I’ve Tried 4 RH Restaurants: Here’s My Take!

Truly, an opulent and elevated dining experience at a furniture store is what any RH Restaurant will have! Amongst all of the glitz and glamour of the Restoration Hardware stores, Restoration Hardware has opened several RH Restaurants across the United States and in England at the storefronts. Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to dine at not one, not two, but THREE RH Restaurants: Dallas, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Indianapolis, Indiana. One of the things that has struck me about the RH Restaurants is that they are super similar from city to city. However, that concept is far from the truth. Now, I am sharing my take on each restaurant.

***A special thank you GS-JJ for sponsoring this blog post. Without their support, The Pink Chickadee wouldn’t be where it is today!*** 

*Disclaimer: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of my links, then I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no extra cost to you.*

I’ve Tried 4 RH Restaurants: Here’s My Take!

About RH Restaurants:

RH Restaurant is the signature elegant dining experience that multiple Restoration Hardware storefronts offer to shoppers and diners, alike. Truly, guests get to experience the sheer opulence of the storefront while enjoying a fine dining experience and/or a lovely glass of wine. The restaurant is a bit on the pricier side, yet it offers a truly great experience in an opulent setting for what you get. RH Restaurants are located all across the United States and a few in England, including beyond the four cities where I’ve happened to dine at one. Some of their other cities besides Dallas, Charlotte, and Indianapolis that have a RH Restaurant include: Nashville, New York City, Newport Beach, Chicago, and Minneapolis (see the full list and make a reservation here). Personally, I think that everyone should dine at an RH Restaurant at some point in their lifetime!

Dress Code:

While there isn’t a specified dress code, RH Restaurants encourage casual elegant. With casual elegant meaning that diners should avoid athletic wear, beach wear, loungewear, and overly casual clothing. Business casual or dressy casual attire is rather strongly encouraged within reason. Think business casual, but jeans are accepted!

To personalize your elegance, consider adding sophisticated accessories to your outfit. Custom Patches are a must-try.

Whether it’s a subtle monogram on the cuffs of a smart casual suit or a unique pattern on otherwise acceptable jeans, these subtle touches can elevate your outfit. These subtle touches complement the restaurant’s sophisticated ambiance without appearing forced. Customization is also incredibly convenient; you can get your own patches in a short time, easily adding a personal touch to your dinner outfit and adding a touch of flair to your elegant and sophisticated look.

My RH Restaurant Experiences By City:

Dallas, Texas (3133 Knox Street)

Dallas’s RH Restaurant is located on the rooftop of the Restoration Hardware storefront in the heart of the city’s shopping district. This RH Restaurant was my first-ever RH Restaurant experience, too! One of the things that immediately struck me as I walked through the Restoration Hardware storefront’s doors up to the rooftop for my dining experience was how literally opulent it is. I truly felt like royalty walking up those grand steps into the gorgeously elegant dining room! Filled with windows alllll around overlooking downtown Dallas made this location a truly magical first RH dining experience!

See more about my experience in Dallas, Texas, including lodging and at RH Restaurant, here.

 

Charlotte, North Carolina (6903 Phillips Place Court)

Less than a week after my first-ever dining experience at the RH Restaurant in Dallas, I made my way to the next one in Charlotte. We ended up doing a brunch and the menus were pretty similar from Dallas to Charlotte. The entrance into the RH Restaurant was pretty similar and super magical and opulent, however, the interiors of each storefront were different between the two cities. Like the Dallas location, the Charlotte RH Restaurant was also on the rooftop and boasted several gorgeous views of the Charlotte skyline (though there weren’t as many tall buildings in view as there were in Dallas). The interiors of both the Dallas and Charlotte dining rooms were pretty similar too, making it for an elegant experience that was quite familiar!

See more about my travels to Charlotte, North Carolina, including lodging and my experience at RH Restaurant here and here.


 

Indianapolis, Indiana (4501 North Michigan Road)

The Indianapolis RH Restaurant is situated on a previously family-owned estate that Restoration Hardware bought out and restored to its true glory. Unlike the Dallas and Charlotte RH Restaurants that are located on the rooftop, Indianapolis’s RH Restaurant dining room is at the mansion’s first floor dining room and has a complimentary Wine Bar/Cafe for shoppers and diners. We ended up having to wait a bit upon checking in for our reservation and grabbed some drinks at the Wine Bar/Cafe and felt like true royalty. Once we were seated, the RH Restaurant experience was great as per usual. And, afterwards, we ended up touring the estate and Restoration Hardware storefront where the RH Restaurant is located. Truly I was BLOWN AWAY! The Indianapolis RH Restaurant is indeed a RH Restaurant location like no other!

See more on my travels to Indianapolis, Indiana, including lodging and RH Restaurant, here and here.


 

Raleigh, North Carolina (4120 Lassiter Mill Road)

The RH Rooftop at RH Raleigh is located in the heart of North Hills Shopping District – a popular upscale shopping and dining district (see my guide on Shopping + Dining at North Hills here!). Just like the Dallas and Charlotte locations, Raleigh’s RH Rooftop location is located on the third floor of the RH Raleigh shop and gallery. While the RH Rooftop reminded me of both the Dallas and Charlotte locations in terms of its interiors and layout, I felt that the staff focused more on providing guests with a fancy and fun time out on the town. Truly, I felt that the RH Rooftop location in Raleigh went above and beyond and as if we were treated like royalty!

See more on my travels to and lodging in Raleigh, North Carolina here!


