Some people travel for beaches, some travel for mountains - but those who are wise will travel for food. Yes, culinary tourism is a thing, and we’re here for it. As well as being the best (and most modest) travel experts around, here at Plum Guide, we’re somewhat food bon vivants and have a hankering for all things tasty. From Europe to Asia to South America, we know where to find the tastiest food from around the world. So pack your stretchiest pants - you’re going to need them in these foodie destinations.
San Sebastián, Spain
A close up of seafood on bread in San Sebastian
Also known as Donostia, San Sebastián is one of the best foodie destinations in Europe. Located in the mountainous Basque country, the city is home to the second highest concentration of Michelin star restaurants per square metre (after Kyoto in Japan). When you’re not dining in three-star Arzak or Elkano, one of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, be sure to sample San Sebastián’s pintxos (Basque style tapas). Served at the bar with a glass of wine or beer, pintxos are typically small pieces of bread topped with various ingredients - like chorizo, Spanish ham, anchovies, prawns, and cheese, as well as local specialities like slow-cooked veal cheeks, pimientos de padrón (fried long green peppers), and bacalao (salt cod). Its seaside location means San Sebastián has some of the best seafood around, with iconic dishes like bacalao al pil pil (cod fried in olive oil), gilda (anchovies, green olives and spicy pickled peppers), and kokotxas (a stew made with hake or cod cheeks). The best way to sample all these dishes? Treat it like a pintxos pub crawl and only order a few dishes at each place.
Silver Sand, Plum Guide home in San Sebastian, Spain
Singapore
A traditional noodle dish in Singapore with chopsticks and a sauce
Any gastronome should have Singapore on their foodie bucket list. It may be one of the smallest countries in the world, but it manages to pack so much good food into its 728.6 km². Singapore is a melting pot of Indian, Chinese, and Malay cultures, all of which have a distinct impact on the local cuisine. The country’s ubiquitous hawker centres are the backbone of Singapore’s food scene - and this is where you should start your food journey. Each stall specialises in one dish, but it’s one dish done really, really well, and perfected over generations. Popular choices include Hainanese chicken rice, char kway teow (stir-fried rice noodles), nasi lemak (rice cooked in coconut milk with a variety of sides), laksa (spicy noodles topped with chicken, prawn or fish in a coconut broth), and roti prata (an Indian flatbread). At the other end of the spectrum, Singapore is home to fine-dining restaurants including the three Michelin starred Odette and Les Amis. Be sure to dine at Restaurant Euphoria, which showcases local chef Jason Tan’s unique brand of ‘gastro-botanica’ cuisine.
Copenhagen, Denmark
A close up view of a traditional Danish rye bread sandwich in Copenhagen, Denmark
Denmark’s capital is one of the top destinations for gourmands. For a city of its size, it has an impressive collection of Michelin star restaurants - including the world-famous three-star Noma, frequently ranked number one on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants by Restaurant magazine. Casual eateries are also an important part of Copenhagen’s food scene, with many serving traditional dishes like rød pølse (red sausage served in a bun with ketchup, mustard, and onions), and the famous smørrebrød - a Danish open-faced sandwich made with rye bread and topped with meat, shrimp, marinated herring, cheese, eggs, beef tartar, and spreads. A must-do while visiting Copenhagen is to pop into Torvehallerne. This food hall and market has over 80 stalls, where you can pick up everything from local delicacies to Danish pastries.
Scandi Skyline, Plum Guide home in Copenhagen, Denmark
Buenos Aires, Argentina
A number of empanadas for sale at a market in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Argentina’s elegant capital is known for its intense Malbec wine and excellent steaks, so we won’t blame you if you spend all your time in the city’s parrillas. Having said that, there’s so much more to Buenos Aires than just meat. In recent years, a new wave of gourmands have inspired an interest in vegetable-centric dishes, pastry shops, vermouth and wine bars, and traditional dishes which have been reinvented. Porteños (the people of Buenos Aires) are social beings, so you’ll find cafes, restaurants, and bars packed at any time of the day. Good food is to be found all around the city, but is particularly prevalent in neighbourhoods like Chacarita and surrounding barrios such as Colegiales, Villa Crespo, and Villa Ortúzar. Some of the city’s best food can be found in street stalls, so be sure to try local specialities like empanadas (puffed pastry filled with a variety of fillings), choripán (chorizo sandwich), and pastelitos (sweet jam pastries).
Berlin, Germany
A close up view of traditional currywurst in Berlin, Germany
While its fascinating history is Berlin’s main draw, more and more people are visiting for the rapidly growing food scene. You can find food from around the world here, with everything from street food and vegan cuisine to high-end restaurants and a third wave coffee movement. One dish you simply must try here is the iconic currywurst. This cheap, humble sausage laden with a sauce of ketchup, curry powder, and Worcestershire sauce is the perfect meal (especially after one too many steins). Another iconic dish associated with Berlin is the doner kebab. Brought to Germany by Turkish immigrants, doner kebab consists of grilled meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie, served with vegetables and salad in a pita or bread - Mustafas Gemüse-Kebab does them best, but be prepared to queue. As well as street food, you'll be pleased to hear Berlin does boast a number of Michelin star restaurants. Coda Dessert Dining is one of the quirkier options, offering a one-of-a-kind culinary experience where multiple course dessert menus are served as fine dining.
