Ultimate eats: foodie experiences around the world
The next best thing to eating, is talking about it. With dishes developed from years of tradition and embedded in local culture, what better way to immerse in a destination than through its food? The world’s culinary palate is full of vibrant colours, insatiable flavours and unique textures waiting to be explored.
Agoda.com – one of the world’s fastest growing digital travel platforms – shares travel inspiration for culinary creations and unforgettable foodie experiences.
PARIS, FRANCE
The best way to celebrate joie de vivre is through French food. Buttery, flaky croissants, hot baguettes dripping with brie, crêpes oozing with chocolate – are you drooling yet? A private food tour bookable via Agoda.com, will take you on a culinary adventure to local markets, family-run restaurants and quaint patisseries, while exploring the historic Marais neighbourhood.
The good news is, it is near impossible to have a bad meal in Paris. Try Chez Gladines for an inexpensive yet satisfying meal of hearty Basque dishes and delicious salads. With street art by the famous Miss.Tic adorning the restaurant walls, immerse in the cool, boho ambience and all round cheery experience as you indulge. For a fine dining experience to soak up the ‘city of love’, head to Septime, a Michelin Star restaurant, with a modern, industrial-style décor.
If you only have time to visit one market in Paris, then make it La Marché Bastille. Open every Thursday and Sunday until 3pm, the market has over 100 stalls of fresh produce as well as takeaway food to be enjoyed. Bon Appétit!
Agoda tip: order your meal as it is (with no substitutions) – this can be considered rude in France.
Stay:
Stay in the comfort of The Residence luxury private apartment, a short walk to the Canal Saint Martin district – a hit for cheese shops and quaint cafes. Alternatively, Hotel R de Paris is close by to Rue des Martyrs, a street packed with boulangeries and chocolatiers.
NEW YORK CITY, USA
When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie… indeed, Pizza has stood the test of time in New York City. From the 99-cent slice, to infamous restaurants such as Brooklyn’s Grimaldis – New Yorkers love their pizza, and you will too.
Beyond the slice, there’s a plethora of international cuisine options to try. However, with approximately 26,000 restaurants to choose from, you may need a little help. Try the NYC Food Lovers Tour, bookable on Agoda.com, to explore the eateries around Manhattan, including famous institutions and hidden gems. Alternatively, cross over the bridge and explore Brooklyn with the Dumbo Food Tour, where you can snap some pictures of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge while chowing down on local fare.
When walking the streets of New York City, you’ll be sure to come across The Halal Guys cooking up gyro (similar to doner kebab) or chicken and lamb with rice – look out for the bright red and yellow striped umbrella, also a sign for ‘good food this way!’ Make sure to take some time to explore Chelsea Market, the urban food court with enough food stalls to satisfy any craving. If you’re simply looking for some comfort food – a little greasy but a lot of flavour – then you cannot miss the legendary Katz Delicatessen. However, if all you want to do is dine in style then River Café is your best choice. Docked on the river with stunning views of Manhattan, this place has long been considered the most romantic spot in NYC.
Agoda tip: remember to tip your server – standard tipping in the US is 15-20% – so dig deep!
Stay:
The sleek and modern Mandarin Oriental is located nearby Porter House Bar & Grill, serving arguably the best steaks in the city. Alternatively, stay at St. Regis New York located on 5th avenue, with the world’s top restaurants at your doorstep.
TOKYO, JAPAN
Japan’s culinary creations can be found in every corner of the world – sushi, ramen, tempura, matcha tea – and the list goes on. Arguably, you can never get them as authentic as they can get in Tokyo itself – a city with dining scenes like no other.
Pay a visit to the popular neighbourhood of Shinjuku, where you’ll find Tokyo’s dining restaurants from the high-end to the novel. Visit Nakajima, notorious for its sardine dishes and affordable Michelin Star eats; or step into an alternate reality at the Robot restaurant complete with live entertainment, lasers and robots – brilliant and bonkers, but not to be missed. Alternatively, the bustling high-end district of Ginza is home to some of Tokyo’s most sought after restaurants, such as Sukiyabashi Jiro, that’s arguably been dubbed the best sushi restaurant in the world.