 

Wrap-Up:

Truly, RH Restaurants offer such an elevated dining atmosphere and overall experience. I adore getting to visit them in different cities (and hope that the Washington, DC area gets its *very own* RH Restaurant, too!!). While the dining experience at any RH Restaurant does include a hefty price tag, I do find it worth the experience on occasion when traveling or wanting to try something different. Not only are the vibes and taste impeccable, but you’ll be able to make lasting memories, too!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Another 48 Hours in Indianapolis, Indiana

Over the Summer, I went on my second-ever trip to “the crossroads of America” aka Indiana to visit my fellow influencer bestie Lindsay of @sunshineandstairclimbs (go follow her!). I wrote more about my experiences in Indianapolis where I also visited last year (here) and brought my since purchased camera this time around. This time around, we enjoyed time catching up as well as connecting with one of Lindsay’s best friends Rica (who is SO sweet!) and our fellow influencer bestie Taia of @taiajo on Instagram (go follow her!). Overall, I came to love Indianapolis for a second time and am looking forward to a future visit!

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

What We Did:

Lunch and Sightseeing at RH Indianapolis – RH Indianapolis is a unique asset to the Restoration Hardware storefronts and restaurants! Transformed into a dining room and gallery at the Dehaan Estate, RH Indianapolis lives on the grounds of the Dehaan family’s property. The Dehaan family loved unique sculptures and artistic creations which can be seen on their lakeside mansion estate that RH Indianapolis is currently at for many guests to enjoy. Most RH locations including the Dallas and Charlotte locations that I dined at earlier this year are located on the top floor of the Restoration Hardware storefronts. However, RH Indianapolis is located on the main floor, surrounded by galleries and patios and additional floors of showrooms filled with Restoration Hardware merchandise. Lindsay and I went with her best friend (who has since become my friend!) Rica to celebrate her birthday. While we waited for our table, we went to the gorgeous adjacent wine bar to enjoy some coffee and wine before getting seated. At lunch, we enjoyed the standard RH menu in their main dining room that looked out over Dehaan Estate’s lake and celebrated Rica. Afterwards, we got lost in the gallery and back patio and pool (!!!!) and admired it all. Truly, this was an RH experience for the books and one I would indeed be down to enjoy again! At the same time, I LOVED getting to meet Rica and celebrate her, as I’ve heard amazing things about her from Lindsay and LOVED getting to make her feel special. I look forward to connecting with Rica again IRL, too!

Dinner at The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers – After an incredible lunch (and some nap time post-early morning flight and a crazy boarding process at Dulles Airport!), Lindsay and I met up with our fellow influencer bestie Taia for dinner at The Cake Bake Shop! Taia and I have become Instagram friends over the past few years and she is an in real life friend of Lindsay’s. Our dinner at Cake Bake was my first time meeting Taia IRL (!!!!). I wrote more in-depth about my Cake Bake experience last year here, but indeed, it was extremely magical to be back at this fairytale of a restaurant. This time around, I ordered the soup and salad combination with their AMAZING French onion soup and Caesar salad alongside the restaurant’s signature pink and glittery Cosmopolitan. Needless to say, it was SUCH A BLESSING to be able to finally meet Taia in-person and look forward to connecting with her more in-person, too, and *of course* enjoy a nice outing at Cake Bake!

Sightseeing at Monument Circle – Last year when I went to Indianapolis, I didn’t explore much of downtown and wanted to the next time I came. This time around, we did just that – we did some sightseeing at Monument Circle aka the heart of Indianapolis’s downtown! We *even* stumbled upon the Soldiers and Sailors Monument (which I write more in-depth about our experience at here) which is a free to all monument that commemorates and honors those who served in Indiana. I *of course* brought my camera to snap some photos of the gorgeous architecture that I admired at EVERY turn, including of the gorgeous Christ Church cathedral. At Monument Circle, there was also a super adorable station where visitors could send out postcards for free to anyone across the world and take a few for themselves. Lindsay and I did just that which made for an incredible experience at Monument Circle!

Sightseeing and Shopping at Mass Ave – After a nice stroll and climbing the Soldiers and Sailors Monument at Monument Circle, Lindsay and I headed to Mass Ave. Massachusetts Avenue (regularly known as Mass Ave) is known for gorgeous architecture, shops, hotels, and restaurants. We ended up parking by the old Coca Cola Factory and strolled by and through the gorgeous lobby of the adjacent Bottleworks Hotel. We walked up Mass Avenue and saw plenty of gorgeous architecture which I *of course* snapped several photos of (!!!!) and stopped by the adorable Francis + Fern boutique which sells several adorable Taylor Swift-themed merchandise as well as adorable clothing! We also danced a bit with the iconic dancing lady on her automated screen that I got to meet for the first time in 2023. Mass Ave is definitely a charming and beautiful part of Indianapolis!

Dinner at Maialina Italian Kitchen + Bar – Maialina Italian Kitchen + Bar was located in a unique Indianapolis district that I am forgetting the name of (whoops!) that is off of Prospect Street. The staff were super kind and the food was DELICIOUS! I definitely enjoyed the atmosphere and affordability of the food compared to Washington, DC area Italian restaurants. I would definitely come back and was highly impressed (as was Lindsay!).

And, last but not least, I got to enjoy seeing SEVERAL …. Tiffany Blue fire hydrants aka an Indianapolis signature!!!!

I always have an amazing time with Lindsay and I loved getting to know and meet those who are important to her that I have since grown to love, too. Blogging and content creation has truly taught me the importance of long distance friendships and what value they bring to our lives. Til next time, Indy!

XOXO – Katie <3

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An Indianapolis Gem: Soldiers & Sailors Monument

Recently, I got to visit a unique gem in Indianapolis, Indiana: the Soldiers & Sailors Monument. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), I shared about my recent visit to Indianapolis, Indiana (see last year’s here) to visit my fellow influencer bestie Lindsay! Lindsay is an Indianapolis native and has been an incredible tour guide for me when visiting Indiana’s State Capitol and Chicago, too, since she frequents there often. However, even Lindsay was in for a surprise when we climbed (or took the elevator!) ALLLLLL to the top.

