When a love of food meets vacation planning, the most interesting travel destinations emerge. Here are the best foodie cities for a culinary experience on your next trip.
An ideal travel destination has many advantages. The perfect mix of sandy beaches, natural landscapes, urban life and quiet zones. But what all travel destinations undoubtedly have in common: culinary experiences. Every trip is an opportunity to discover new dishes. That is why cuisine is an important point when planning a vacation, especially for gourmets. These are the best cities for foodies.
Rome: More than gelato and pasta
The film “Eat Pray Love” with Julia Roberts (56) clearly shows how deeply rooted the food culture is in Rome. Roberts’ character travels to Rome especially to enjoy the culinary specialties of the Italian capital. According to a ranking by the “Taste Atlas”, Rome is the city with the best food in the world. The most important of these are, of course, the Italian classics pizza and pasta. Almost every restaurant in the “Eternal City” offers these in numerous variations. The most famous and traditional pasta dish in Rome is probably the “Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe”, a special type of spaghetti with Roman cheese and pepper.
The love of pizza is so great in Rome that numerous restaurants offer at least two different versions of it on almost every street corner. Roman pizza differs from Neapolitan pizza in its thin, crispy dough and crust. The best “Pizza Romana” can be found in “Seu Pizza Illuminati”. The pizzeria even reached sixth place in the ranking of the world’s best pizzerias. “Pizza Al Taglio” is the street food version of Roman pizza. It is square and thick and can be eaten directly to go on almost every street corner. In addition to the shape, it also differs in the toppings: these usually consist of potatoes, mortadella and salad. Gourmets and critics particularly recommend “Pizzarium Bonci” for “Al Taglio” in Rome.
Those with a sweet tooth are spoiled for choice in Rome. Two restaurants in particular are very popular with locals and tourists: At “Mr. 100 Tiramisu” there is – as the name suggests – a hundred different types of tiramisu. The “Gelateria della Palma” is also impressive in terms of selection. The Roman ice cream parlor offers an enormous variety of 150 different types of ice cream, attracting both visitors to Rome and local connoisseurs.
Although Rome is a highlight of Italian cuisine, it lacks a little variety. Restaurants serving other national cuisines are the exception in the “Eternal City”.
New York: From celebrity pizza to hot dogs
Few cities in the world can boast such a wide range of culinary offerings as New York. The city is home to around 23,000 restaurants, 67 of which have been awarded at least one Michelin star. Foodies quickly take a liking to the world-famous New York classics such as burgers and hot dogs. Restaurants such as “Nathan’s Famous” have achieved cult status thanks to their hot dogs. Foodies should also look out for the popular food trucks, which offer a lavish selection of everything from tacos to falafel.
Even the pizza has its own New York variation. The New York-style pizza is known for its thick, crispy crust and wide slices. The pizzas from “Lucali” are particularly popular and have even been eaten by celebrities such as Beyoncé (42) and Jay-Z (54). One restaurant has caught New Yorkers’ attention in particular: “Katz’ Deli”. The restaurant in Manhattan has been serving what New Yorkers consider to be the best pastrami sandwich in the world for five generations.
Tokyo: The city of gourmet and street food lovers
Tokyo is a city of superlatives, especially in terms of gastronomy. The city has the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants in the world. The skyscrapers and numerous restaurants invite you to enjoy multi-course fine dining à la Kaiseki. Also frequently on the menu: Wagyu beef, which is one of the highest quality types of meat on the market. In “Towa”, which has also been awarded a Michelin star, foodies can experience a combination of classic Kaiseki cuisine and Wagyu dishes.
But Tokyo also has an enormous selection of casual dining – also known as Izayaki. According to “CNN”, Tokyo ranks second after Bangkok in the world’s best street food cities. From popular local dishes such as omurice (omelette with rice filling) and kare (Japanese chicken curry) to classics such as sushi and ramen, there is something for every fan of Japanese cuisine on the streets of Tokyo. The ramen selection ranges from simple soups for a quick drink to the Michelin-listed ramen at “Iruca Tokyo”, known from the Roppongi district.
Lisbon: A paradise for fish foodies
Although Lisbon also boasts a total of 17 Michelin-starred restaurants, foodies and local palates are mostly attracted by the casual dining and street food offerings. This is why there are many snack bars in Portugal instead of restaurants. This makes it very easy for foodies to find good food in the Portuguese capital.
When it comes to desserts, the choice often falls on “Pastéis de Nata”. These delicious sweet tarts can be found in every snack bar, bakery, supermarket and restaurant in Lisbon. This dessert is made from puff pastry and filled with sweet cream and is the Portuguese classic par excellence.
But fish lovers also get their money’s worth in Lisbon. Fish, seafood and especially stockfish are very popular. The so-called bacalhau can be found not only in almost every Lisbon restaurant that serves fish, but also in every supermarket. In their aisles there are often boxes of fish that has been pickled in salt and cured. Canned fish also gives the “Conserveira de Lisboa” a central role. This shop on the coast of Lisbon has been selling canned fish for almost a century, which is why the city is known for canned fish delicacies.
Another must for every foodie visiting Lisbon is the “Timeout Market”. In a market hall there are over 25 restaurants, each equipped with a small kitchen and serving high-quality food. From Portuguese classics such as the Bifana sandwich or the cherry liqueur Ginjinha, which is traditionally drunk from a chocolate cup, to French patisserie and Italian desserts, the food court offers everything a gourmet’s heart desires.
By (ada/ki/spot)