Agoda.com provides hundreds of tours from the exciting to the eccentric for foodies in Tokyo. Dine at anime-inspired Maid Cafe, experience a Geisha tea house or discover your way round Tokyo’s most extreme foods with a guided adventure tour, including the notorious blow fish. If you want to recreate the experience at home, try your hands at making classic Japanese fare, including Sushi, Soba Buckwheat Noodles and Gyoza.
Agoda tip: don’t be surprised by the restaurant size – Tokyo restaurants are commonly small (sometimes only 12 seats!) But don’t let that put you off, these unique spaces provide a cosy atmosphere, as intimate as stepping into someone’s home.
Stay:
If you are looking to stay in the popular food district of Ginza, check out Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Premier. Alternatively, Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo is located in Tokyo’s fine dining district, Shinjuku.
MADRID, SPAIN
When visiting Madrid, eat like a local. Madrid creates its own rules for dining, and it’s not without its charm. As with most of Spain, expect to take a long lunch break, meant to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace. Then, go out to dinner at around 9pm and at this point you can look forward a local tapas bar, which (warning) is notoriously standing-room only. If you do have time in-between, you can embrace the ‘merienda’, Spain’s answer to afternoon tea – also known as a time to chow down on churros.
Tapas is the glue that keeps Madrid together, offering a relaxed, social environment to enjoy with friends and family. Dine in the 127 year old Tapas bar Bodega de la Ardosa and immerse in some local old-world charm. Those who appreciate Spain’s signature colourful mosaic interior can also choose to dine at the popular Casa Macareno. Alternatively, go out for tapas with a tailor-made tour from Agoda.com, which allows you to choose the type of foodie adventure you want, depending on your dietary needs. If tapas is not your style, the local dining scene has hugely upped its game in recent years with an influx of international chefs and restaurants such as La Terraza del Casino, overseen by renowned chef Ferran Adri. Hunting for halal-friendly eats? The award-winning Moroccan restaurant Al Mounia will not disappoint.
There are a multitude of markets in Madrid each with their own unique offering sure to delight the most discerning foodie. Mercado de San Miguel is one of the best markets in Madrid for food, selling oysters, caviar, pastries, fresh seafood and much more. Alternatively, guided walking tours around the markets are a great way to learn about the local cuisine and traditions that make up the distinguished Spanish dishes.
Agoda tip: take ‘sobremesa’ – the time you spend at the table after you’ve finished eating, simply enjoying the company of friends and loved ones.
Stay:
Stay at Hotel Unico Madrid, home to the Ramon Freixa restaurant headed by Michelin-starred Catalan chef. Alternatively, Gran Melia Palacio de los Duques is a short walk away from Mercado de San Miguel (popular food market).
MOSCOW, RUSSIA
Moscow might not immediately spring to mind when considering the world’s most revered cuisines, but food steeped in Russian tradition is a journey all foodies should embark on. The old Russian proverb ‘shchi (cabbage soup) and kasha (porridge) is our nourishment’ has certainly evolved inspired many of the flavourful dishes seen in modern Moscow.
Newly opened earlier this year is Depo, an international food hall housed in an industrial neo-gothic building. Not only is Depo a farmers market with more than 73 stalls, it regularly hosts workshops, lectures and has live DJ sessions. Taste the Blini (Russian pancakes) shashlyk (kebabs) or arguably the best Russian dish, pelmeni (Russian dumplings).
The pace of change for Moscow’s fine dining scene has accelerated in recent years. Popular restaurant White Rabbit has firmly marked its place as not only one of the best dining spots in Russia but also the world, topping global rankings. Alternatively, long-standing institutions such as Café Pushkin provide a luxury culinary experience housed within a stunning 19th-century mansion.
Learn more about local culture and culinary with a private tour of history and food available via Agoda.com. Here you will encounter some of the oldest and most beautiful streets of Moscow, experience local hospitality and discover fascinating facts of Russian cuisine while indulging in some of the most cherished local cuisines.
Agoda tip: Eat what you want, when you want. Restaurants in Moscow commonly serve at any time of day, so be prepared to forget the rules and go with the flow!
Stay:
Stay in a stunning 19th Century 8-storey building, Chekhoff Hotel Moscow. The hotel is situated in one of the most popular neighbourhoods Tverskaya, a busy thoroughfare lined with cafes, restaurants and boutiques. Alternatively, you simply can’t go wrong with the Ritz-Carlton.
For more information or to book your next getaway, please visit Agoda.com