Must-see restaurants in Mediterranean Europe

  • Tapas24 in Barcelona

    Tapas 24

    L'Eixample

    Hotshot chef Carles Abellán runs this basement tapas haven known for its gourmet renditions of old faves, including the bikini (toasted ham-and-cheese…

  • Traditional Cappadocian dish called Gozleme

    Cappadocia Home Cooking

    Cappadocia

    Tolga and his family have swung open the doors to their home – surrounded by their organic garden and overlooking Ayvalı's deep gorge – to offer a taste…

  • Pizzeria Alle Corrette Unassuming pizzeria drawing a local crowd for Roman-style pies, wine & desserts.

    Alle Carrette

    Monti, Esquilino & San Lorenzo

    Authentic pizza, super-thin and swiftly cooked in a wood-fired oven, is what this traditional Roman pizzeria on one of Monti's prettiest streets has done…

  • Modena, Emilia Romagna, Italy. December 2018. Interior of the Albinelli market, the historical market of the city. In addition to fruits and vegetables there are local gastronomic specialties
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    Mercato Albinelli

    Modena

    Modena’s covered municipal market cradles a cornucopia of local delights. Foodies should head straight here for Bible-sized hunks of parmigiano reggiano,…

  • MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 2021: Lhardy restaurant with European haute cuisine in an emblematic stately venue with sweets, gastronomic products and a food shop on May 26, 2021 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Cristina Arias/Cover/Getty Images)
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    Lhardy

    Madrid

    This Madrid landmark (since 1839) is an elegant treasure trove of takeaway gourmet tapas downstairs and six dining areas upstairs that are the upmarket…

  • Valencian paellas & rice dishes, plus regional wines, in a stylish, long-standing locale at La Barraca

    La Barraca

    Chueca

    The place to come for a real paella, not the tourist version too often found in Madrid, La Barraca has been serving down-home Valencian cooking in the…

  • Little Fern Cafe in Barcelona is a chic, low-key daytime eatery offering New Zealand–inspired brunch fare, including many vegan dishes.

    Little Fern Café

    Barcelona

    Worth a trip out to El Poblenou in itself, this beautiful Kiwi-Hungarian-owned cafe epitomises the area's newfound allure. White-brick walls, floor-to…

  • Entrance to Pavè Ice-cream

    Pavè Ice-Cream

    Milan

    As the sibling of pasticceria (pastry shop) phenomenon Pavè, you can expect great things from this contemporary gelateria with its marble-topped counter…

  • Auto Rosselló is a hip bistro & deli known for creative brunch dishes, hot sandwiches & casual sidewalk dining in Barcelona.

    Auto Rosellon

    L'Eixample

    With cornflower-blue paintwork and fresh produce on display, Auto Rosellon works mostly organic ingredients sourced from small producers and its own…

  • El Pachuco is a popular, characterful restaurant serving nachos & tacos with mezcal & margaritas in a compact space.

    El Pachuco

    El Raval

    Get to El Pachuco early or jump on the wait list – this tiny, narrow and deservedly popular mezcalería/taquería gets completely packed with a low-key…

  • Cinc Sentits in Barcelona by Chef Jordi Artal. Located at Carrer d'Enteca 60

    Cinc Sentits

    L'Eixample

    Enter the realm of the ‘Five Senses’ to indulge in jaw-dropping eight- or 11-course tasting menus of small, experimental dishes concocted by chef Jordi…

  • Gatto Bero in Venice

    Trattoria al Gatto Nero

    Murano, Burano & the Northern Islands

    Don't expect fancy tricks from this 'Black Cat' – just excellent, traditional fare. Once you’ve tried the homemade tagliolini (ribbon pasta) with spider…

  • Madrid's La Buena Vida

    La Buena Vida

    Chueca

    A cross between a Parisian bistro and old-school upmarket Madrid restaurant, this prestigious Chueca place is popular with a well-heeled, knowledgeable…

  • Chef dripping oliove oil on tapas at Quimet & Quimet Tapas Bar, Poble Sec District.

    Quimet i Quimet

    Barcelona

    Now led by its fourth generation, family-run Quimet i Quimet has been passed down since 1914. There’s barely space to swing a calamar (squid) in this…

  • Aspic in Barcelona is a casual eatery popular with locals

    Aspic

    Barcelona

    At the flagship cafe of this Barcelona caterer, luxury ingredients – smoked salmon, premium charcuterie and cheeses, high-grade olive oils, carefully…

  • Paco Roncero Restaurant has a sophisticated tasting menus & wine pairings in a grand, 19th-century building with a sunny terrace.

    Paco Roncero Restaurante

    Madrid

    Perched atop the lavish Casino de Madrid building, this temple of haute cuisine is the proud bearer of two Michelin stars and presided over by celebrity…

  • La Balsa in Barcelona - Creatively presented Catalan dishes in a Balinese-inspired building with a large, leafy terrace.

    La Balsa

    Barcelona

    With its grand ceiling and scented gardens surrounding a main terrace dining area, La Balsa is one of the city’s premier dining addresses, founded in 1979…

  • Trattoria Pennestri Cozy establishment offering elevated traditional cuisine amid an informal ambiance.

