Some hotel restaurants are simply convenient. Others become part of the travel experience.
During our time in State College while filming the Happy Valley, Pennsylvania episode of Love Eat Travel with Michelle Valentine, we stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn State College, where Mercato Mio quickly became one of our regular places to eat.
We had breakfast there with our crew before heading out for the day, stopped in for lighter meals, and returned for dinner. But some of my favorite moments were in the restaurant’s intimate cocktail lounge, where my husband and I could finally sit down together after a long day and enjoy a drink.
Having all of that just downstairs from our room was certainly convenient. More importantly, we genuinely enjoyed spending time there.
Breakfast Before a Busy Day
Our mornings during production started early, so having breakfast available without leaving the hotel made life considerably easier.
During our visit, the breakfast selection included fruit, pastries, eggs, bacon and other familiar morning favorites, along with made-to-order omelets. There were plenty of choices whether we wanted a substantial breakfast before a long day or something lighter before heading out.
When you’re traveling, breakfast at your hotel can sometimes feel like an afterthought. When you have a full itinerary ahead of you, however, its convenience becomes much more valuable.
We could gather in the morning, eat together and then head out to explore Happy Valley.
An Intimate Cocktail Lounge We Loved
The lounge became a completely different experience in the evening.
After we’d finished filming for the day, my husband and I enjoyed coming downstairs for a cocktail. The space was beautiful without being overly formal, and its smaller, intimate atmosphere made it a particularly nice place for the two of us to unwind.
I loved the Espresso Martini, while Lawrence enjoyed the Old Fashioned.
Sometimes we’d order appetizers along with our drinks, including calamari or bruschetta. It became our little transition between the workday and the evening, when we could sit together, talk about everything that had happened that day and finally relax.
Those quiet moments are often some of my favorite memories from a trip.
Dinner Without Leaving the Hotel
We also ate dinner at Mercato Mio several times during our stay.
The menu was Italian-inspired, with enough variety that we weren’t limited to eating the same type of meal every night. We tried pizza and other dishes, while one meal I particularly enjoyed was salmon with spinach and a large side salad.
We weren’t always looking for a big dinner, either. At other times we chose simpler, lighter fare such as sandwiches and fries.
That’s one reason the restaurant worked so well during a multi-night stay. We weren’t visiting once for a special dinner and then moving on. We were actually using it as travelers do, eating there at different times and for different reasons throughout our trip.
When a Hotel Restaurant Becomes Part of the Stay
There’s something to be said for being able to finish a long day of exploring and decide that you’re perfectly happy staying right where you are for dinner.
You don’t have to get back in the car. You don’t have to search for another restaurant. And if you decide to have a cocktail, your room is upstairs.
For my husband and me, that combination of good food and a comfortable lounge made Mercato Mio an enjoyable part of our State College stay rather than simply an amenity inside the hotel.
It also gave us some welcome downtime during an otherwise very busy trip.
Staying at the Hilton Garden Inn State College
Mercato Mio is located inside the Hilton Garden Inn State College, where our crew stayed while filming in Happy Valley.
I’ve written separately about our experience at the hotel, including the rooms, common areas, outdoor spaces and why State College worked well as our home base.
Read: Where to Stay in State College: Hilton Garden Inn Near Penn State →
Explore More of Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Of course, eating was only one part of our time in Happy Valley. Our travels took us throughout the region as we discovered its history, scenery, food and some wonderfully unexpected experiences.
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