Latest news with #foodscene
Condé Nast Traveler
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Condé Nast Traveler
17 Best Things to Do in Athens, From Hitting the Beach to Gazing at Ruins
As one of the world's oldest cities, there's no surprise at the sheer amount of things to do in Athens—the destination is a master of reinvention. After a dark decade on the brink of Grexit, Athens has morphed into southern Europe's capital of cool. Long weekenders are swooping in to check out the exciting food scene and check into the new wave of cool hotels in Athens. Artists and designers are settling in for good, lured by affordable rents, the promise of sunshine, and an anarchic spirit where you don't have to play by the rules. There's nothing orderly about Athens: traffic is chaotic, life is messy, the architecture a mash-up of Byzantine and Bauhaus, neoclassical and nondescript. The Parthenon still dominates the skyline—and will forever be one of the key things to do in Athens—but for most Athenians the antiquities embedded among tightly packed apartment blocks are an afterthought. It's in the graffitied backstreets and café-lined squares, the factories converted into galleries, bars hidden in arcades, and secret coves for skinny dipping where the heartbeat of Athens is racing. Beyond the classics, these are the best things to do in Athens.
Telegraph
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
The 21 best restaurants in Porto
An indication of the blossoming food scene in Portugal is that, for the first time last year, Michelin dedicated a guide to the nation alone, rather than combining its restaurant offerings with Spain as before. To underline their increasing faith, Porto was rewarded with another two-star restaurant, bringing the total of stars in the city up to 10. But it is not only the fine dining scene creating culinary excitement. There are plenty of young chefs opening innovative, ingredient-led restaurants and many of them in Porto seem to be women; something to be championed. All our recommendations below have been hand selected and tested by our resident destination expert to help you discover the best restaurants in Porto. Find out more below, or for more Porto inspiration, see our guides to the region's best hotels, bars and things to do. Find a restaurant by type: Best all-rounders Best for families Best for cheap eats Best for fine dining Best for walk-ins Best all-rounders Cozinha das Flores London-based Nuno Mendes weaves his culinary magic here to a keen crowd, creating his own niche between Michelin-starred cuisine and bistro fare. Dishes are powerfully authentic, with perfect flavours and an evident respect for ingredients. Start with a few fun snacks like doughnuts filled with spider crab or the turnip nata, Mendes's sublime take on the much-loved traditional Portuguese custard tart (filled with turnip and topped with caviar). Vegetarians will also love the celeriac heart cooked in embers with a Bolognese of smoked beetroot. All served in cosy interiors before an open kitchen and fire beyond.
Forbes
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Where To Eat And Drink In Los Angeles This Summer
Los Angeles is one of the best cities in the world to eat in—but only if you know where to go. Summer brings out the worst of its food scene (overhyped openings, influencer mobs, patios with no shade and even less finesse), as well as the very best: smoky tacos on the Westside, rooftop bars with actual personality, and high-falutin' hotspots that are still worth the chase. So, after a few weeks spent scouring street food and fine-dining establishments alike, here's a tried-and-tested guide on where to actually eat well in LA this summer—no gimmicks, just the good Los Angeles KA'TEEN, Hollywood The vibe is lush, the plates are shareable, and the crowd is textbook Hollywood—half gorgeous people, half people with great taste trying to date gorgeous people. All of whom, undoubtedly, leave texting their friends about the best Mexican food they've had in ages. Chef Wes Avila (ex–Guerrilla Tacos) leans into Yucatán cooking at KA'TEEN, with standout wood-fired meats and a roasted bone marrow mole rojo I will defend with my life. Sunday brunch is an attraction in its own right: order the huevos rancheros, a roasted corn ash-rimmed mezcalita, get lost in the foliage and thank me 5 Spot, Los Angeles Desert 5 Spot, Hollywood Imagine Dolly Parton designed a rooftop bar. Now add mezcal. Just upstairs from KA'TEEN, Desert 5 Spot leans full-throttle into kitsch—non-stop country music, poolside cactus murals, and a regular lineup of two-step classes that somehow draw more locals than tourists. Come for line dancing on a Wednesday, stay for the prickly pear-infused Ring of FIrecocktail, and a healthy round of mixologist-fuelled singalongs. It's high-camp, high-altitude, and offers more than enough reasons to forget you're in Hollywood (though you can literally see the Hollywood sign from the bar).The Restaurant at Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles The Restaurant at Hotel Bel-Air, Bel-Air If you're skipping a suite but still want the experience, there is no better way to get a taste of Bel-Air's most iconic hotel than visiting its namesake restaurant. Perched beyond a swan‑filled lake and shaded by a canopy of impossibly bountiful florals, Chef Joe Garcia's Mediterranean‑Californian menu will quite simply give you too many options to choose from: handmade pea Agnolotti with sweet butter-poached lobster, the most indulgent Gulf prawn cocktail you'll ever lay tongue on, an impossibly decadent Old Hollywood onion dip topped with caviar, et al. All locally-sourced, all Isla Bonita, LA La Isla Bonita, Venice No summer food guide is complete without the truck that made LA seafood tacos a religion. La Isla Bonita parks up on Rose Ave (often at 4th & Rose), and has been a local institution since the 1980s. Get the ceviche tostada–a juicy mountain of fresh shrimp, octopus, avocado and tomato that barely holds together atop an impossibly light fried