The 7 Best Destinations for Food Lovers and the 8 Most Disappointing

Foodies are forever on the trail of cuisines to tempt their palettes and dazzle their taste buds. Anthony Bourdain was the gold standard, and his approval was a must for many of the world’s restaurants. In his absence, we’ve looked for new inspiration.We watch Gordon Ramsey scream at chefs to find the proper techniques for preparing our favorite foods. And we let Sonny Side’s comical approach on the “Best Ever Food Review Show” guide us on our food journeys.Learning about the world’s cuisines and where to find them helps us set our course for magnificent experiences. However, some food reviews can lead us astray and leave us disappointed. Instead of leaving it all to chance, we present the seven best destinations for food lovers and the eight most disappointing. 

Tokyo chefs’ artistry is unrivaled with culinary masterpieces and richly deserved Michelin stars. You’ll fall deeply in love with their magical boutique of flavors. Take in the experience of epicurean pleasures and mystifying presentations. Tokyo can bewitch your inner food critic and captivate you with fine dining and street-side sensations.

Start your Paris food journey with our little cheat sheet. A melt-in-your-mouth snack is in order, so stop at Ladurée for macarons. Locals highly recommend Bagnard to start your meal; check in for a fresh salade niçoise. No trip to Paris is complete without coq au vin; Au Bourguignon Du Marais’ chef has perfected it. 

The Catalan cuisine of Barcelona fuses the traditional with the eclectic. Start your morning with high-end craft beverages at Nomad Coffee. You can grab delicious tapas at Bodega Biarritz 1881 or Guell Tapas Restaurants. The La Boqueria Market offers fresh ingredients and samples that will inspire you. Locals recommend Disfrutar for upscale fine dining.

You will never find a Creole dining experience anywhere else like you’ll find in Nola. Even if you don't have your own Cajun grandma, you'll feel like family everywhere you go. Start your food tour with Port Demi Glace lamb chops at Antoine’s Restaurant in the French Quarter. Try Acme Oyster House for steamed seafood and comfort food. 

Foodies go to Venice to partake of their rich culinary culture. However, many traveling foodies say that most local restaurants were subpar with inflated prices. All’Arco and Trattoria al Gatto Nero are highly recommended for food lovers. However, most foodies insist that Venice is best for gondola rides, and Rome is best known for its food.

London’s food scene has been solely based on the rationing of the 1950s. Instead of stepping up their food game, they’ve simply incorporated international foods into their menus. Travelers fail to get a truly authentic food experience, since more restaurants turn to globalized cuisines. Many English dishes are often too bland. 

While the charm and allure of Cairo’s depiction in movies is enchanting, its food is not. Today, the food quality isn’t just terrible; it can be downright life-threatening. Poor sanitation standards have left many travelers unwell. Many restaurants have exorbitant prices that are unwarranted and insulting to tourists. 

Reykjavik’s food is not for the faint at heart. The focus of many restaurateurs is on preservation instead of high food quality. You’ll find mostly fermented foods like shark and overly dried-out fish. Menus are often repetitive since fresh produce availability is beyond limited. A one-day trip to their restaurants would be advised because by day two, you’ll be completely over them. 

If you come to Kingston for Caribbean flair, you’ll find yourself quite disappointed. Traditional and authentic foods aren’t widely available at their local restaurants. While their jerk chicken is the bomb, you may face inferior food quality if you aren’t careful. It’s always best to dine at the resorts where food safety standards are at their highest.

Venice Beach, much like many tourist traps in the U.S., is no stranger to stiff food prices. The food is often overrated and fails to meet high expectations. Most restaurants are a mix of trendy healthy infusions and fall short on their delivery. The restaurant scene is often overrun by inauthentic chains.