How to Find Good Restaurants When Travelling
Finding a local dining gem can turn dinner into the ultimate exclamation point on a perfect day of exploration.
Late evening dinner dilemma. My cousin commandeering a local to explain the menu. Figuring out where to eat is becoming the evening’s main event
Are you like me? You love to travel. You pick a destination and spend a wonderful day exploring, watching interesting people, and discovering new things. Late afternoon arrives. It’s time to freshen up and head out again. This time, you’re on a mission to find the perfect dinner spot.
You look for somewhere inviting, a hidden gem where the locals gather. You wander the streets reading menus. You check ratings and reviews on your favorite search engine. So many choices. Before long, analysis paralysis sets in, making finding dinner feel like a high-stakes gamble in a strange city. Is there a secret to unlocking a flawless, stress-free dining experience that leaves you completely satisfied, relaxed and ready for a good night’s sleep?
There is no formula that can guarantee a great meal every time. The goal of this article is to create a simple method that greatly improves the odds and reduces that end-of-day decision fatigue.
Know Your Eating Style
Eating style is a deeply personal pattern, shaped just as much by your daily routine and energy levels as it is by your favorite flavors. When you’re searching for the ultimate dinner spot, two essential ingredients make all the difference. Know when you like to eat and what you like to eat.
A little AI polish brings this quiet morning to life just the way I remember it. Sitting with a warm cup of coffee, wondering what the day will bring and where we’ll find the perfect ending
Morning Coffee: A Sacred Liturgy
For me, the idea of deciding where to have dinner at the end of the day when I’m hungry, tired, and in relax mode is a bit daunting, so I get the ball rolling over my morning cup of coffee, when I’m rested and relaxed.
My coffee is a sacred liturgy, a groggy devotion. It is the secret potion that lifts the fog and sanctifies the day. Espresso plus milk has become remarkably international. If you like a latte, cappuccino or a flat white, you can find some version of that combination in cafés across much of Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand and major cities throughout Asia and Latin America. The names, sizes, milk texture and strength vary, but the basic idea travels very well.
If you are travelling and want a dependable cup of coffee, ordering an espresso-based drink with milk is one of the safer bets. It won’t taste identical everywhere, but in my experience, it satisfies the morning devotion and gets me ready for the adventures ahead.
This perfect plate of pasta found me near the Vatican in Rome
Out and About – Lunch and Snacks
When I’m out and about, I don’t think about what I am going to have for lunch. I usually carry an energy bar or a bag of nuts in case I get hungry. Strangely enough, when I wander around exploring, foodie gems seem to find me.
When that happens, lunch can become an unexpected highlight of the day. If it turns into a mid to late afternoon feast, dinner quietly disappears from my itinerary, replaced by a simple drink and a light appy. But if a small local cafe serving amazing food doesn’t cross your path midday and you need to eat, don’t worry. The same tricks for hunting down a great dinner spot work just as brilliantly for lunch.
After a day of exploring, a relaxing evening of good conversation, fine wine, and delicious food is the icing on the cake
The Icing on the Cake – Dinner
Once the day’s adventures are over, dinner is time to relax, meet new friends, enjoy a great meal and reflect on the day. It’s the perfect ending, leaving me deeply satisfied and relaxed.
My Search Method
My search method is not rocket science. It is about managing information, and for me, the best time to do it is in the morning with my coffee. Once the exercise is finished, the pressure is gone and I can enjoy my day.
Map Out the Options
Identify streets and neighbourhoods with plenty of places to eat. Check ratings and reviews to get a feel for what’s there.
Leverage Expert Recommendations
Local food writers, independent travel blogs and other sources can uncover places you might otherwise miss. When the same highly rated restaurant keeps appearing across independent sources, I pay attention.
Evaluate Feedback
Cross-check by reading both positive and negative reviews, and look for common threads. When different reviewers repeatedly mention the same food, service, atmosphere or problems, pay attention.
Additional Search Tools
Use the following tools as a final cross-check. AI can also help uncover trusted local food magazines, newspapers and dining guides.
- Tripadvisor→ is useful for major cities, resort towns and searches for specific cuisines.
- Yelp provides→ customer reviews and is particularly useful in many North American communities.
- TheFork→ is valuable in many European destinations.
- OpenTable→ is particularly useful in the United States and Canada.
- Tabelog→ is a valuable restaurant review and discovery resource when travelling in Japan.
- Dianping→ is widely used for finding restaurants and local dining recommendations in China.