Mediterranean Berlin, Plum Guide home in Berlin, Germany
Osaka, Japan
A close up view of okonomiyaki in Osaka, Japan
Renowned for its thriving food scene, Osaka is nicknamed ‘tenka no daidokoro’ (or ‘the country’s kitchen’). It’s so well-known as a foodie destination that the term ‘kuidaore’ (‘eat until you drop’) is frequently used to describe the city’s food culture. Here, it’s all about casual dining, and you’ll find restaurants and food stalls lining the city’s narrow streets. Some of Osaka’s most delicious local dishes include takoyaki (grilled octopus stuffed in a ball of batter and deep fried), okonomiyaki (shredded cabbage, seafood, and meat in a flour-based batter), kushikatsu (battered and deep fried skewers), and kitsune udon (thick wheat noodles served in a hot soup with deep fried tofu). The best place to find Osaka’s famous dishes is the neon-laden Dotonbori district, or alternatively, head to the old-school Shinsekai district.
Bologna, Italy
A close up of a traditional tagliatelle al ragu dish in Bologna, Italy
When it comes to the tastiest food around the world, Italian cuisine is up there with some of the best. While you’ll find good food all around the country, Bologna is considered Italy’s food capital. It’s also the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region, and is home to parmesan, balsamic vinegar, mortadella, tortellini, parma ham, and more. The freshest egg-based pastas are found here, but despite its name, you won’t find spaghetti bolognese on the menus. In fact, the very idea is scorned by the locals, with tagliatelle al ragu the dish of choice. Another regional pasta dish is tortellini al brodo, or pasta stuffed with cheese and meat in a hearty broth. Visit local markets like Mercato di Mezzo, where you’ll find specialities such as mortadella, a traditional Bolognese sausage made from finely chopped pork meat spiced with black pepper, myrtle berries, nutmeg, and pistachios. Come late afternoon, take a seat at one of the eateries in the city’s courtyards for a spritzer and tapas-style dishes.
La Dotta, Plum Guide home in Bologna, Italy
Oaxaca, Mexico
A traditional tlayudas pizza in Oaxaca, Mexico
Mexican food was the first cuisine to receive UNESCO culinary heritage status, and that’s largely thanks to the kitchens of Oaxaca. Known as the culinary heart of Mexico, it’s a must visit for those who travel for food. Oaxacan cuisine has a deep connection to its history and tradition, and you’ll find that cooks in this region have a commitment to preserving the roots of the cuisine. Oaxacan food is subtle yet rich and layered - some of the most famous dishes include countless types of moles (sauces made from chillies, fruit, nuts, and spices), tlayudas (Mexican pizza), Oaxacan cheese, and chapulines (grasshoppers). It goes without saying that everything is best washed down with mezcal - a spirit made from the agave plant found across the landscapes of Oaxaca.
New Orleans, USA
A close up view of a Cajun Jambalaya in New Orleans, USA
Visiting New Orleans? Our best advice is to come hungry. Inspired by the city’s multicultural heritage, the cuisine of New Orleans is a literal melting pot of flavours. Native Americans, French settlers, Africans, and Southern Americans have all had an influence on this city’s cuisine - as have Caribbean, Creole, and Cajun spices. New Orleans’s best finds are spread out across exceptional restaurants including Compere Lapin, family-run establishments such as Willie Mae’s, and street food experts like Miss Linda (aka ‘The Yak-A-Mein Lady’). There are so many dishes synonymous with New Orleans that it would be impossible to list them all. However, some of the most famous must-tries are the po-boy (French bread stuffed with meat and fried seafood), gumbo (a soup-stew that can contain seafood, meat, or sausages served over rice), jambalaya (a Creole and Cajun rice dish with seafood, meat, and vegetables), and beignets (deep-fried dough squares dusted with powdered sugar).
Sassy Style, Plum Guide home in New Orleans, USA
Beirut, Lebanon
A large tray of knafeh at a market in Beirut, Lebanon
With Ottoman, Syrian, and French influences on its food, Beirut is home to one of the most exciting food scenes in the region. To taste the food here is to experience the city’s complex history and culinary heritage - you won’t find it difficult to find somewhere to eat. Some must-try traditional delicacies include manakish (a flatbread pizza topped with ground meat, herbs, spices, and cheese), knafeh (a spun pastry soaked in a sweet syrup and layered with cheese), falafel (ground fava beans or chickpeas mixed with spices and deep fried) and shawarma (meat that is spit-roasted and sliced into a pita bread with parsley, onions, and garlic). Visit Souk el Tayeb farmers market for ready-to-eat treats, and Seza for authentic Armenian mezze. Fleeing the genocide in 1915, many Armenian refugees found their home in Beirut and brought their cuisine with them - be sure to try mante (small, baked, meat-filled dumplings).
