Discover the World's Tastiest Culinary Destinations: Highlights from Lonely Planet's Food Trails
Food is a profound way to immerse yourself in a destination's culture and landscapes during travel. From hidden local tapas bars to seafood fresh off the boat and grilled on-site, ingredients tell stories of history, while iconic dishes capture the soul of a place and its people.
Lonely Planet's Food Trails is the ultimate gastronomic guide to 52 premier destinations for unforgettable dining experiences. Our expert authors deliver curated recommendations for global food enthusiasts, spanning fine dining to exceptional street food.
Here, we highlight some of the most flavorful spots to whet your appetite. Dive in!
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Gaucho cattle herding and European immigration have crafted Argentina's meat-centric cuisine, making Buenos Aires a paradise for carnivores. Expect Italian gelato, Spanish empanadas, French wines, and German sausages and cheeses. Beyond the capital, Pampas grasslands sustain vast herds. Porteños (port people) love asados (barbecues) on parrillas (heavy-duty grills) in steakhouses and homes.
Margaret River, Australia
Southwest Australia's Margaret River, a drive from Perth, surprises as a food haven. Coastal towns like Fremantle, Bunbury, and Busselton offer abundant seafood. The wine region blends rural charm, beaches, and refined dining. Artisan producers, craft beers, and multicultural influences from Asia create a dynamic scene in vineyard eateries.
Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town's innovative chefs honor indigenous traditions and bountiful resources. Highlights include fresh seafood like crayfish and snoek; game meats such as springbok on braais (barbecues) or as biltong; sun-ripened produce; and fynbos plants from Khoe-San foraging.
Hanoi, Vietnam
Hanoi's unmatched culinary legacy stems from foreign influences: Mongol beef, Chinese stir-fries, French baguettes and coffee, plus Southeast Asian chilies and noodles. Fresh herbs define its unique cuisine. Birthplace of pho and bun cha, it's Vietnam's street food capital for discerning gourmands.
Aarhus, Denmark
Viking-rooted Aarhus, on Jutland, rivals Copenhagen with hyper-local, inventive dining. Denmark's culinary rise shines here, fueled by local pork, seafood, produce, and organic farms supplying butchers, bakers, and brewers amid bays, forests, and fields.
Jordan
Jordan, in the Levant crossroads, boasts layered cuisines with salads, grills, and mezze flavored by sumac, za'atar, dates, nuts, chickpeas, bulgur, and tahini. Prized lamb dishes end with syrupy sweets, reflecting its rich heritage.
Chennai, India
Chennai's bold vegetarian cuisine elevates lentils, potatoes, and tomatoes with sambar sauce for dosas and vada. Inventive chefs transform staples into delights. 'Curry' derives from Tamil kari, affirming South India's culinary roots.
Piedmont, Italy
Piedmont, Slow Food's birthplace, rivals Italy's best with risotto alla piemontese, tajarin, vitello tonnato, truffles, rice, hazelnuts, and gelato. Barolo and Barbaresco wines elevate its 'Tuscany without crowds' allure.
Maine, USA
Maine's coast pulses with maritime bounty: fried fish, oysters, clams with fries and slaw; steamed lobsters; chowders at shacks along US 1. From Kittery to Calais, visit May-October for peak road-trip flavors.