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

About:

The Soldiers & Sailors Monument is located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis literally in the center of its well-known Monument Circle. Originally built to honor Indiana’s Civil War Veterans with its construction starting in 1888 and opening on May 15, 1902, now the Soldiers and Sailors Monument honors all of Indiana’s Veterans who served prior to World War 1, including the Civil War, the Revolutionary War, and the War of 1812. The Soldiers & Sailors Monument is well-known for its 360-degree view of downtown Indianapolis via its observation deck 275 feet up. See more information on planning your visit here.

The best part about the Soldiers & Sailors Monument?!?!? It has FREE admission to all guests during its hours of operation which are “from dawn to dusk”, as listed on the Indiana War Memorials Foundation’s website. I truly admire how accessible this monument is to all who come to visit, just like other fellow monuments in the United States such as the Washington Monument in Washington, DC. To find the Soldiers & Sailors Monument, its address is: 1 Monument Cir, Indianapolis, IN 46204

Upon admission inside, which is spectacular on the outside, too (!!!!!), you have the option to either climb to the top or take the elevator to the top to reach the observation deck. Lindsay and I ended up climbing up about half of the Soldiers & Sailors Monument *before* we climbed back down and took the elevator up the rest of it – LOL! However, we were in for a TREAT when we reached the observation deck (!!!). We were able to see MUCH of the Indianapolis skyline (and beyond!), including the Indiana State Capitol, the stadium where the Indianapolis Colts play, and the well-known Salesforce Tower. I had a GREAT time getting to see Indianapolis literally from up in the sky!

Accessibility Note:

To reach the top of the Soldiers & Sailors Monument to the observation deck, one must climb a few flights of narrow and twisty stairs even if you take the elevator up most of the way, which may not be the most accessible to all. There are railings on each side of the stairs. The elevator is also pretty narrow and can fit up to four people in it at a time, which may be nerve-wracking for some people.

Wrap-Up:

I truly enjoyed getting to visit the this monument and getting in a half a tower climb in while at it. Lindsay and I had never experienced something neat and free like the Soldiers & Sailors Monument before and it was a REAL treat! While this monument is fun to visit and explore Indianapolis in a unique way like never before (and free to do so!!), it is also important to remember who it honors: our pre-World War 1 Veterans.

XOXO – Katie <3

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48 Hours in Chicago, Illinois

Around this time last year, my blogger bestie Lindsay and I were embarking on our first-ever trip to Chicago together! While it was a brief and rainy 24 hour trip to see the Malibu Barbie Cafe (here), I knew that I had wanted to visit Chicago again with Lindsay (since she LOVES the Windy City and visits often as she once lived there too!). SO, this time around, we decided to double our time and spend 48 hours in Chicago. And, I was in for a major treat (!!!!). Spoiler: 48 hours in Chicago (or more!) is definitely a better amount of time to explore the Windy City!

*Disclaimer: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of my links, then I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no extra cost to you. Additionally, this post is not sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

Where We Stayed:

 

Just like our trip last year, we stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Chicago – Magnificent Mile and, just like last year, it did not disappoint! The DoubleTree is where Lindsay has stayed multiple times in the past and has had GREAT experiences there. One thing that I LOVED about the DoubleTree is its central location in downtown Chicago, giving us easy access to all of the major points of interest in the Windy City, including the Riverwalk, Michigan Avenue, and several restaurants aka a great spot to spend 48 hours in Chicago at. Not to mention, the hotel rooms have incredible skyline views (!!!). At the same time, I have had GREAT experiences with the ultra-kind staff and interactions with fellow guests, too.

What We Did:

Riverwalk – Due to a fire in October of 1871, many of the Windy City’s initial buildings burned to the ground. And, to rebuild Chicago from the ground up, the beautiful buildings filled with such unique architecture and charm filled the city’s skyline to what it is today. Providing gorgeous views of Chicago’s STUNNING architecture, I LOVED getting to stroll multiple times alongside the Riverwalk, which shows off the city skyline extremely well. I kicked off our first full day in the Windy City by taking a morning stroll (before 9am) on the Riverwalk via Michigan Avenue with my camera. I was truly IN AWE by the stunning architecture that Chicago has to offer.

My biggest tip for strolling Chicago’s Riverwalk is to either stroll via Michigan Avenue before 9am or go a block (or two) off of Michigan Avenue to Columbus Street to avoid the crowds. At golden hour, Lindsay and I accessed the Riverwalk via Columbus Street, which provided such beautiful views of the Windy City’s skyline and waterfront! It truly was a magical time to see ALL of the boats (including Architecture Tours – something I aspire to do on a future Chicago trip!) go by. Golden hour on the Riverwalk was EXTREMELY majestic!

Michigan Avenue – You could *literally* spend 48 hours in Chicago simply on Michigan Avenue!! Michigan Avenue is well-known in Chicago for its shopping, restaurants, hotels, and access to the Riverwalk. You can find Ralph Lauren (including an adjacent Ralph’s Coffee!), Starbucks Reserve Roastery (which I write about more here!), the Intercontinental Hotel (which I ADORE walking by!), and *just a few* of some of my favorite places to shop such as J Crew, Kate Spade, LOFT, and Sephora. Throughout Michigan Avenue, there is TONS of stunning buildings and architecture, including the Water Tower (which is free to climb and enter), a church cathedral, and several buildings alongside the Riverwalk. I enjoyed browsing many of the shops on Michigan Avenue and admiring the gorgeous architecture at EVERY turn!

