1. London
London is the perfect destination to experience wine, food and culture in a single city break. Sightseeing is a must for any first time visitor to the capital. The London Eye, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace or a trip aboard an open top bus are sure fire favorites! However for the more seasoned London visitor, witnessing a West End performance, a trip around the London Dungeons, a trip to the Natural History Museum, the National Gallery or the Tate Modern provides a great cultural alternative!
Regardless of previous London experiences, enjoyment can be found at Covent Garden in the midst of street performers and a coffee at Andronicas!
Where and what to taste
One of the biggest consumers of wine in the world and host to the annual London Wine Fair, the capital boasts a hugely exciting wine culture. You can find authentic experiences across the city and cuisines running from French to Italian to Eastern European delicacies, all delivered with English wit and charm.
Terriors, Trafalgar Square, The Remedy, and Cleveland Street offer a fantastic opportunity to experience unusual wines accompanied with fantastic food. Sager + Wilde offers a similar experience with a hint of Parisian bar décor. It's a fantastic venue for the wine enthusiast looking for a sophisticated yet original wine experience.
These examples offer just a snapshot of what the wine scene in London has to offer. This is definitely a choice city for anyone looking to experience novel and relatively unpublicized wines in a bustling and diverse city!
2. Paris
Aside from visiting the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Notre Dame, Paris boasts many hidden cultural gems that are well worth a visit! For an alternative evening activity, a visit to Le Caveau de le Huchette is a must! This authentic jazz club, found in the Latin Quarter, has a unique gothic interior and a fantastic choice of wines to accompany the live jazz music and dancing! With different acts performing every night, this is the perfect place to spend an evening among Parisian locals!
Where and what to taste
Paris is the epitome of food and wine culture, as eating is considered a fundamental part of Parisian lifestyle and wine being regarded as "the intellectual part of the meal." Try Escargot's, horse meat and rabbit hearts when visiting. A visit to Le Relais de Venise is a must and delivers some of the best steak in Paris. And look for hidden brasseries offering authentic French food culture.
3. Rome
There is no better way to experience the infamous culture of Rome with food pairings first hand. Check out the ultimate Italian road trip experience: a wine tasting tour of Rome aboard a vintage Fiat 500, which ends just shy of the Colosseum. This tour provides a snapshot of sights, food and wine in Rome in just three hours! Visitors are spoilt for choice, and you get the opportunity to visit the Vatican Museums, St Peter's Basilica and the Pantheon. For those looking for something a little more unique, take a walk up to Gianicolo Hill for a spectacular view of Rome, and listen out for the cannon that fires every single day at midday, something that has occurred ever since the battle for Rome was won! Alternatively, a session in the Rome Gladiator School would provide some interesting holiday memories!
Where and what to taste
Food culture in Italy is synonymous with pasta, pizza and ice cream. However, the real gem is their wine culture. The Emilia-Romagna region of Italy has a history of unusual white wine pairings with cuisine. They also make "orange wines," made with white wine grapes in methods akin to the technique of red winemaking.
Bar Necci and Bar del Fico provide fantastic wine experiences in unbeatable picturesque locations!
4. Barcelona
It is easy to fill your time in Barcelona. Booking a visit to the Sagrada Família is a must, as is a trip around Parc Güell. For an authentic experience, plan a visit in September amidst a few festivals, which will provide great insight into Spanish culture! Mercè Day (September 18-24) is a hugely popular festival, and an amazing time to be in Barcelona!
London is the perfect destination to experience wine, food and culture in a single city break. Sightseeing is a must for any first time visitor to the capital. The London Eye, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace or a trip aboard an open top bus are sure fire favorites! However for the more seasoned London visitor, witnessing a West End performance, a trip around the London Dungeons, a trip to the Natural History Museum, the National Gallery or the Tate Modern provides a great cultural alternative!
Regardless of previous London experiences, enjoyment can be found at Covent Garden in the midst of street performers and a coffee at Andronicas!
Where and what to taste
One of the biggest consumers of wine in the world and host to the annual London Wine Fair, the capital boasts a hugely exciting wine culture. You can find authentic experiences across the city and cuisines running from French to Italian to Eastern European delicacies, all delivered with English wit and charm.
Terriors, Trafalgar Square, The Remedy, and Cleveland Street offer a fantastic opportunity to experience unusual wines accompanied with fantastic food. Sager + Wilde offers a similar experience with a hint of Parisian bar décor. It's a fantastic venue for the wine enthusiast looking for a sophisticated yet original wine experience.
These examples offer just a snapshot of what the wine scene in London has to offer. This is definitely a choice city for anyone looking to experience novel and relatively unpublicized wines in a bustling and diverse city!
2. Paris
Aside from visiting the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Notre Dame, Paris boasts many hidden cultural gems that are well worth a visit! For an alternative evening activity, a visit to Le Caveau de le Huchette is a must! This authentic jazz club, found in the Latin Quarter, has a unique gothic interior and a fantastic choice of wines to accompany the live jazz music and dancing! With different acts performing every night, this is the perfect place to spend an evening among Parisian locals!
