Foodies crave variety. Yet in something of a paradox, food lovers also seek out many of the same epicurean experiences in cities like New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo. However, it’s time to snap out of old habits. The world is large!
Where will your next foodie-centric vacation be? (Photo Credit: @kimptoncharlottesquare)
What you once may not have considered a culinary epicenter worth traveling for might now be home to James Beard award-winning chefs (looking at you, Milwaukee). When planning your next trip, consider these 7 destinations whose culinary scenes are flying just under the radar.
Bali
An influx of yogis and digital nomads have super-charged the food scene in Bali. What is the root cause? The intersecting Venn diagram of “beachfront paradise” and “low cost of living” has lured chefs who’ve cracked open the full range of global cuisine — from Latin American (Barbacoa) to Thai (Mama San) to the almost-hidden burger joint, Bo$$man.
In Bali, choose from a range of global cuisine alongside classic Indonesian. (Photo Credit: Alex Block)
Our advice: For authentic Indonesian, it’s still tough to beat the unmarked warungs — stick to the smaller roads away from Canggu and Ubud, which are best accessed by moped.
Where to stay: The Kimpton Naranta Bali
Sacramento
LA has the glam and San Francisco has the money, but Sacramento has access to incredible produce. This farming powerhouse churns out 80 percent of the nation’s caviar, 99 percent of its sushi rice, and 96 percent of the world’s processed tomatoes. Who knew? The point is that what Sacramento lacks in flash, it makes up for in substance. Thanks to all the fresh tomatoes and peaches and vineyards, the “farm-to-fork” concept is 100% legit.
Swing by Revival, a bar with quintessential California vibes. (Photo Credit: @gretchensplate)
Come for the Midtown Farmers Market and stay for an immersive, meet-the-chefs, five-course meal at The Kitchen, which nabbed the city’s first Michelin star. We won’t blame you for wanting stop by for cocktails at Revival, either. It is the city’s best rooftop bar, after all.
Where to stay: The Kimpton Sawyer Hotel
Taipei
Embrace the chaos. Don’t attempt to evaluate the Yelp ratings — simply plunge into the glorious mayhem of Taipei’s night markets. Challenge yourself to sample the full gamut of sticky rice dumplings, deep-fried mushrooms, and “stinky tofu” (trust us) at the Shilin and Raohe outposts.
Explore the night markets of Taipei. (Photo Credit: @lisanto)
Or opt for Taiwanese fusion. Which will you pick? (Photo Credit: Jenny Liu)
And for those craving order, we haven’t neglected you: Andre Chiang’s Raw will provide your Michelin fix, serving up a blend of Paris-inspired “bistronomy” and hyper-local Taiwanese produce. Yes, please.
Where to stay: The Kimpton Da An Hotel
Milwaukee
The city’s ethos: Good food doesn’t need to be snobby. Just ask the regulars at Peanut Butter & Jelly Deli, which just notched its second Michelin star. (Kidding!) Yet PB&J’s commitment — 10 types of bread, local jams, peanut butter ground on-site — typifies the city’s newfound culinary chops. See also: Snack Boys (“nightlife for your mouth”), where you can get both a noodle soufflé and a view of Burt Reynolds, courtesy of a large mural. And play some bocce at Zocalo, the food truck park, before grabbing some tortilla tacos.
Milwaukee has upped its culinary game in recent years. (Photo Credit: @baileyfitz4)
As for James Beard nominees? Yep, Milwaukee’s got those, too. Justin Carlisle’s Ardent, which makes good use of the city’s organic farms, will help you forget every stereotype about Wisconsin’s cheese and bratwurst. The consistently top-rated Tre Rivali serves up inventive Mediterranean cuisine from a wood-burning oven made with only the highest-quality products from independent farmers, fishermen, and artisan purveyors.
Where to stay: The Kimpton Journeyman Hotel
Rotterdam
It begins with the Markthal, and the Markthal is to food what the Louvre is to art: Its 100-ish food stalls, enveloped by a horseshoe of luxury apartments, let you mainline the city’s stroopwafels, krokets, and cheese sandwiches (actually a thing). Variety abounds.
Variety abounds in Europe’s largest port city, Rotterdam. (Photo Credit: @wyersamsterdam)
Rotterdam is a shipping town — it’s also the biggest port in Europe — so the cuisine ranges from kebabs to kimchi to artisanal yogurt at none other than The Yoghurt Barn. Which cuisine of the world will you pick?
Where to stay: The Kimpton DeWitt in Amsterdam (An hour drive from Rotterdam, amongst the windmills and tulips!)
Edinburgh
We know, we know…the land of haggis? It’s true that pub fare (think: fish and chips) still has an outsized presence, but the culinary scene has quietly expanded to include bistros like the sustainability-focused Fhior, which sources local produce with commendable fervor.
Edinburgh is also a city that has upped its culinary game in the most magnificent way. (Photo Credit: @kimptoncharlottesquare)
Aizle (meaning “a burning coal; a glowing hot ember; a spark”) is a restaurant where absolutely everything is made in-house, including the butter and live ferment used to make the delicious sourdough. With an 8 course rotating menu, Aizle is an experience not to be missed.
Where to stay: Kimpton Charlotte Square
Denver
Yes, you can get your fill of craft beer. The city has that in spades, but the food scene is now Denver’s sneaky draw. Exhibit A: LoHi’s collective eatery Avanti. With seven (always rotating) restaurants to choose from, you’ll be spoiled for choice. The semifinalists of 2019’s James Beard awards include a whopping eight from Colorado, such as Kelly Whitaker, who improbably fuses Asian and Italian at The Wolf’s Tailor.
Denver has a sneaky incredible foodie scene. (Photo Credit: @panzanodenver)
And we defy you to find a better Eggs Benedict than the Smashed Avocado Benny served at Snooze, which is also the best spot for morning drinking. (Don’t judge… because we won’t). And we can say without bias that Panzano should be on your list as well. With local, organic, and sustainable Italian fare on the menu (not to mention the restaurant has been awarded Four Diamonds by AAA 6 years in a row) that is complemented with Italian wines and handcrafted cocktails, what more could you ask for?
Where to stay: Kimpton Hotel Monaco Denver