    Trattoria Pennestri

    Southern Rome

    Headed by a Danish-Italian chef Tommaso Pennestri, this mellow trattoria pays its respects to staunch Roman classics (think carbonara and tripe) but is at…

  • Karamanlidika tou Fani

    Athens

    At this modern-day pastomageireio (combo tavern-deli) tables are set alongside the deli cases, and staff offer complimentary tasty morsels while you're…

  • A tsipouro drink with meze and great view to the Aegean, in Tinos island, Greece

    Zanettos Taverna

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    When you've been in business since 1938 you must be doing something right. This is the real-deal meze experience and locals lap it up. We recommend you…

  • Tokuyoshi entrance

    Tokuyoshi

    Milan

    Take a creative culinary voyage from Japan to Italy with Yoji Tokuyoshi at the helm. One-time sous-chef of world-renowned Osteria Francescana, this…

  • Outside the Pavé pasticceria and cafe

    Pavé

    Milan

    Try not to argue over the frolla con ganache, an insanely good tart filled with dark chocolate ganache and topped with crunchy cacao nuggets. After all,…

  • Osteria Bakan in Venice

    Osteria Bakán

    Venice

    A strange mix of local drinking den and surprisingly adventurous restaurant, Bakán has bucketloads of atmosphere – with old beams and soft jazz inside,…

  • Cantine del Vino già Schiavi: Legendary tavern with floor-to-ceiling bottles lining the walls, with wines by the glass & snacks.

    Cantine del Vino già Schiavi

    Venice

    It may look like a wine shop and function as a bar, but this legendary canalside spot also serves the best cicheti (Venetian tapas) on this side of the…

  • The communal dining hall at Gourmet Experience.

    Gourmet Experience

    Madrid

    Ride the elevator up to the 9th floor of the El Corte Inglés department store for one of downtown Madrid's best eating experiences. The food is excellent,…

  • Joana La Loca in Madrid is known for pintxo snacks on sticks & a renowned Spanish omelet at a chic modern tapas bar with stylish tiling.

    Juana La Loca

    La Latina & Lavapiés

    Juana La Loca does a range of creative tapas with tempting options lined up along the bar, and more on the menu that they prepare to order. But we love it…

  • Steki tou Ilia

    Athens

    If there's a line to dine at this no-frills psistaria (restaurant serving grilled food), it's worth joining. The payoff is succulent lamb and pork chops,…

  • Yiantes organic restaurant in Exharia.

    Yiantes

    Athens

    This lovely restaurant with a central courtyard garden is upmarket for Exarhia, but the food is superb and made with largely organic produce. Expect…

  • Bodega Paella

    Navarro

    Valencia

    A byword in the city for decades for its quality rice dishes, Navarro is run by the grandkids of the original founders and it offers plenty of choice,…

  • Dal Pescatore

    Lake Garda & Around

    Petals of egg pasta frame slices of guinea fowl caramelised in honey saffron; silky tortellini are stuffed to bursting with pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon and…

  • Antica Corte Pallavicina

    Emilia-Romagna

    Picking favourites at this 14th-century castle is excruciating: there's the castle itself, especially when enveloped in cinematic Po river fog; the ageing…

  • Garden Arkoudenas

    Rethymno Province

    One of the most enjoyable places to experience traditional Cretan cuisine and hospitality is this vibrant taverna set among fruit trees and adjoining…

  • President

    Pompeii

    At the helm of this Michelin-starred standout is charming owner-chef Paolo Gramaglia, whose passion for local produce, history and culinary whimsy…

  • Sala de Despiece in Madrid is an upscale tapas in a buzzy bar styled like a market butcher shop, with bench & counter seating.

    Sala de Despiece

    Madrid

    Wildly (and deservedly) popular, Sala de Despiece has a menu that lists everything – every ingredient, method of cooking, size, price and origin – in a…

  • Casa Dani in Madrid is a popular, long-running counter in a covered market serving tortillas de patatas & other tapas.

    Casa Dani

    Salamanca

    Deep in Salamanca's Mercado de la Paz, Casa Dani is a wildly popular spot for lunch and it gets going earlier than most: most weekdays, there's a queue at…

  • Pasticceria di Maria Grammatico

    Erice

    This cafe-pasticceria is run by Maria Grammatico, Sicily's most famous pastry chef, and the subject of Mary Taylor Simeti's book Bitter Almonds – a series…

  • Kilye Suvla Lokanta

    Thrace & Marmara

    Suvla's 60 hectares of certified organic vineyards are located near Kabatepe on the opposite side of the peninsula, but its winery, complete with an ultra…

  • Trattoria di Via Serra

    Bologna

    Book at least three weeks in advance at this seemingly unassuming trattoria in Bolognina, just a step outside the city centre. Flavio and Tommaso came…

  • Casale Drinzi

    Tyrrhenian Coast

    This wooden chalet in the hills immediately above Collesano is one of the Madonie's gems – one whiff of the delicious aromas emanating from the kitchen…

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