancient Roman history, as parts of the building sit directly above archaeological remains. The hotel also features one of Verona’s standout rooftop bars, offering sweeping views of the historic skyline…which the Boozy Blondes took advantage of first full day in the city!

Chrissy, always loving to live like the locals, checked into her apartment, a short walk from the Vista Verona. The group met here after everyone got settled to head over to the Castel San Pietro. They took a funicular up to the castle which leads to a panoramic viewpoint overlooking the Adige River, the city’s red rooftops, and Verona’s historic center. At sunset, the view becomes one of the most memorable moments of the trip and a must-do for visitors with limited time in the city.

The girls enjoyed dinner with the group at Antica Bottega del Vino, one of Verona’s most iconic restaurants. Known for its massive wine list and classic Veronese cuisine, the restaurant embodies the slow, indulgent dining experience Italy is famous for. Rich pasta dishes, local specialties, and carefully selected wines – SO GOOD!

One of the most unique parts of the trip was a self-designed “Romeo and Juliet” themed pub crawl through the city. Complete with custom trivia questions (thanks to Chrissy), the crawl turned sightseeing into a friendly competition, with the winner earning a drink at the final stop. The route included lunch along the Adige River, a visit to the stunning Gothic Basilica di Santa Anastasia, and the famously crowded Juliet’s House, where visitors pose with the statue of Juliet and leave love letters in the courtyard.

The crawl also included a stop at Santa Maria Craft Pub for a break from wine with local craft beer, followed by a walk to the Arena di Verona . Built in the first century AD and even older than Rome’s Colosseum, the amphitheater is one of the best-preserved Roman arenas in the world and still hosts operas and concerts today. Fun fact, the closing ceremonies for the 2026 Winter Olympics took place here!

Evenings in Verona were filled with memorable meals, including dinners at Osteria Scudo di Francia and Trattoria I Masenini, both known for authentic Italian dishes and welcoming atmospheres. Each restaurant offered a different experience but reinforced the same takeaway: Verona’s food scene is exceptional yet refreshingly unpretentious.

By the end of the trip, Verona proved to be one of the most pleasant surprises of their Italian travels. The city strikes a balance between romance, history, and liveliness without the overwhelming crowds found in larger destinations. For travelers already visiting Venice, the Boozy Blondes recommend adding Verona for at least one or two nights—long enough to explore, indulge in great meals, and perhaps turn a little sightseeing into a wine-fueled adventure.

Have you explored Verona? Leave a comment below about what you loved most!

Season 4, Travel - Where to Drink

Episode 089 | Italy – Rome, What to Drink, Eat and Do in the Eternal City

The Boozy Blondes are wrapping up their Season 4 Italy tour with an episode all about Rome! Are you planning a trip to the Eternal City? This episode will help you plan for some of the hot spots you don’t want to miss!

First things first – the DOE. Chrissy continues to try to warm Molly up to spritzes, but it’s not going so well. Molly reluctantly sips the Campari Spritz Chrissy made because, well, “when in Rome!”

If you’re traveling by plane to Rome, chances are you’re flying into Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport. From here you can take an Uber to train to your destination. The girls stayed in the neighborhood of Trastevere, and you can hear an episode dedicated to this beautiful community in Episode 088 (listen here!).

One must-see stop when in Rome is Vatican City. Its headquarters to the Roman Catholic Church and full of cultural, religious and historical significance. The girls toured the Vatican Museums, St. Peter’s Basilica, St. Peter’s Square and the Sistine Chapel. Understandably so, Vatican City is a popular spot and gets extremely crowded with tourists. The girls planned for the crowds and booked the earliest tour possible through The Tour Guy for about $150 per person. This 3-hour tour included:

  • Skip-the-line entry to the Vatican
  • Pio-Clementino Museum, Gallery of the Candelabra, Tapestries and Maps
  • Raphael Rooms and School of Athens
  • Entry to the Sistine Chapel
  • Entry to St. Peter’s Basilica
  • A Professional, English-speaking guide
  • Max group size of 10