Museum of Ice Cream – Coincidentally located off of Michigan Avenue as well, Lindsay and I checked out the *very* pink Museum of Ice Cream! Offering unlimited ice cream and photo opportunities, the Museum of Ice Cream is an ADORABLE and ultra-pink place to be! Upon selecting a timed entry to the museum which guests can do on their website, we all entered in and were asked to pick out our *very own* … ice cream name! And, then, we were chauffeured into the Museum of Ice Cream where we got to enjoy unlimited ice cream in some of the many museum rooms AND interactive photo opportunities! After snapping several photos and taking in ALL of the ice cream and vibes, Lindsay and I enjoyed some cocktails (which we purchased via a drink ticket at an additional cost) before jumping into the … SPRINKLE POOL (!!!!!!).

Note that Museum of Ice Cream ticket prices vary by day and time. It is best to make reservations in advance to ensure you have a timed-entry ticket.

Millennium Park – Home to Cloud Gate aka “the Bean”, Millennium Park sits in the heart of Chicago’s downtown amongst a beautiful architectural array of buildings. I had only previously been to Millennium Park in high school in the Winter months, so it was SO nice to be able to visit Cloud Gate when it was much warmer. While a brief visit at Millennium Park to snap some touristy photos, I noticed that this place plays home to Lollapalooza several other live music events, alongside a gorgeous array of floral displays (which can be seen ALL around Chicago’s downtown!).

Lindsay and I walked from our hotel to Millennium Park (it was about a 15-20 minute walk!) via Columbus Street which is located off the corner of my hotel. On the way to Millennium Park, we stopped by the Fairmont Hotel to enjoy their gorgeous floral display that we passed by and get adorable complimentary water cartons!

Sparkling Pink Bar – Located at Lost Reef Lounge, the Sparkling Pink Bar is a pop-up bar hosted by Chicago  (learn more here). It is a ticketed event currently going on until August 25, 2024. With ticketed entry, a complimentary drink was included alongside their a la carte food/drink menu with additional items at an additional cost. The vibes were AMAZING and were ultra-PINK AND SPARKLY!!!!! I loved getting to experience this incredible pop-up bar with Lindsay and our friend Meredith.

Where We Ate:

Streeterville Social – Located at the Loews Hotel, Streeterville Social is a rooftop bar boasting INCREDIBLE views of the Chicago skyline. Me, Lindsay, Meredith, and their ultra-kind friend (whom I hope to connect with more in the future!) Faiza and I all met up for some drinks and bites. I mainly enjoyed the fries – LOLLL! – and took in all of the incredible Chicago skyline views. Streeterville Social is a GREAT place for enjoying a nice city skyline AND happy hour which they call social hour, live music, and trivia (ALL of which I read about online!) if you’re around for that.

Ralph’s Coffee – I *finally* tried a Ralph’s Coffee (!!!!). Last time Lindsay and I went to Chicago, we tried the Ralph Lauren Restaurant (more about that here). This time around, while on one of my Michigan Avenue strolls, I stopped into Ralph’s Coffee and got … a lemonade! The cafe was gorgeous and offered a selection of Ralph’s Coffee merchandise alongside drinks and pastries. I LOVED that the employees and decorations were all Olympic-themed to honor the Paris 2024 Olympics, given the Ralph Lauren campaign with ALL of the USA olympians!

HotHouse – Lindsay and I enjoyed martinis and watching the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics and the passing of the torch to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics at the HotHouse bar. The HotHouse bar is located at our hotel, the DoubleTree by Hilton – Magnificent Mile, and we got to chat with the super sweet bartender there, too. Alongside an amazing espresso martini, I enjoyed some delicious fish n’ chips and time with Lindsay, too! *Even* if you have 48 hours in Chicago, I recommend stopping here for a drink simply to interact with the bartenders here who make it soooo special!

Minghin Cuisine – I passed by Minghin Cuisine on the way to Michigan Avenue from our hotel and decided to pop in for a late lunch, as I was craving Asian cuisine. After a Quick Look on Yelp at reviews and saw that this was THE PLACE to go if you want Chinatown cuisine not in Chicago’s Chinatown, I knew that Minghin Cuisine was THE place to go nearby the hotel! Boy, was I in for a TREAT (!!!!!). The interior of the restaurant was gorgeous (which I would NOT expect from looking at the restaurant’s exterior) and the food was delicious. Lindsay and I were both BLOWN away by the restaurant’s quality of food, service, and atmosphere.

Starbucks Reserve Roastery – I decided to stop by Starbucks Reserve Roastery located on Michigan Avenue again, but this time, for breakfast and a Starbucks Reserve-exclusive coffee drink (last year we went for cocktails!). I LOVED getting to try the egg Caprese breakfast sandwich and another latte with their exclusive olive oil: Oleato. While a much briefer visit this time around, I LOVED getting to visit a familiar spot from last year!

Wrap-Up:

This was my first trip to Chicago where I truly felt that I got to experience ALLL of the best of the best that the city has to offer! From strolling the Riverwalk and Michigan Avenue to seeing the stunning turquoise Lake Michigan waterfront to all of the magnificent skyline views and interactions with locals and visitors alike in between, I fell in love with the Windy City! Needless to say, I am SO excited to go back to visit Chicago, as Lindsay and I are making it a summer tradition to visit her hometown of Indianapolis and *of course* an additional couple of days in Chicago, too. Chicago is an amazing city that boasts friendly people, gorgeous architecture, great vibes, and delicious eats. Truly, a 48 hours in Chicago leaving me wanting 48 more hours to spare!! I cannot wait to go back!

Til next time, Chicago!

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Experience at Chicago’s Malibu Barbie Cafe

*Just* in case you didn’t realize, I am a HUGE fan of ALLLLL things Barbie!!!! I have a Barbie Christmas tree, a few Barbie dolls (including one Christmas one!), and watch the movie *pretty* often, too. My friend Briana and I are *even* going to see Barbie The Movie In Concert this Summer at Jiffy Lube Live! SO, I *of course* had to visit the Malibu Barbie Cafe last Summer 2023 when in Chicago!

