(StLouisRestaurantReview) Traveling the world offers a fresh outlook on things. You can see architectural marvels, immerse yourself in the local culture, and enjoy scenic views. Each country has something unique to offer its visitors, especially in culinary terms. With the right budget, people get a unique cultural and culinary experience wherever they travel.
There are plenty of fine dining and street food locations to satisfy anyone’s needs. They’ll open up a whole new world for your tastebuds. So, if you’re a gourmet with pockets full of cash or a student on their first trip, this guide will show places right for your budget.
Barcelona – Disfrutar
Barcelona isn’t just the hometown of one of the biggest football teams. The Spanish city offers many cultural and culinary gems. Students can enjoy them while an admissions essay writing service increases their chances of getting into college. Its streets offer plenty of breakfast, lunch, and dinner time ideas. Grab a bite of tortilla de patatas, patatas bravas, or croquetas.
Barcelona is also a nice location if you want to spend the evening in a good restaurant. Disfrutar is one of the places that should be on every fine dining enjoyer’s list. This place seeks to please every gastronomic taste. Spearheaded by some of Spain’s most respected chefs, Disfrutar combines tradition with contemporary techniques. Some of its signature dishes include:
- Tangerines with layers of rose jelly, granita, and cream
- Panchino buns stuffed with sour cream and caviar
- Pesto with tender pistachios and eel
The restaurant is located in Barcelona’s Eixample district. Its main dining room feels very light, thanks to the dominance of white colors. The interior also heavily uses ceramics as an homage to the history of the Mediterranean region. Once you’re done dining, explore local landmarks, like the grand Basilica de la Sagrada Familia.
Copenhagen – Geranium
Denmark’s capital has enough street vendors to familiarize visitors with national and international dishes. Students should get their hands on Danish sausages, mouthwatering sandwiches, and burgers. If you want a more international taste, check out Argentinian empanadas, Nepalese dumplings, or Greek Gyros.
Stuffing yourself with street food might not be the healthiest way to live in Copenhagen. Those needing a more vegetable and fish-rich diet can check out Geranium. It’s one of the world’s top restaurants whose visitors experience the breathtaking view of the Fælledparken garden. Geranium made the shift to a meatless menu a year ago.
All of its produce comes from biodynamic and organic farms in Scandinavia and Denmark. The restaurant itself is a beauty to behold, with a large dining space filled with air and light. The interior has a distinct modern Scandinavian look through the use of open fires and blond wood.
Lima – Central
The capital of Peru is a top destination for gastronomic tourism. Its streets are brimming with vendors selling affordable and delicious snacks, including tamales, picarones, rachi, and butifarra. There are also plenty of desert options such as suspiro a la limeña, arroz zambito, and turrones. Despite the incredible taste, street food isn’t the only thing people come for in Lima.
It’s entirely possible that they want to dine in the Central restaurant. Chefs Pia Leon and Virgilio Martinez use practically every ingredient that grows in the country. Each dish contains ingredients found in various Peruvian provinces. Visitors will taste dishes made from pork belly, goat’s neck, clams, squid, or scallops. Central’s tasting menu costs from $160 to $260.
The restaurant itself has a modern aesthetic with an open kitchen. It even has its own vegetable garden with over 100 plant species. This gives visitors insight into what they’re about to eat. According to Central’s policy, all waste is recycled and composted.
Tokyo – Den
Tokyo remains one of the world’s biggest tourist destinations. Many people visit this city because of their love for Japanese cuisine. They want to experience what real sushi and ramen taste like. There are other popular street dishes they should check out. These include, okonomiyaki, takoyaki, tamagoyaki, and others.
Wealthier tourists often skip the ritual of buying street food and go straight to the top restaurants. Opened in 2007 by chef Zaiyu Hasegawa, the Den has been on top of its game. In 2022 it was named number 1 among Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. Unlike other places on this list, Den has a quiet and almost home-like atmosphere. Its best dishes are:
- Monaka
- Den Salad
- Dentucky Fried Chicken
Clients enjoy delicious dinners paired with premium sake, spirits, wine, or tea. Hasegawa’s approach draws in dozens of local and foreign guests every day. They even leave handmade souvenirs the owner proudly displays in the dining space. If you ever get a chance to visit Den, give its four-legged mascot Puchi Jr. a pet.
Vienna – Steirereck
Vienna is one of the most beautiful European cities. A day of sightseeing at the Belvedere palace or St. Stephen’s Cathedral will make anyone hungry. There are several things you can eat after exploring the city, including a wiener schnitzel or apfelstrudel. Those planning a visit to a fine dining establishment after a night in the Vienna opera house have more options.
For example, spend the evening at Steirereck, one of the city’s based restaurants. For many years it reigned in the upper division of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. Steirereck’s kitchen has been in the hands of chef Heinz Reitbauer. His art and approach gave a modern spin to traditional Austrian dishes. Some of the signature dishes are:
- Eel
- Fawn
- Tiger trout
- Arctic char
Reitbauer even brought back forgotten recipes that use rare fish and meat, as well as fruit and vegetables. The restaurant grows its own produce on the rooftop and even boasts its own beehives. Designers used a mix of concrete and blonde wood to create a stylish atmosphere. The restaurant’s interior is modern and classic, with a view of Vienna’s Stadtpark.
Conclusion
Traveling the world is one of the best experiences in the world. Street vendors and top restaurant chefs will ensure you never do this on an empty stomach.