25 Hidden Culinary Gems: A Foodie’s Dream

One of the great pleasures of traveling worldwide is immersing yourself in a new place’s culture, sights, sounds, and tastes. But we love the travel trend of planning our next excursion around foodie destinations so we can experience a city plate by plate, restaurant by restaurant.

1. Bangkok, Thailand

Thai street food has long been known as a must-do when in Bangkok. The food halls and night markets are lined with food vendors offering authentic Thai delicacies to hungry customers day and night.

But as a foodie destination, Bangkok is also resplendent with Michelin-star restaurants and tasting options at every price point, as well as food tours, cooking classes, and even floating markets just outside the city.

Here are some local favorites to add to your itinerary:

• Jay Fai: Legendary street-side cooking turned Michelin-starred institution, famous for wok-torched crab omelets and fiery seafood dishes prepared over charcoal stoves.
• Sorn: Thailand’s first three‑Michelin‑starred restaurant, offering a refined, 22-course menu grounded in traditional Southern Thai flavor and locally sourced ingredients.
• Gaggan Anand: Iconic multi-award-winning modern Indian-Thai fusion spot, repeatedly ranked among Asia’s top restaurants and known for playful, experimental tasting menus.
• Somtum Der: Popular for spicy Isaan-style papaya salad and authentic Northern Thai small plates in a rustic, energetic setting.
• Potong: Innovative modern Thai restaurant ranked No. 13 in Asia’s 50 Best, blending heritage cuisine with high-concept plating.

2. Barcelona, Spain

Dining in Barcelona is heaven for foodies. The tapas culture permeates every restaurant, café, and food cart, so Spanish gustatory pleasures can be experienced one “little plate” at a time.

While many travelers arrive in Barcelona ready to take in Gaudi’s architectural triumphs or bask in the Mediterranean waters nearby, foodies can sample the seafood, Iberian ham, and churros tapas in little bites and fantastic Spanish wines.

Must-Try Restaurants in Barcelona:

• Cova Fumada: A Barceloneta legend since 1944; credited with inventing the iconic “bomba” (meat-stuffed potato croquette) and serving traditional Catalan seafood in handwritten menus.
• Disfrutar: Avant-garde Mediterranean tasting menus crafted by former elBulli chefs, celebrated for innovation and presentation.
• Lasarte: Barcelona’s first three‑Michelin‑starred restaurant, offering exquisitely plated Catalan cuisine by Chef Paolo Casagrande.
• Mae: Blends Latin American and Catalan flavors under the banner of “gastronomic glocalism”; tasting menus spotlight ingredients like guava, coraline, and lulo.
• Quirat: Led by Catalonia’s youngest Michelin-starred chef, Quirat serves elevated Catalan-inspired dishes like rice with sea cucumber and seasonal tasting menus.

3. Bologna, Italy

In the heart of Northern Italy is Bologna, once an Etruscan city and now a foodie destination that proudly shows off its ancient roots with historical markets like the Quadrilatero Old Market that has served the town since the Middle Ages.

Foodies can get hands-on experience making pasta or tiramisu with classes at the Culinary Institute of Bologna or even dine at one of the 29 Michelin-star restaurants in town.

Visitors to Bologna can also visit a nearby winery to enjoy another layer of flavors in this tasty Italian town, the capital of Emilia Romagna, also known as Italy’s Food Valley.

Here are local favorites to add to your foodie itinerary in the heart of Emilia-Romagna:

Osteria dell’Orsa: Casual, communal, and lively—locals and travelers alike queue up for dishes like gnocco fritto and crescentine paired with cured meats at this beloved Bologna hangout.

Trattoria da Me: A romantic, family-run trattoria helmed by Chef Elisa Rusconi, serving beautifully balanced Bolognese classics with seasonal refinement—think velvety tagliatelle al ragù and inventive starters like savory cheese gelato.

Sfoglia Rina: A local legend for handmade pasta—order tortellini in broth, tagliatelle al ragù, or the weekly specials from their extensive chalkboard menu. They also sell fresh pasta to go.

4. Charleston, South Carolina

This coastal city is well known for its southern charm and pastel row houses, but foodies worldwide descend on Charleston to taste her fresh take on low country dishes and soul food delicacies.

Hundreds of restaurants in town and on the city’s coastal islands offer endless opportunities to taste this grand city’s seafood, barbeque, and low country flavors.

But foodies here can also visit the Charleston Tea Garden, where you can walk amongst the tea bushes, dive into low country muscadine wine at Deep Water Vineyards, or take a Secret Food walking tour through historic Charleston.

Don’t leave without trying these local gems:

• Husk: Celebrated for its low-country Southern cuisine and focus on locally sourced ingredients, redefining Charleston’s culinary identity.
• Bowens Island Restaurant: Rustic oyster shack by the water—freshly harvested shellfish and charm in one.
• FIG: Modern refinement meets Southern legacy with farm-driven menus and elevated local ingredients.