As a HUGE fan of the Barbie movie and, well, Barbie in general, I could NOT miss the chance to visit the Malibu Barbie Cafe at one of its pop-up locations back in Summer 2023. And, yes, we are *getting there* to Summer 2024, which I am SOOOOO excited for (!!!!), however, I am oh so excited for one last look back at some Summer adventures from 2023! In August of 2023, my Instagram bestie Lindsay of @sunshineandstairclimbs (GO FOLLOW HER!!!!) and I visited Chicago for a quick 24 hours (here) and before that Indianapolis, Indiana (where Lindsay calls home!) (here) AND ended up visiting the Malibu Barbie Cafe when it was in the Windy City. I shared about my experience at Chicago’s Malibu Barbie Cafe over on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), as well. As I am planning my next trip to the Windy City this August 2024, I am excited to share ALLL the details of this incredible experience of Lindsay’s and mine!

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

Tickets:

Lindsay and I booked tickets together a few months before visiting the Malibu Barbie Cafe. Lindsay booked the tickets on our behalf and, being transparent over here, I CANNOT seem to remember how much they were. ALL I remember is that each ticket came with a time slot and complimentary meal per person per ticket. Lindsay and I both picked a delicious vegetable quinoa bowl! Though, I do remember that time slots were required upon booking for crowd control purposes.

Our Experience:

To kick it off, we started off waiting in line to get into the Malibu Barbie Cafe about 20 minutes before our time slot. The super kind staff let each party in every few minutes at the beginning of each time slot and gave us 90 minutes-2 hours to be in the space before we were given the boot (ALL for crowd control purposes though!). And, the wait at the end of the line which was by the way filled with the sweetest Barbie-loving people of all ages, we were greeted with “HEY BARBIE” and the BESTTTT energy from all of the staff! We *truly* entered into Barbieland!!!!!

Once in Barbieland, we were seated at our table and were greeted by our waitress and given a fun cocktail menu. Drinks and any other additional food items were NOT included in the admission tickets (unlike our entrees) and we *of course* ordered pink glitter decked out cocktails and, well duh, French fries!!! Our waitress told us that we had *plenty of time* before any and all of our food/drinks came out to go and check out the merchandise AND *of course* get some photos which the photo opportunities plentiful at the Malibu Barbie Cafe. Not to mention, Barbie AND beach-themed music was played ALLL across the Malibu Barbie Cafe in *of course* true Barbieland fashion!!!

From ALLL THINGS beach to a surf board to travel and a roller rink and everything in between, Barbieland was TRULY decked out to brighten up the Windy City! Lindsay and I enjoyed SOOOO many of the photo opportunities here at the Malibu Barbie Cafe both before and after getting our food/drinks. It was a pretty gloomy day while we visited the Malibu Barbie Cafe, however, being with one another in Barbieland truly brightened both of our spirits!

Wrap-Up:

While it has been a Summer ago ever since my visit to the Malibu Barbie Cafe, I truly LOVED my experience in Barbieland with the incredible other guests and staff that brought such great energy and most definitely with my fellow Barbie loving bestie Lindsay! Summer 2023 brought about SOOOO many incredible Barbie-themed memories and going to the Malibu Barbie Cafe truly was the cherry on top of the cake of a truly incredible Barbie Summer!

XOXO – Katie <3

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24 Hours in Chicago, Illinois

Ever since I went to Chicago on a Spring Break trip in high school, I had wanted to visit again as an adult. Luckily, that opportunity to visit Chicago again came up when I went to visit my best friend Lindsay in Indianapolis, Indiana (here) and we decided to do a night in the Windy City before I headed back to the East Coast in August 2023! While in Chicago, we did alllll-things Barbie-themed, from going to the Malibu Barbie Popup Cafe to drinks at Hampton Social to the literal best ever espresso martinis that I’ve ever had at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery and a few things in between. During my time in Chicago, I truly fell in love with the city all over again and I cannot wait to go back and visit Chi Chi in the future!

*Disclaimer: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of my links, then I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no extra cost to you. Additionally, this post is not sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

Getting There:

Lindsay and I drove from Indianapolis to Chicago, since it is under 4 hours each way and I totally give props to Lindsay for driving us the entire way as I am NOT a city driver (confession!). I ended up flying home out of Chicago O’Hare airport on a United Airlines (my preferred airline!) flight back to Washington, DC. I was able to somehow get a flight into Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) from O’Hare which is RARE for United given that Washington, DC’s Dulles International Airport is a United Airlines hub. BIG WIN! Overall, I found navigating O’Hare to be pretty easy, as the airport is extremely nice and pretty fun with all of its displays, too.

Where We Stayed:

I am a big Hilton fan and a Hilton Honors (rewards) member! SO, we stayed at a Hilton with close proximity to the Magnificent Mile and the iconic Chicago Riverwalk. Our room had a beautiful view of the Chicago skyline, which was amazing especially after sundown. Personally, I LOVED where we stayed, as it was super close to everything in Chicago, allowing us to walk pretty much everywhere (with the exception of the Malibu Barbie Popup Cafe in a different part of town!). And, well, I LOVE a nice Hilton hotel, too!

What We Did:

Being transparent here, A LOT of our activities during our brief Chicago stay revolved around *none other than* … food and cocktails. Initially, we had planned to take an Architecture River Tour, however, due to the rainy weather, we decided against it – next time though! However, we did have a few fun activities during our time that didn’t involve food.

