La Torre Restaurant Review: A Few Tuscan Highlights Amid an Uneven Menu

La Torre Restaurant Review: A Few Tuscan Highlights Amid an Uneven Menu

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We love to snag a Michelin star or two while on vacation, especially exposing the teens to new cuisines and trying things that we most definitely will not be trying at Chez Aukse. Our summer trip to Italy was quite pricey, so we settled for only adding one star to our long list, and luckily, there is a Michelin starred restaurant at Como Castello Del Nero, where we were staying. La Torre is located in the main building of the…

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Visiting the Florence Duomo: Inside the Cathedral Without the Crowds

Visiting the Florence Duomo: Inside the Cathedral Without the Crowds

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The Duomo in Florence (actually properly named the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore) is the number one thing to see in this city, and it’s easy to see why. One of the oldest cathedrals in all of Italy, and one of the largest cathedrals in the world, there is massive history here. And while most of the main part of the church is not really all that much to see, having the opportunity to really take the time and…

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Osteria Langhe Review: An Intimate Taste of Northern Italy in Chicago

Osteria Langhe Review: An Intimate Taste of Northern Italy in Chicago

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It was another year, and another cousin’s birthday dinner, when my two amazing cousins and I have to choose a place for our revered celebration. This year, we chose Osteria Langhe in Logan Square to catch up and raise a glass to another year around the sun. We dined here in August of 2026. Osteria Langhe has a very cozy neighborhood vibe with wood floors and a minimalist bar anchoring the space in the front of the restaurant. It’s not…

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La Capanna Del Gallo: An Unforgettable Tuscan Dinner

La Capanna Del Gallo: An Unforgettable Tuscan Dinner

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I’m so excited to share our experience at La Capanna Del Gallo in Tuscany, Italy, because it was easily one of the best meals we had on our entire trip to Italy. Not only was the food extraordinary, but the service was cheerful and easygoing (though not inattentive), and you can’t beat the sunset views here. La Capanna Del Gallo was recommended to us by the concierge at the Como Castello Del Nero where we were staying for three nights,…

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Bavette’s Chicago Bar: How to Get a Walk-In Seat and What to Order

Bavette’s Chicago Bar: How to Get a Walk-In Seat and What to Order

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Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf in Chicago is known to be one of the best, if not the best steakhouse in the city. I continue to praise their steaks, service and vibe, and regularly go to the Bavette’s outpost in Las Vegas (where it’s actually much easier to get a reservation!). This article, though, is going to focus on my recent (birthday!) experience sitting at the bar at Bavette’s Chicago as a walk-in. If you’re looking for my review of the…

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Uffizi Gallery: Florence’s Greatest Masterpieces, Caravaggio Highlights & Visitor Tips

Uffizi Gallery: Florence’s Greatest Masterpieces, Caravaggio Highlights & Visitor Tips

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If you’re a long time follower of ChiLuxe Travel, you’ll know that we’re on a mission to see every Caravaggio in the world, and have been so inspired by our search, that we’ve started a not-for-profit organization to bring Baroque Art more into the mainstream, making it more accessible through specially curated itineraries, interesting stories, and finding out more about the history of the time period. Obviously, when we were in Florence for a day in July, 2026, we had…

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All Well Chicago Review: Elevated Dining from the Team Behind Oriole

All Well Chicago Review: Elevated Dining from the Team Behind Oriole

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I have been loving the side-gig restaurants to high end Michelin-rated establishments lately, and All Well is no exception. Coming from the folks at two-starred Oriole (probably my favorite restaurant in Chicago- check out my ode to their awesomeness here), All Well is the even more chill (and less expensive) outpost where you can enjoy the incredible artistic vision of Noah Sandoval without having to spend a week’s pay. The prix fixe menu in the dining room is $120 per…

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Swift & Sons Review: The Complete Chicago Steakhouse Experience

Swift & Sons Review: The Complete Chicago Steakhouse Experience

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We’ve dined at Swift & Sons Steakhouse in Chicago on multiple occasions, and it’s about time I posted a review of the place based on all of our experiences. Listed at number 73 on the World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants list, Swift genuinely delivers an authentic Chicago steakhouse experience, without blending in with the rest of the crowd. The restaurant is located in the bustling West Loop neighborhood of Chicago, and occupies a massive corner space. It’s been open now…

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Banyan Tree Mayakoba Review: Stunning Villas, Disappointing Luxury Experience

Banyan Tree Mayakoba Review: Stunning Villas, Disappointing Luxury Experience

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This review has been a long time coming. It’s tough to be inspired to write about average experiences, and even after being somewhat let down, I thought that maybe time would improve my thoughts on this resort. Unfortunately, it hasn’t, and it’s time to finally put my thoughts out into the world about the Banyan Tree Mayakoba resort. We stayed here for our 10th Anniversary trip in February of 2026. The Location Banyan Tree Mayakoba is located about 50 minutes…

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Creepies Chicago Review: Inside the City’s Most Talked-About New Bistro

Creepies Chicago Review: Inside the City’s Most Talked-About New Bistro

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Don’t let the bizarre name fool you, Creepies is anything but… creepy, and once you’ve been here, you’ll feel like you’re in on the inside joke as well. Creepies is the slightly more low-key and brand new French Bistrot-ish offering from the brilliant Anna and David Posey, who have been at the helm of Michelin-starred Elske right next door, for the last ten years. Accolades have been pouring in since opening, and they’re well deserved. We checked out Creepies on…

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