The girls highly recommend the tour, especially if it’s your first visit. There is so much to take in! One pro tip is to dress for the weather – much of the tour actually takes place outside, and the girls were not prepared for that! Other tips include:

  1. Go as early as you can to beat the largest crowds
  2. You are allowed to take pictures (no flash) everywhere except inside the Sistine Chapel
  3. Dress modestly – your shoulders and knees must be covered
  4. Bags are allowed but must be small backpacks or purses

Following your tour, there are cute restaurants close by where you can grab a cocktail (or espresso) before your next adventure! For the girls it was touring the Colosseum, but unfortunately due to the miserable weather, they skipped it. This is the tour they had booked again through The Tour Guy for you check out.

One of the best experiences the blondes had was renting e-bikes and exploring the Appian Way. Chrissy packed a picnic lunch for the group, and they took off from an e-bike rental store near Circus Maximus. Beware – there are no bike lanes, so navigating the traffic can be a little treacherous. Over the course of the ride, they stopped at:

  • Catacombe Di San Callisto – the catacombs here were built in the 2nd century around 150AD! The tour is about 10 Euros per person and lasts about 45 minutes
  • Appia Antica Caffe for spritzes and beer
  • Borghese Park
  • Church of Domine Quo Vadis – where Saint Peter was said to encounter Jesus when he initially fled Rome – you can see Jesus’ footprints here

The girls agree this was a great way to experience the Roman countryside and some history too! Having a picnic lunch alongside one of the oldest roads in the world was surreal! After biking the group enjoyed aperitivo at Da Etta and Freni e Frizioni (details in Episode 088), then had an amazing meal at Divin Ostilia Wine Bar.

Other must-sees in Rome are the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum. You can listen to our Angels and Demons Pub Crawl episode (Episode 085) to get more details about those stops.

A few more tips as you plan your trip:

  1. Stop in random churches! They are full of history, art and faith, and breathtaking!
  2. Stop for aperitivo! It’s an Italian lifestyle – enjoy drinks and small snacks before dinner. Molly’s favorite was at the rooftop bar of FortySevenHotel.
  3. Beware of bathrooms – or lack of seats on toilets. BYOS! (Bring your own seat!)
  4. Make reservations in advance but leave some room for flexibility! Sometimes getting lost leads to the best adventures!
  5. If you can, add an extra day or two to your original plan – vacation goes by so fast. If you’re planning for 7 days, see if you can swing 10! Having downtime days is a blessing!

Is there a place in Rome you love that we didn’t mention? Share it with us in the comments below!

Season 4, Travel - Where to Drink

Episode 085 | Italy: Roman Angels & Demons Pub Crawl

Listen here!

Whether you’re feeling angelic or sinful, this episode is for you. The Boozy Blondes embark on a full day of bar-hopping and sightseeing around the Eternal City at places referenced in Dan Brown’s popular thriller (and movie starring Tom Hanks), Angels & Demons!

The DOE is a Select spritz – the national drink of Italy!

If you’re not familiar with Angels & Demons, it’s a great read (and as mentioned, available to watch in about 2 hours) – and the references in this episode might make a little more sense. Regardless, these stops will not disappoint – Angels & Demons fan or not! In the story, the main character follows “The Path of Illumination.” In this episode, the girls follow “The Path of Intoxication!”

The first stop actually isn’t boozy, but it’s worth mentioning. Tattoos at Bad Church Tattoo in Trastevere. In Angels & Demons, some of the characters get branded, so why not really get into character…and drag the Boozy Bros with them! While lifelong ink might not be everyone’s souvenir choice, if you are looking to get a tattoo abroad, the girls list off some pro-tips:

  • Make reservations online
  • Go early so it doesn’t slow down your day.
  • Email your art ahead of time in case of language barrier.
  • Bring cash.