One of my favorite activities while we were in Chicago was getting to walk around after our night cap at Hampton Social alongside the Chicago Riverwalk, as the rain started to subside. Lindsay knows Chicago pretty well, so she was able to give me a free and fun nighttime skyline walking tour of the city. I LOVED getting to see Chicago’s skyline at night (there is something simply SOOOO magical about city skylines at night – am I right?!) and truly see the stunning city’s flair on a peaceful and partially drizzly Monday night. We walked across the bridges alongside the Riverwalk and admired all aspects of the city skyline. We also saw one of Chicago’s well-known theaters allll lit up and stepped foot in the Kimpton Hotel Monaco lobby which I stayed at the last time I was in Chicago with my Dad. The best part?! Finding a super fun set of gold ANGEL WINGS (!!!!) to strike *just a few* poses in front of. My college mascot is the Avenging Angel, so I ALWAYS will take an opportunity to pose in front of angel wings. That Monday night, I had a happy happy happy heart and SO MUCH love for the Windy City.

The other activity that we did was go to *none other than* the Target right next to the Malibu Barbie Popup Cafe after our time in Barbie Land to buy … Barbie dolls (!!!). The CUTEST thing?!?! SO many mothers, grandmothers, and daughters that we saw at the Malibu Barbie Cafe happened to stop by that exact Target, too. It was sooo fun to see Barbies manifested at Target afterwards! After Target, we took an Uber back to our hotel and ended up stopping by the iconic Intercontinental Hotel which was decked out in butterflies for summer time. We *of course* snapped a few photos with our Barbies at the hotel, too!

Where We Ate:

Starbucks Reserve Roastery – our first stop in Chicago was *none other than* … Starbucks Reserve! Starbucks Reserve is essentially a HUGE Starbucks offering cocktails, coffee, merchandise, food, and everything in between. It was such a neat experience! There isn’t a Starbucks Reserve in Washington, DC and I hadn’t been to the New York City Starbucks Reserve, so, when in Chicago, we HAD to make a visit (!!!). Lindsay and I went up to the 4th or 5th floor (I cannot remember – LOL!) bar and got some espresso martinis which were LITERALLY THE BEST EVER and simply enjoyed one another’s company. The vibes at the Starbucks Reserve were impeccable, too, and I will definitely be back for another espresso martini at the bar next time I am in the Windy City!

RL Ralph Lauren Restaurant – After seeing my friends Michelle and Divya dine at the RL Ralph Lauren Restaurant on their Chicago trip earlier in Summer 2023, I *just knew* that it was a must-dine when Lindsay and I went to Chicago! The restaurant is attached to Chicago’s Ralph Lauren boutique and the vibes were super elegant, classy, and very very very Ralph Lauren. The interior gave me a bit of that historic Washington, DC charm, but thinking more on the lines of Ralph Lauren in a restaurant! I tried their Lobster Bisque which was AMAZING and a Caesar salad. I have to mention that the staff at RL Ralph Lauren Restaurant are extremely kind, hospitable, and caring. While this wouldn’t be my first place on my list to dine at again in Chicago, I definitely wouldn’t hesitate to come back when the opportunity presents itself!

Hampton Social – Streeterville – Lindsay and I came to Hampton Social’s Streeterville Chicago location for a night cap on a rainy Monday night just a few blocks away from our hotel. We got Barbie-themed pink and glittery cocktails and I also got some delicious fried oysters. There aren’t any Hampton Social locations near me and I had heard of it as a popular spot in Nashville, SO I was psyched to hear that there were not one but TWO locations in Chi Chi! I am SO glad we came here, especially on a rainy Monday night as not many people were around and we got practically the entire second floor of the restaurant to admire its vibes and *of course* take photos.

Malibu Barbie Cafe – While the Popup cafe is unfortunately closed, Lindsay and I had an amazing time here. Upon purchase of our tickets, we selected complimentary food items (we both chose the veggie and grain bowl!) and ordered cocktails for an additional charge at the bar. The cocktails were ALSO glittery, pink, and VERYYY Barbie (!!!!). I’ll save the rest of my incredible experience at the Malibu Barbie Cafe for another post, but for now I will say that the food and drinks were pretty good.

Dollop Coffee Company – Lindsay and I got our morning coffees at Dollop Coffee just a block away from our hotel on Tuesday morning. One of the super fun things about Dollop is the fact that they have photos of many of the Real Housewives lining the walls of the shop. I don’t keep too much tabs at the moment on the Real Housewives, but I did watch the franchise a lot more during my high school years, so it was fun to see some familiar faces and enjoy a new-to-me cafe!

Wrap-Up:

I had an incredible time in Chicago and am SO grateful for our brief time in the Windy City. I LOVED the hotel that we stayed at and its location in proximity to many of Chicago’s incredible sites to see. I also LOVED having such a fun Barbie-themed time here, too. It was fun to practically plan a 24 hours revolving around all-things pink and Barbie! At the same time, I am so so so grateful for Lindsay’s and I’s friendship and the fact that she drove us into the city and then drove me to the airport out of the city, too. All in all, I have so much gratitude for our 24 hours in Chi Chi!

I definitely would LOVE to make a visit back to Chicago someday, too. And, hopefully, it won’t rain as much either! I would LOVE to experience the city’s incredible architecture via a tour, dine at some new-to-me spots, and spend time with Lindsay and others that I love. People in Chicago are extremely friendly and I would LOVE to go back again. Til next time the Windy City!

XOXO – Katie <3

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48 Hours in Indianapolis, Indiana

If you follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), you likely have seen photos from my AMAZING August trip to Indianapolis, Indiana & Chicago, Illinois with my influencer best friend Lindsay of @sunshineandstairclimbs on Instagram (GO FOLLOW HER!!!). Lindsay currently lives in Indianapolis and has also lived in Chicago, and I had such a GREAT TIME getting to see both cities from Lindsay’s perspective. I am SO SO SO grateful that my fellow influencer best friend and I have formed such a close bond and have NOW both visited each of our hometowns. Lindsay is such a BLESSING! In this post, I am going to be sharing specifically about my lovely 48 hours Indianapolis, Indiana where I ALSO got to add state 24/50 to my bucket list of visiting all 50 states (with a post on Chicago to come soon, too!!!).

