Europe is heaven for those who enjoy great food & drink, with destinations like Paris, Rome, London and Lyon having long garnered a reputation as havens for those who aspire to accumulate edible trip highlights.
There are always new places coming up though and the following five are just a few of the trendy destinations to consider including on your—or your client’s—next food-focused European adventure.
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Slovenia’s pleasant-as-can-be capital is the best place to experience the nation’s rising gastronomic reputation firsthand, an ascension that has seen the launch of the first-ever Michelin Guide to Slovenia in 2020 and the selection of the nation as the 2021 European Region of Gastronomy.
At Ljubljana’s diverse range of restaurants, you’ll find everything from traditional regional flavors utilized in modern ways to sensational takes on Japanese cuisine—all served up beside some stellar Slovenian wines. Don’t leave town without a stop at the historic Central Market or making a run for a "pizza burek", a decadent late-night snack loved by the locals.
Bordeaux, France
World famous for its wine, Bordeaux’s 21st-century regeneration has helped usher in a new era for this historic city in southwestern France, and with it a much-deserved focus on its remarkable food offerings.
In 2023, the city’s biennial Fête le Vin wine festival will become a yearly event and its renowned Cité du Vin interactive wine experience—easily the world’s finest attraction dedicated to the production and cultural history of wine—will launch a new exhibit while the city’s famed restaurant row of Rue Saint Rémi will be buzzing once again. Make sure to try regional local oysters, asparagus, or porcini mushrooms in addition to making a trip out to the nearby coast and/or local vineyards for the full Bordeaux experience.
Berlin, Germany
Berlin buzzes 24/7 and you’ll find plenty of tasty bites here, too. One of Europe’s great street food destinations, you’ll find everything from classics like falafel & kebabs to new-school Asian & American-inspired dishes being served up hot at the city’s food halls and sidewalk stalls. The German capital has also picked up a reputation as a great destination for lovers of vegan & vegetarian fare.
Stockholm, Sweden
While foodies have been fawning over Copenhagen’s New Nordic scene for a large chunk of the 2000s, Scandinavian neighbor Stockholm has been patiently waiting for its time to shine—and that time is now.
The Swedish capital has been declared the 2023 European Capital of Gastronomy and will see a full calendar of food-focused events take place throughout the year that showcases Sweden's culinary prowess and ingredients (think festivals dedicated to beer, wine, pastry and chocolate to chef competitions and special menus inspired by Sweden's regions). Don’t leave town without visiting one of the city’s hip food halls or the historic Östermalm Market Hall, which dates back to 1888 but underwent a complete renovation in 2020.
Turin, Italy
More and more food lovers are cottoning on to the fact that Italy is so stacked with gastronomic delights, so blessed with an embarrassment of foodie riches, that they can go off the beaten path without leaving the “eaten path” for a second.
The capital of the Piedmont region in the northwest part of the country, this grand city is often overlooked but rewards those who visit by giving them the ability to sample countless signature dishes of the region without leaving the city limits. A sampling of the things you're bound to enjoy during a trip to Turin are polenta, risotto, decadent bagna cauda, truffles and scores of regional cheeses & chocolate-based delights (including a creamy chocolate & coffee drink called bicerin). And this is to say nothing of Piedmont’s gift to the world of wine: Barolo.
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