The best places to visit in South Europe if you’re seriously food-obsessed

If you are a serious foodie, as obsessed about the delicious cuisine as we are, for sure you select holiday based on the culinary merit. So, let’s have a look at the best places in Europe for foodies. Warning: will make you hungry! Europe food travel, here we go…

Bordeaux, France

Treat yourself to some best wines in France! Bordeaux is a wine lover’s paradise, renowned for its Bordeaux wine, which is produced from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot grapes. Foodies can visit vineyards, wine tastings, and sample local dishes such as “Entrecôte de Bordeaux”: a steak served with a red wine sauce. For a fine dining experience, consider visiting “Le Chapon Fin,”. This Michelin-starred restaurant specialises in traditional French cuisine. The Chapon Fin’s magnificent cellar is well-stocked with great wines such as 1928 Château d’Yquem, 1986 Pétrus, 1955 Lascombes, 1985 Dom Perignon and 16 vintages of Château Mouton Rothschild… What a treat!

Parma, Italy

I bet you heard of Parma ham! This city in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy is known for its culinary traditions, particularly its Parma ham, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and Balsamic Vinegar. Foodies can visit local producers, and sample traditional dishes. Vegetarians can try “Tortelli di Zucca,” a pumpkin ravioli, while meat-eaters can enjoy”Culatello di Zibello,” a cured ham. Lastly, for a dining experience, visit “Trattoria Antica Corona Reale,” a restaurant specializing in traditional Emilia-Romagna cuisine.

San Sebastián, Spain

San Sebastián is a city in the Basque Country, known for its rich culinary traditions and seafood. Did you know that this city has one of the highest concentration of Michelin – star restaurants? No surprise it is heaven for foodies. You can sample local dishes such as “Pintxos,” small Basque tapas, and “Txuleta,” a grilled T-bone steak. San Sebastián is also renowned for its pintxo bars, where foodies can sample a variety of dishes and enjoy local wine. Many of the pintxos contain fish, but vegetarians can also find cheese and vegetable options. Additionally, San Sebastián is the cradle of Basque gastronomical associations, with the earliest instance of a txoko being mentioned in writing in 1870. The Basque Culinary Center, the first organisation to provide a university degree in gastronomy, is also located in San Sebastian.

Lyon, France

Lyon is a city in eastern France, known for its rich culinary traditions, including its “Bouchons Lyonnais,” small bistros serving traditional Lyonnaise cuisine. Foodies can sample dishes such as “Quenelle,” a dumpling made with pike and served in a creamy sauce, and “Andouillette,” a sausage made from tripe. For a dining experience, visit “Daniel et Denise,” a Michelin-starred restaurant serving traditional Lyonnaise cuisine.

Traditional Lyonnais eateries feature regional cuisine like sausages, duck pâté, and roast pork along with regional wines. The Beaujolais region to the north and the Côtes du Rhône region to the south are two of France’s most well-known wine-growing regions that are close to the city. Another Lyon tradition is a type of brunch food called “mâchons”, made of local charcuterie and usually accompanied by Beaujolais red wine. Mâchons were the customary meal of the canuts, the city’s silk workers, who ate a late-morning meal after they finished their shifts in the factories.

Coq au vin, quenelle, gras double, salade lyonnaise (lettuce with bacon, croûtons, and a poached egg), rosette lyonnaise, and andouillette are more classic local dishes. Marron glacé and coussin de Lyon are two common regional sweets.

More recently, the iconic French taco was created in the outskirts of Lyon in the early 2000s.

Albufeira, Portugal

Albufeira is a city in the popular Algarve region of Portugal, known for its seafood and traditional Portuguese cuisine. Foodies can sample dishes such as “Bacalhau,” salted cod, and “Cataplana,” a seafood stew. Try its fresh seafood, which can be enjoyed at many local restaurants such as charming “Ze do Peixe Assado”.

Traditionally known as Cataplana (called after the cookware used in its preparation), a well-known meal from the Algarve, it is a delicious steamed stew dish made with local shellfish. Similar to this, popular traditional dishes typical of Portugal’s coastal regions include the Caldeirada (or fish stew) and straightforward grilled sardines. Think Europe food travel? Say Albufeira!