Food is one of the great reasons to travel. Entire trips can be planned around Kyoto’s many ramen shops or the hawker centers of Singapore. Travelers can spend vacations seeking out the fufu of Accra or the mint tea of Marrakesh, the mole of Mexico City or the ceviche of Lima. And of course, is any trip to New York City complete without a bagel breakfast, or a trip to Paris finished before sampling at least a dozen or so croissants?
For travelers looking to make food the central experience of their trip, Travel + Leisure is here to help them navigate the world of culinary vacations.
On this topic, T+L explores the origins of agritourism in the hills of Alba in northwestern Italy’s Piedmont region, and roots out the best bourbon distilleries in Louisville, Kentucky.
Through the personal experiences of T+L writers and editors, you can taste Brazil’s diverse culture through the cooking pot, which is fragrant with European, African, and indigenous American influences.
Here, travelers can plan a day trip from Cape Town to South Africa’s best vineyards, or make arrangements to bed down at Macau’s Grand Lisboa Hotel, which is the only building in the world to have two three-star Michelin restaurants under one roof.
Culinary vacations can reveal the finest New Nordic dishes in Copenhagen outside of Noma, and introduce you to the traditional Thai toppings at Bangkok’s Nuttaporn Ice Cream parlor: beans, corn, peanuts, and pineapple.
Of course, there are more adventurous cuisines to try during your travels. Take a chance on the wasp larvae at a traditional izakaya, in Matsumoto, or order a cherry shake and a burger with green chile and cheese from the iconic New Mexico fast-food chain, Blake’s Lotaburger. It’s not exotic, but it’s definitely unusual.
Whether it’s street food or fine dining, ad-hoc individual travel or organized tours, there are many things to eat and many ways to eat it while on the road. Check back for the latest stories on culinary vacations travel trends and where to find the best food around the world.