Where and what to taste
Paris is the epitome of food and wine culture, as eating is considered a fundamental part of Parisian lifestyle and wine being regarded as "the intellectual part of the meal." Try Escargot's, horse meat and rabbit hearts when visiting. A visit to Le Relais de Venise is a must and delivers some of the best steak in Paris. And look for hidden brasseries offering authentic French food culture.
3. Rome
There is no better way to experience the infamous culture of Rome with food pairings first hand. Check out the ultimate Italian road trip experience: a wine tasting tour of Rome aboard a vintage Fiat 500, which ends just shy of the Colosseum. This tour provides a snapshot of sights, food and wine in Rome in just three hours! Visitors are spoilt for choice, and you get the opportunity to visit the Vatican Museums, St Peter's Basilica and the Pantheon. For those looking for something a little more unique, take a walk up to Gianicolo Hill for a spectacular view of Rome, and listen out for the cannon that fires every single day at midday, something that has occurred ever since the battle for Rome was won! Alternatively, a session in the Rome Gladiator School would provide some interesting holiday memories!
Where and what to taste
Food culture in Italy is synonymous with pasta, pizza and ice cream. However, the real gem is their wine culture. The Emilia-Romagna region of Italy has a history of unusual white wine pairings with cuisine. They also make "orange wines," made with white wine grapes in methods akin to the technique of red winemaking.
Bar Necci and Bar del Fico provide fantastic wine experiences in unbeatable picturesque locations!
4. Barcelona
It is easy to fill your time in Barcelona. Booking a visit to the Sagrada Família is a must, as is a trip around Parc Güell. For an authentic experience, plan a visit in September amidst a few festivals, which will provide great insight into Spanish culture! Mercè Day (September 18-24) is a hugely popular festival, and an amazing time to be in Barcelona!
Where and what to taste
From authentic paella served up at the quayside in the shadow of the infamous W hotel, to back street tapas bars, it was here that I gained a huge appreciation for fantastic seafood! This is a great city for large group meals, with their cornerstone style of food – tapas – a perfect for.
Spanish wines are high quality and affordable and a great fit for a broad spectrum of Spanish cuisines, modern dishes and cooking techniques from all around the world. Take Sherry, Spain's classic wine, which works exceptionally well with Japanese and Asian based food. Catalonia, the birthplace of Cava, provides great accompaniments for starters, and this sparkling wine produced by the traditional champenoise traditional method works well as an accompaniment to BBQ chicken.
For the traveller seeking a unique escape with a group of friends, Barcelona delivers an unintentional yet unrivaled education in the unique wine and food culture of Spain, set against the backdrop of a city steeped in history, romance and architecture! Be prepared to view the restaurant seafood option back a home in a whole new light following your visit!
5. Budapest
For the first time visitor, a Danube cruise gives a great introduction to the beauty of the country. Follow this with exposure to the architectural beauty of Budapest, and book a daytime tour to the Budapest Opera House before witnessing it in it's full glory by viewing an evening performance. Walk down Andrassy Avenue to visit City Park and Heroes Square. The most visited square in Budapest is surrounded by places of cultural interest, and is responsible for the idea that Budapest is the "Paris of the East"!
Where and what to taste
The food and wine culture of Budapest almost contradicts classical wine/food pairing stereotypes! The Hungarian Ezerjó wine, a sweet and sour white wine with strong pronounced acidity and high alcohol content, pairs with traditional Hungarian lamb dishes and liver and also with fruity meats and desserts. It works particularly well with spicy Hungarian dishes with abundant use of paprika, an essential primary ingredient in Hungarian stews. A visit to Gundel Restaurant is a must, which treats diners to traditional gypsy music while sampling cuisine.
6. Buenos Aires
For those looking to go further afield and extend beyond the parameters of Europe, Buenos Aires, the city of taste and smells, would be the perfect option. Trying the unique Argentinian cuisine of offal is a cultural activity in itself, and should be accompanied by witnessing (if not trying!) traditional Tango dancing.
Where and what to taste
The city boasts many of the top restaurants not only in Argentina, but globally, very much creating a varied and enticing playground for the avid food fan! Just a traditional steak and a glass of Malbec would be more than enough to convince you, but be sure attend a traditional Parilla. The food offered at Don Julio Palermo puts a typical British BBQ to shame. Here, they slow cook an entire butterflied lamb or a whole load of beef right in front of you, before carving it and letting you indulge. Pair this with a traditional tango show at Bar Sur, and you'll get a fantastic evening revolving around amazing food and authentic entertainment. Dining at La Brigada offers the opportunity to witness tango while trying traditional offal delicacies. A visit to El Bistro may be more to your fancy in order to really break the mold!
