Memorable meals can make a trip, but locating a good restaurant in an unfamiliar place can be tricky — especially when hunger has already set in. To find the best tastes in a new town, follow these tips to know whom to ask and where to look. Bon appetit!
1. Plan ahead and book a culinary walking tour
Consider booking a culinary walking tour, becoming more and more popular in cities worldwide, for an early part of the trip. This is a great way to sample many dishes, get a lay of the land and then decide what places you’d want to come back to or what kind of regional foods you’d want to have again. Better yet, you’ll get to know your guide along the way, and you’ll be able to pick his or her brain for even more tailored recommendations. For people traveling in countries in which they don’t speak or read the language, this can be a good introduction to menus — plus proper mealtime etiquette in that locale.
2. Read local publications and posts from local food bloggers
Add some fun research to your trip planning by reading up before you go. A treasure trove of posts from local food bloggers and reporters is a quick Google search away, and the writers’ bread and butter is finding the hot spots and spilling secrets on the hidden gems. It’s easy to save all the addresses to a Google Map or print one out and highlight the intersections worth visiting. Some regional magazines or newspapers even have yearly dining lists that take a lot of the guesswork out of a visit.
3. Ask real people
Getting recommendations from the hotel concierge can be a decent fallback plan. Cab drivers can be a wealth of knowledge of all-night eats, and employees at popular tourist spots could have a scoop on what’s good nearby for lunch (without the long lines or the high costs). And asking people you meet can be a good icebreaker for even more tips and suggestions for your visit. Before you go, you can post on Facebook and Twitter to see if anyone in your circle has must-visit spots to share as well.
4. Avoid eating near the biggest tourist attractions in town
Restaurants have an easier time prospering when they are near the biggest tourist attractions, and the food doesn’t have to be all that good or interesting to get a decent crowd. If they’re harassing you to come inside or have flyers everywhere, it’s likely too touristy to be good.
5. Look for lines
If people are willing to wait to dine at a certain eatery, that says a lot. We’re not advocating wasting precious vacation time waiting long times to be seated for every meal, but once you find a spot that looks hot, do your research to find a better time to come back, or even better, see if they take a reservation.