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

Getting There:

First things first, I am going to share about how I got to Indianapolis. “It is SOOOO green here” – me to Lindsay when she graciously picked me up at the airport – LOL! I flew into Indianapolis International Airport (IND) via a direct flight on United Airlines (aka my airlines of choice and for points!) out of Washington, DC’s Dulles International Airport (IAD) (the airport I personally prefer as people are SOOO friendly there despite it being much farther from me and not the best for Metro travel from my house). Initially, I was going to fly on a connecting flight out of Washington, DC’s other airport Reagan National Airport (the airport I also love for its Metro-accessible and much closer to home proximity) and on a different airline, but decided to pay a few extra bucks for the convenience and less of a hassle of not having a connecting flight. Personally, I prefer to not have a connecting flight and value paying those extra dollars to worry less when traveling. My flight had the most kind flight attendants who happened to all be Indianapolis-based and gave me such a sweet taste of Indianapolis (which residents proudly call Indy!). I gate-checked my carryon and it got mixed up with the other bags going to baggage claim upon landing and the flight attendants and airport crew were SO kind and brought my bag to me just a few minutes later. Needless to say, the greener space of Indiana and the kind souls helping ensure me and my flight made it there safely and with all of our belongings provided me with THE BEST welcoming to my 48 hours in Indianapolis, Indiana and where Indiana proudly calls themselves as “the crossroads of America”!

What We Did:

Friday: I arrived to Indianapolis around 6pm (I think?) Indianapolis time (which is Eastern time despite being in the Midwest) and headed with Lindsay to her apartment to get settled in. Lindsay has a GORGEOUS and super adorable and veryyy Lindsay apartment near her workplace outside of downtown Indianapolis. Her apartment looks out over a STUNNING lake, which was SOOO nice to watch the sunset and much more peaceful than back at home in the Washington, DC area. We, then, went out to dinner at a restaurant near her house (more on dining in the next section!!!) before heading back to her apartment to catch up *even more* after doing so a bit over margaritas.

Saturday: In the morning, we hung out at Lindsay’s gorgeous apartment and enjoyed some Starbucks while taking in the lakeside view via her deck. It was SUCH A NICE way to restfully enjoy the morning! Early that afternoon, we went to Carmel City Center in the gorgeous and well-known in America suburb of Carmel, Indiana to have brunch at The Cake Bake Shop By Gwendolyn Rogers (more on that here in my review!), window shop at some of the many shops there, and check out the gorgeous and very historic (rather, Washington, DC-like) Hotel Carmichael. And then, that evening, we checked out Indianapolis’s Broad Ripple Cultural District which was such a fun area. We got wine flights and popcorn at a spot there, before admiring ALLL that Broad Ripple has to offer – the rainbow bridge, a canal full of geese, the Indianapolis Arts Center, and many stunning (and VERYYYY green) walking trails.

Hotel Carmichael

Broad Ripple Cultural District

Indianapolis Arts Center

Sunday: Our last full day in Indianapolis!! We started our day on the early side with a trip to the Indianapolis Zoo – an award-winning zoo known for its conservation and extensive research and care of the animals. We grabbed lattes at a cafe along the way, before hitting the Indianapolis Zoo’s Sunday morning special known as Flamingo Mingle and then hitting up the Dolphin Show (both are open and complimentary with admission to ALL visitors!). Lindsay’s amazing friend Elias met up with us after the Dolphin Show and we continued to admire the lions, elephants, birds, and kangaroos. We also took a safari train around the zoo and then checked out the conservatory and gardens (AND met an adorable turtle!!) ALSO at the zoo. I LOVED getting to know Elias a bit more and look forward to getting to know him better more so over time! After the zoo, Lindsay gave me a driving tour of downtown Indianapolis, before we headed home for LOOONG afternoon naps. That evening, we headed back to downtown Indianapolis to have dinner and cocktails before walking a bit alongside the charming Massachusetts Ave downtown. We ALSO found one of many ‘Indy” signs that are all throughout the city (!!!) and danced with this automated “dancing woman” that brightens many people’s days.

Indianapolis Zoo

Mass Ave in downtown Indianapolis

Where We Ate:

Verde, Flavors of Mexico – Lindsay and I kicked off Friday night here and it was A BLAST. Both of us LOVE a good bar seat, so we took the two seats at the end of the bar. We got margaritas and chips and guacamole and simply took the time to catch up. Needless to say, I LOVED our time just catching up and reuniting after ~6 months since Lindsay came to visit me in Washington, DC for the cherry blossoms. It felt like brunch but Mexican edition!

The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers – a magical magical magical experience!!! The Cake Bake Shop is ALSO coming to Disney Springs at some point, too. To be honest, Lindsay and I truly felt *just as if* we were at Walt Disney World within the magic of it all.

Just Pop In! – Just Pop In! is an award-winning gourmet popcorn company that ALSO does popcorn and wine flight pairings in the evening (!!!) via their gorgeous shop with a bar. SO, Lindsay and I *of course* got the popcorn and wine flight pairing which was SO MUCH FUN to try. A fun fact is that Lindsay got me a bag of Just Pop In!’s popcorn as a housewarming gift for me back in March – they are AMAZING. And, the bar/popcorn shop is SO SO SO cute. We had the bar to ourselves which was such a great way to wind down.

Foundry Provisions – A locally-owned Indianapolis cafe, Foundry Provisions strives to bring the Indianapolis community together. Lindsay and I grabbed iced lattes here on our way to the Indianapolis Zoo. While we didn’t spend much time here, Foundry Provisions comes HIGHLY suggested by the locals and had such a cute environment.

