Culinary travel, indulging my passions for food and wine, is my kind of travel.
Dining in the home of a local in Porto.
Attending a food film festival in New York.
Cooking paella in Barcelona.
Exploring bakeries, food shops, and markets in Paris with a knowledgeable guide.
These are some of my favorite–and tastiest–travel memories.
I might not have had these experiences, though, if I hadn’t done a little groundwork in advance. As I research the gastronomic options for my upcoming trips, I thought I would share with you my process.
Best Tips for Culinary Travel Planning
Dine in the Home of Locals
Once you’ve chosen a destination, check to see if there are any local people participating on the EatWith platform. This is a wonderful opportunity for a relaxing evening with locals and travelers. You’ll enjoy local cuisine, meet new people, and have a chance to learn much more about your destination from both those who live there and those who are exploring, like you. Having recently dined this way in Portugal, I will always try to add on one of these meals in every destination I visit. Use this code to receive $12 off your first EatWith experience: 9E4710A2.
Get a Helping Hand from AI
Take what it gives you with a grain of salt, and always do your own further research, but asking ChatGPT something like, “create a 3-day food and wine itinerary for London” can provide a starting point for you. You’ll want to check out the websites of the various restaurants, shops, bars, and markets it lists, as well as other sources of information.
Cast a Wide Net Online
The internet is your friend. I start out searching very broadly, getting a feel for the country or region I plan to visit, and what is unique to that area. What grapes are grown there? What are the notable vineyards? How can I get to them, or where else can I taste their wines? I look for local food specialties and everything from famous chefs to street food to local markets. I research what produce is grown there, what the traditional dishes are, and what is popular now. Are there farmer’s markets nearby, food festivals or community dinners at the time I will be there, or unique culinary events like the New York City Food Film Festival?
Save Money with TheFork
TheFork is a restaurant booking platform that can save you a lot of money at restaurants in Europe (and perhaps other places as the app evolves). I recently used it in Porto and saved 30{1eea65b97f16eaff88b6449ec4bd61d0a337087596df763590ffb883bdd967ce} on delicious local cuisine. I chose éLeBê Centro and my solo dining experience could not have been better. Plus, the substantial discount on the food left more money to enjoy a couple of glasses of Vinho Verde! I did have to remind them about the discount at the end, so just make sure to check your bill before paying. Book in advance to be sure to get a table. I like to go early to avoid the crowds and get more personal attention.
Subscribe to Receive Food and Wine Insider Information
Subscribe to newsletters and mailing lists. I sign up for emails from restaurants, wineries, food shops, cooking schools, local food writers, tourist bureaus, tour companies–anything food and wine-related, really. You will pick up all sorts of useful tidbits of information along the way. After your trip, just unsubscribe so your inbox is not constantly overflowing. Then, when you choose your next destination, repeat the process.
Get Culinary Travel Tips from Other Passionate Foodies
Take advantage of the experiences of others by mining message boards, joining Facebook groups, or checking review sites. Our Solo Travel Society on Facebook is a great place to post questions, with the advantage of getting personal recommendations from others who have traveled solo to the same destination. Review sites such as TripAdvisor can give you an idea of how other travelers enjoyed certain restaurants, food tours, or cooking classes as well, though you need to use a critical lens when using these sites, as you won’t know the tastes or experience of the reviewers, which may differ greatly from yours.
Read Local Sources to Find Local Delicacies
Read everything. Read publications geared to tourists – travel guides, tourism websites, official city sites – but also regular periodicals geared to local residents. How do you find out what’s going on at home? Use the same techniques for your destination. I scan the local daily newspapers, weekly entertainment guides, websites containing event listings and restaurant reviews, magazines, and food blogs. I’m a fan of TimeOut, which features local food news, restaurant reviews, “best of” lists for everything from street food to coffee shops to fine dining to wine bars, and sometimes even discount offers. It’s how I found my favorite pizza in London and the wonderful Cork Wine Bar and Market in Washington.
Roll Up Your Sleeves and Learn New Culinary Tastes and Skills
Taking a cooking class can be an incredible way to really get to know a bit about the cuisine and culture of a new place. This is one element of culinary travel planning that is really worth doing in advance. Often, you can find classes that include a bit more than just participating in cooking a meal, such as guided food shopping or touring a local farmer’s market. In Spain, I took a class with Cook & Taste Barcelona which began with a guided tour of the famous Boqueria market, where we picked up fresh ingredients for our meal. This is a great way to meet other food lovers and travelers, and the classes usually conclude by sitting down to share the meal that you have created, along with a glass of local wine. Or two. It’s also a great opportunity to get food, wine, and restaurant recommendations from a local chef, so try to schedule the class very early in the trip so you can take advantage of the insider information.
Join a Walking Tour by a Local Food Expert
Walking tours led by food experts combine a number of interesting elements. Not only do you get to taste lots of food, but you also get to see a bit of the city, pick up tips from your guide, learn about the food culture and history of the area, and also get some exercise in between food stops. If you find yourself in Paris, I recommend taking a walking tour with Lisa Rankin of Flavors of Paris. On the half-day tour that I took with her, we tasted and shopped at a wide variety of stores, bakeries, and markets that I never would have discovered on my own; met the shop owners, bakers, and wine merchants; heard great stories about Paris; and ate so much food that I didn’t need to buy lunch or dinner that day. At the end of the day, I sat down at an outdoor patio with Lisa and a lovely couple from the United States who had joined the tour, and enjoyed a wide range of cheeses, all washed down with French wines. Food tours are a great way to spend an afternoon and can also set you up for further exploration with suggestions and local expertise gained from the tour leader.
Enjoy Guided Wine Tours
If you want to explore vineyards and taste local wines, I suggest you relax, leave the driving to someone else, and get the added bonus of interesting information and anecdotes along the way by taking a tour. I am not a swirl and spit kinda gal–I like to fully enjoy the experience of drinking wines in the setting where they were created–so I never drive when I visit wine regions. I parked the car and had a great time in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley with Grape Escapes Nova Scotia Wine Tours. I joined a small group of 6 other travelers along with a very knowledgeable and engaging driver and host. After tasting your way through a couple of vineyards, enjoying the scenery on the drive, then dining together with, you guessed it, more wine, strangers feel like old friends. In addition to discovering new wines, it’s a great way for a solo traveler to have a very social evening.
Culinary Joys without Planning
Planning far ahead provides the opportunity to cast a wide net, and to learn a lot about the local food scene. But not planning at all can also result in fun and surprising experiences, and it’s important to leave yourself open for spontaneous opportunities. I once walked into a tourist office in Penticton, British Columbia to ask about the area, and within the space of 15 minutes I was given an overview of the region, along with maps, guides and postcards, was interviewed by a journalist and had my picture taken for the local newspaper, and found myself on board a minibus with 7 other solo travelers, headed for an afternoon of vineyard tours and wine tastings! You just never know.
For more about food and travel, read about our Culinary Travel Experiences Around the World.
Last updated: 16th June, 2024