7. San Francisco
For the first time visitor, booking a hop-on-hop-off bus tour offers a great introduction to the city. The tour covers a lot, from the Painted Ladies to Pier 39 to the Golden Gate Bridge. You'll also see some fantastic dining spots to later enjoy. Check out the popular Alcatraz tour for some history and great views (be sure to book weeks in advance). For an iconic San Francisco experience, take a trip on a cable car and bike the golden gate bridge; incredible city views and priceless photo opportunities guaranteed!
Where and what to taste
With over 4,500 restaurants in a 7 square-mile area, Californian wine and cuisine is abundant, creative and courageous; using fresh ingredients, cultural influences and culinary imagination. A must for any seafood lover, or anyone looking for a place to be educated in seafood, look no further! Tadich Grill, dating back to 1849, cannot be beaten for Seafood Cioppino, and Swan Oyster Depot has attracted visitors far and wide to sample its Combo Salad (seriously). These delicacies are fantastic companions to Californian wines. A visit to the Bubble Lounge is definitely a must! If you love Barcelona, and the culinary notes there, San Francisco would be a fantastic next destination to broaden your culinary horizons and experience the American dream!
Spanish wines are high quality and affordable and a great fit for a broad spectrum of Spanish cuisines, modern dishes and cooking techniques from all around the world. Take Sherry, Spain's classic wine, which works exceptionally well with Japanese and Asian based food. Catalonia, the birthplace of Cava, provides great accompaniments for starters, and this sparkling wine produced by the traditional champenoise traditional method works well as an accompaniment to BBQ chicken.
For the traveller seeking a unique escape with a group of friends, Barcelona delivers an unintentional yet unrivaled education in the unique wine and food culture of Spain, set against the backdrop of a city steeped in history, romance and architecture! Be prepared to view the restaurant seafood option back a home in a whole new light following your visit!
5. Budapest
For the first time visitor, a Danube cruise gives a great introduction to the beauty of the country. Follow this with exposure to the architectural beauty of Budapest, and book a daytime tour to the Budapest Opera House before witnessing it in it's full glory by viewing an evening performance. Walk down Andrassy Avenue to visit City Park and Heroes Square. The most visited square in Budapest is surrounded by places of cultural interest, and is responsible for the idea that Budapest is the "Paris of the East"!
Where and what to taste
The food and wine culture of Budapest almost contradicts classical wine/food pairing stereotypes! The Hungarian Ezerjó wine, a sweet and sour white wine with strong pronounced acidity and high alcohol content, pairs with traditional Hungarian lamb dishes and liver and also with fruity meats and desserts. It works particularly well with spicy Hungarian dishes with abundant use of paprika, an essential primary ingredient in Hungarian stews. A visit to Gundel Restaurant is a must, which treats diners to traditional gypsy music while sampling cuisine.
6. Buenos Aires
For those looking to go further afield and extend beyond the parameters of Europe, Buenos Aires, the city of taste and smells, would be the perfect option. Trying the unique Argentinian cuisine of offal is a cultural activity in itself, and should be accompanied by witnessing (if not trying!) traditional Tango dancing.
Where and what to taste
The city boasts many of the top restaurants not only in Argentina, but globally, very much creating a varied and enticing playground for the avid food fan! Just a traditional steak and a glass of Malbec would be more than enough to convince you, but be sure attend a traditional Parilla. The food offered at Don Julio Palermo puts a typical British BBQ to shame. Here, they slow cook an entire butterflied lamb or a whole load of beef right in front of you, before carving it and letting you indulge. Pair this with a traditional tango show at Bar Sur, and you'll get a fantastic evening revolving around amazing food and authentic entertainment. Dining at La Brigada offers the opportunity to witness tango while trying traditional offal delicacies. A visit to El Bistro may be more to your fancy in order to really break the mold!
7. San Francisco
For the first time visitor, booking a hop-on-hop-off bus tour offers a great introduction to the city. The tour covers a lot, from the Painted Ladies to Pier 39 to the Golden Gate Bridge. You'll also see some fantastic dining spots to later enjoy. Check out the popular Alcatraz tour for some history and great views (be sure to book weeks in advance). For an iconic San Francisco experience, take a trip on a cable car and bike the golden gate bridge; incredible city views and priceless photo opportunities guaranteed!
Where and what to taste
With over 4,500 restaurants in a 7 square-mile area, Californian wine and cuisine is abundant, creative and courageous; using fresh ingredients, cultural influences and culinary imagination. A must for any seafood lover, or anyone looking for a place to be educated in seafood, look no further! Tadich Grill, dating back to 1849, cannot be beaten for Seafood Cioppino, and Swan Oyster Depot has attracted visitors far and wide to sample its Combo Salad (seriously). These delicacies are fantastic companions to Californian wines. A visit to the Bubble Lounge is definitely a must! If you love Barcelona, and the culinary notes there, San Francisco would be a fantastic next destination to broaden your culinary horizons and experience the American dream!
https://www.vivino.com/wine-news/7-cities-to-visit-with-great-food-and-wine-cultures
