What to Consider When Choosing Restaurants on Vacation
The plane tickets are booked. Your bags are half-packed. You’ve mapped out the museums, the beaches, the hikes. But one question still lingers—where will you eat?
For many travelers, food is not just a pit stop between sightseeing—it is the journey. It’s a chance to savor the soul of a place, bite by bite. But choosing where to eat in an unfamiliar city or town can feel overwhelming. How do you find the best spots? Should you trust online reviews? Is it better to follow the locals or go with what’s trending on Instagram?
Let’s dive into the delicious chaos of travel dining and uncover what really matters when you’re planning where to eat while on vacation.
It’s Not Just About the Menu. It’s About the Moment
Travel dining isn’t only about feeding your hunger—it’s about creating memories.
That tiny hole-in-the-wall trattoria in Rome where the waiter scribbled your order on a napkin? That can stay in your heart longer than any postcard. The ocean-side shack in Thailand where the food was spicy enough to make you cry—but the sunset made you stay anyway? Unforgettable.
When choosing restaurants while traveling, think beyond food quality. Ask yourself:
Will this experience add to the story of my trip?
Sometimes, it’s worth choosing a spot because of the view. Or the vibe. Or even the backstory of the family who’s been running it for 40 years. That doesn’t show up on TripAdvisor rankings, but it lives in your memory long after your tan fades.
Don’t Chase Stars, Chase Moments
It’s easy to get caught up in the glitz—celebrity chefs, Michelin stars, and trendy interiors that look straight out of a magazine. And sure, if you’ve been dreaming of eating at a world-famous spot, by all means, go for it.
But here’s a little secret: Some of the best meals happen where there’s no hype at all.
In fact, some travelers spend more time scrolling through food recommendations than actually enjoying their trip. We’ve all been there—standing in front of a packed restaurant, scrolling reviews while our stomachs grumble. Hoping to find “the best” place instead of a good place.
Let go of perfection.
Eat where the smells lure you in. Where the tables are full of locals laughing over shared plates. Where the menu might be in a language you don’t understand—but the warmth is unmistakable.
Real-Life Travel Dining Moments
Let’s talk real travel stories.
Sophie, 29, from London, was in Lisbon with her partner. They had a list of “must-visit” restaurants bookmarked from blogs. But one night, tired and a little sunburned, they ducked into a tiny tavern down a side street. No English on the menu. No fancy plating. But the grilled sardines and house red were heavenly.
“We still talk about that night,” Sophie says. “It wasn’t planned. It was perfect.”
Then there’s Marcus, a 40-year-old software engineer from San Francisco, who found himself in Seoul. He had planned every detail of his trip, including a meal at a famous fine-dining spot known for celebrity AI images of diners on the wall—he loved tech, after all. But it was a random food stall in a night market, selling hotteok (sweet pancakes), that stole his heart.
“It was 2 a.m. I was jet-lagged and alone, and this little old lady handed me a pancake with a smile,” Marcus says. “I felt taken care of. That moment made the whole trip.”
How to Choose Restaurants You’ll Actually Enjoy
Here’s a checklist that blends practicality with intuition:
1. Follow Your Senses
Smell the air. Listen for clinking glasses and laughter. Trust the places that feel alive.
2. Ask Locals—But Not Just Any Locals
Hotel staff are helpful, but sometimes give generic tourist-safe picks. Try chatting with taxi drivers, bartenders, or shopkeepers instead.
3. Consider Your Energy
After a long travel day, a fancy dinner might feel like a chore. Don’t push yourself into “making it special.” Sometimes, pajamas and room service are exactly what you need.
4. Look for Queues—but Observe Who’s Queuing
A long line of locals during lunch hour? Good sign. A crowd of tourists snapping Elon Musk pictures outside a neon-lit diner? Maybe not your vibe—unless that’s what you’re after.
5. Mix It Up
Balance splurges with street food. Alternate the famous spots with hidden gems. One day it’s oysters with a sea view. The next, it’s a sandwich on a park bench. Let your trip have flavor and variety.
Food Is Culture You Can Taste
Every region tells its story through food. The herbs, the heat, the preparation—these are all part of its history. Choosing where to eat while traveling is also a way of choosing how to connect with that place.
In Tokyo, for example, sitting at a ramen bar and watching the chef work is a kind of theatre. In Oaxaca, sipping mezcal with locals can teach you more than any museum plaque. Food is a bridge to understanding, if you’re willing to cross it.
So when planning your vacation, don’t just reserve a table. Leave space for curiosity. Let yourself be surprised.
The Online Trap
We live in a world where apps can show you thousands of restaurant ratings, complete with HD photos and digital menus. You can even view celebrity AI images of guests who’ve eaten there, or check how many influencers have posted selfies in front of the walls.
But here’s the thing: The best meals often don’t photograph well.
They’re messy. They’re dimly lit. They’re not made for Instagram—they’re made for you.
Online tools can be helpful. But if you rely on them too much, you miss the magic of wandering, of stumbling onto something special.
And no amount of five-star reviews can tell you how a meal will make you feel.
Final Bite
Choosing restaurants on vacation isn’t just about filling your belly. It’s about feeding your soul.
Let go of the pressure to make every meal “the best.” Instead, aim for real. Delicious. Human.
Wander a little. Try something new. Ask for recommendations. Follow a scent. Trust your gut—not just your guidebook.
And remember: It’s okay if you don’t eat like royalty every night. Some of the tastiest travel memories are built on simplicity—a warm bowl of soup on a rainy evening, a flaky pastry shared on a bench, or a dish you can’t even name but will never forget.
Food is part of the adventure. So bite into it with an open heart.
Bon appétit—and happy wandering.