If you want to see behind the scenes at Bad Church Tattoo, check out the Boozy Blondes’ Instagram Reel.

From here the girls traveled to Piazza del Popolo on the north end of the city to Angolo degli Artisti. Piazza del Popolo is the largest square in Rome and an iconic site in the book. The girls loved this restaurant; they were seated outside looking across the square and enjoyed spritzes, pizza and charcuterie…adding limoncello shots to wrap up the meal.

From here, the girls crossed the square and wandered up some steps to Terrazza del Pincio. This public park offers sprawling views of the city and is one of the best places to see the sunset in Rome. Since it was early in the day, there was no sunset, but the girls still captured some beautiful pictures overlooking Piazza del Popolo!

Next, the girls headed south to see the Spanish Steps and grab espresso at Don Nino. The Spanish Steps aren’t in the book, but an iconic (and super busy) spot in Rome. Don Nino is a traditional pâtisserie chain in Rome where Chrissy had stopped just days earlier to recreate the Audrey Hepburn scene in Roman Holiday.

Next stop was the Trevi Fountain, but the girls didn’t wait in line to throw in coins. Go early! The line stretches pretty far! The girls moved on past the Trevi Fountain and around the corner to Baccano for cocktails and appetizers. The girls were seated outside along the street and absorbed the bustling ambiance will sipping spritzes and enjoying carpaccio and tartare. It was about a month before Christmas and Baccano nailed it with the decorations – it was beautiful!

From Baccano, the blondes traveled to the Pantheon. While there are different options for tours, the girls chose a self-guided one. Major Pro Tip and time saver – there’s a cash-only line at the Pantheon where there’s rarely a line, and it’s only 5 euros to get in. Make sure to find the line farthest to the left.

After spending some time soaking up the ancient history at the Pantheon, the Boozy Blondes made their way to Piazza Navona, another plaza hosting an iconic scene from Angels & Demons. While it’s only a 4-minute walk to here from the Pantheon, there are beautiful churches lining the way that the girls highly recommend you visit. The combination of history, art and faith is not to be missed in these stunning structures.

Just around the corner from Piazza Navona is a great wine bar and deli, I Pizzicaroli. Here the girls enjoyed a bottle of wine and drooled over the giant charcuterie boards. The girls found there way back here later on to grab another bottle for the road!

The final stop on the Angels & Demons tour was Castillo San Angelo. While the girls didn’t go in, you can tour Castillo San Angelo for around $20. This is basically where Angels & Demons ends, so it was the perfect finale to the day. It’s a 20 minute walk to here from I Pizzicaroli, but feeling the effects of “The Path of Intoxication” it took the Boozy Blondes way longer than that! They stopped for espresso, gelato, shopping and provisions, and enjoyed some wine overlooking Castillo San Angelo from across the river.

Technically the Angels & Demons tour ended here, but the girls had one more stop on their list: Jerry Thomas Speakeasy, frequently named one of the best 50 bars in the world! The girls found their way to the Jerry Thomas Bar Room, which is a new edition and location for the famous speakeasy. The speakeasy is just a few blocks from I Pizzicaroli, while the bar room is across the Tiber River back in Trastevere where the girls were staying. If you’d like a sneak peek inside the bar room, watch the Boozy Blondes’ reel highlighting this spot. If you want the password, you can find it on the website.

The itinerary for this day was definitely aggressive, and credit is due to Chrissy for mapping out this amazing tour. If you want a more guided, all-inclusive experience that involves little to no planning on your part, they’re out there. Reputable groups like GetYourGuide and Viator had a few different Angels & Demons tours available at the time of this recording.

You can see the Boozy Blondes’ reel highlighting this pub crawl on their Instagram. If you’d like a map with details of the Boozy Blondes Angels & Demons Pub Crawl Tour, send them a message, and they will send you their custom plan. And remember, whether you’re feeling angelic or sinful (or both, like the young Boozy Blonde Chrissy in this picture), this day is sure to be fun! Cheers!