The Oakmont – Known as Massachusetts Avenue’s “favorite bar”, The Oakmont is a highly Instagrammable spot serving up brunch, bar snacks, and a highly distinguished list of cocktails. Lindsay and I *yet again* sat at the bar here and had a great time. I LOVED trying their delicious brisket nachos with a gorgeous cocktail. Here at The Oakmont is where I learned that truffle fries are THE thing in the Midwest – LOL! Lindsay ordered truffle fries and they were amazing, too. As I’m writing this post, I am CRAVING those brisket nachos (!!!!). Til next time!

Wrap-Up:

I had an incredible 48 hours in Indianapolis, Indiana and would LOVE to come back to visit again someday, too (perhaps another 48 hours in Indianapolis, Indiana?!?!). A few weeks before I jetted off to the Midwest, my coworkers and I shared on a team call where we were going for the summer. When I said Indianapolis, many of them, to my surprise, were SO SO SO excited for me. My coworkers LOVE Indianapolis and now I can see why. Indianapolis (just like many Midwest cities/states) is a highly-underrated city. Many people call the Midwest states the “fly over” states, but they are WAY more than that. There is a rich history, culture, and several kind souls there to meet and learn from.

I cannot wait to come back to Indianapolis sometime in the near-term future. As someone who wants to visit all 50 states in her lifetime, Indiana is definitely on my fly back to list, as there’s a lot to do, see, and learn about. I highly recommend that everyone spends 48 hours in Indianapolis, Indiana, especially if visiting all 50 states is on their radar! Until next time, Indy (and Lindsay!!)!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Review: The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers

Ever since I saw my influencer bestie Lindsay share about The Cake Bake Shop on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), I knew that I needed to check this magical brunch spot when I visited Lindsay in Indiana (see our full experience here). As of late 2024, The Cake Bake Shop is open at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida! And you may be wondering is The Cake Bake Shop really worth the hype?!?! Well, in today’s Cake Bake Shop review, I’ll show you why it is! Nevertheless, The Cake Bake Shop feels as if you are visiting Walt Disney World with the magic, the sparkle, and the generous hospitality. I did NOT want to leave this magnificent spot!!

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

About:

With locations in both Carmel City, Indiana and Broad Ripple Village, Indiana, The Cake Bake Shop has won Diners’ Choice Triple Awards for being the ‘Most Booked’, ‘Special Occasions’, and ‘Ambience’ in 2023. The Cake Bake Shop has also won a Travelers’ Choice Award by TripAdvisor in 2022, along with features of the likes of Oprah Winfrey, The Rachael Ray Show, and a Williams Sonoma partner. And, to top it ALLL off, The Cake Bake Shop is opening its newest location at Walt Disney World’s Boardwalk *coming soon* in Orlando, Florida and its owner Gwendolyn Rogers whose Indianapolis-based is striving to bring other Indianapolis-based small business owners into the spotlight like herself, too. Whether it be in the media locally in Indiana or to Walt Disney World, Rogers strives to support and bring awareness to other entrepreneurs’ dreams. As for The Cake Bake Shop, guests can dine there for brunch, afternoon tea, champagne, dessert, parties, and even dinner. The Cake Bake Shop is well-known for their delicious arrays of cakes that is one of Oprah Winfrey’s Favorite Things (!!!) and bubbly, along with their gift shop filled with cookbooks, ornaments, desserts, tea cups, and an array of many more *magical* goodies. Learn more: https://thecakebakeshop.com/

My Experience:

Lindsay and I went to The Cake Bake Shop location in Carmel, Indiana, decked out in its HUNDREDS of whimsical Swarovski crystals, and it was such an AMAZING experience! The moment we walked through The Cake Bake Shop’s magical doors, I started screaming just as if I was a five-year old again in a candy store. The vibes, ambience, service, and magic at every turn makes this dining spot such an impeccable place to be. The best part?! Our waitress Lupe made my experience such a magnificent one for the books. Once we got seated, Lupe was extremely empowering and kind and made our visit such a wonderful one. Lindsay and I enjoyed lattes with The Cake Bake’s signature edible glitter in their gorgeous signature teacups, lemony Caesar salad’s, truffle fries (who know that they were a Midwest specialty?!), and lemon blueberry cake. At the end of our dining experience, Lupe allowed us to channel our inner little girl and make a wish amongst ALLL of the fairy dust. Lupe truly helped make our experience (and my first one ever!!!) such a special one!

The Cake Bake Shop also has a stunning bar, events spaces, and a gift shop where guests can order cakes and other pastries along with pastries a la carte. Not to mention, The Cake Bake Shop has STUNNING Swarovski crystal-decked out chandeliers and floral-covered trees to make you feel *just* as if you’re in a magical fairy land. Personally, I am not a Disney vacationer *confession*, yet I felt as if I was in my very own version of Disney World. The entire time I was there, I felt as if I was in a magical land – just like I was 5 and at Disney again for the first time-ever!

Wrap-Up:

Personally, I felt SO inspired to have an event of my own at The Cake Bake Shop, whether it be an Afternoon Tea with my best gals clad in our fascinators, a celebration of sorts, or to simply to enjoy bubbly at the opulent bar. While I don’t live near a Cake Bake location, I definitely plan to come back to Indianapolis and Indiana for that matter and go back *yet again*. The Cake Bake Shop looks SOOO magical at Christmas time, too, and for a little girl’s Birthday celebration (like the group of girls and their Mom’s at the table next to us!). I hope this Cake Bake Shop review inspired YOU to put a visit on your bucket list, too!! Whatever the occasion may be for me, I KNOW that The Cake Bake Shop will see me again!

XOXO – Katie <3

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