tortilla–or the carnitas and fish taco if you're feeling classic. Bring cash. Bring napkins. Bring Atwater Village Chef Morihiro Onodera's omakase-only restaurant shills sushi as slow art. He mills his own rice. He makes his own plates. He'll explain both to you, gently, as you eat in near silence with nine other diners. If that sounds like sweet relief, know it is—and that you need to book immediately. Expect seasonal nigiri, impossibly precise technique, and a sake list that rewards those who lean in with curiosity. It's not flashy, it's just immaculate.88 Club, Los Angeles 88 Club, Beverly Hills Led by chef Mei Lin (formerly of Top Chef fame and Nightshade), this sleek Chinese restaurant just landed in Beverly Hills—and it's already stealing reservations. Dinner feels like stepping into an underground glam‑noir film: dim wood panels, leather booths, vintage accent lighting—think golden‑era Hollywood meets Chinese speakeasy. The menu respects traditional flavors (sweet & sour squirrel fish, Nam Yu roasted chicken) while elevating them through precision and playful presentation. Perfect for a late‑night date or celebratory blow‑ Madre, West Hollywood It's plant-based, yes, but don't hold that against it. Gracias Madre's mega-vegan Mexican menu has long outlived the 'novelty' phase and settled into being reliably great—especially when paired with a mezcal margarita in its bougainvillea-covered courtyard. Try the sweet potato flautas and the mushroom barbacoa, and don't skimp on sides. It's popular with the wellness crowd, but more than delivers for the hungry foodie, Ki, Los Angeles Restaurant Ki, Downtown LA Chef Ki Kim's intimate 10‑seat tasting room just secured a Michelin star, and it's Korean cuisine unlike anything else in LA. Small plates kick off things off via premium palate-rousers (see; horse mackerel, aged kimchi, and perilla), before gliding into heavy luxury: dry-aged squab glazed in foie gras and maple; truffled, perilla‑seed pasta; final flourishes with Porcini, indigenous cacao, and tea leaf. Memorable, inventive, and fully deserving of its place on the list, this one's for the + Market Sahm, Venice Kris Yenbamroong's Venice outpost may be the chillest of his Thai-American empire, but don't let the laid-back vibe fool you—the food still slaps. It's funky, fiery, and served with a natural wine list that could convert a skeptic. The Larb Gai (sour-spicy chicken salad) is essential, the plentiful gin len (snacks)—particularly the crab wontones—will likely be the best you've found since that 2011 stint in Bangkok, and the vibe skews cool-local over tourist-core. Ideal for a group dinner that turns into a beachy crawl.
Telegraph
11-07-2025
- Telegraph
The 21 best restaurants in Tenerife
There was a time when dining out in Tenerife entailed laminated menus, all-day breakfasts, and chicken and chips for less than the price of a pint. If that's what tickles your taste buds, you can still find that in the centre of the resorts. However, over the past few years, the island's food scene has exploded in a burst of Michelin stars and award-winning chefs. Traditional Canarian cuisine has been twisted beyond recognition, fused with flavours from around the world, and is presented with artistic flamboyance. Global gastronomy now rules the roost in historic towns and cities, and even the old-school places have sharpened up to keep in line with the rising tide of quality across the board. All our recommendations below have been hand selected and tested by our resident destination expert to help you discover the best restaurants in Tenerife. Find out more below, or for more Tenerife inspiration, see our guides to the island's best hotels, bars and nightlife and attractions. Find restaurants by type: Best all-rounders Tasca Ihüey Finding a traditional Canarian restaurant that offers something a little bit different is a challenge in Tenerife, but the trendy Tasca Ihüey is such a gem. Claudio and Melisa, the owners, don't just present their passion for Tenerife in the food they produce, but also in the local wines, the Canarian lace napkins and crockery commissioned from island artisans. Try the rabbit pate and the delicate duck breast followed by the sweet potato with cinnamon and ginger ice cream. Area: Puerto de la Cruz Website: Prices: ££ Reservations: Recommended Crater Part fine dining and part edible cultural lesson, this tasting-menu-only restaurant themes its gastronomy around one of the eight Canary Islands at a time. Each dish is accompanied by a tale about how the ingredients are representative of a part of Canarian life and heritage. Look out for the wreckfish with seaweed and green peppers, and leave room for the Canarian cheese trolley paired with sweet wine and local honey. La Hierbita Set in a supposedly haunted, 19th-century mansion in the old quarter of Santa Cruz, La Hierbita gives the impression of dining on a ship, partly because of the nautical-themed décor and aged, wood furnishings, but also because of the creaky, uneven floors. If it's traditional Canarian, it's on the menu. The Hierbita Pulpo (octopus) is a definite must. There's a terrace on the pedestrian street or reserve the upstairs balcony table for grandstand people watching. Back to index Best for families Hard Rock Café The famous franchise brings a blast of Vegas vibe to the Golden Mile street in Playa de las Américas with live nightly bands, and music memorabilia covering the walls. Think Classic American, big and bold burgers, ribs and steaks. Kids' menus, performers and the array of rock 'n' roll décor make this a sensory playground for young diners. Try the Tupelo Chicken Tenders, and a Hurricane cocktail complete with souvenir glass. Area: Playa de Las Américas Website: Prices: ££ Reservations: Recommended El Monasterio A former monastery turned gastro-gathering of traditional restaurants on a sprawling hillside overlooking Los Realejos. The four distinct eateries serve a range of food from paella to flaming sausages. All look like something out of a medieval film set, and while white-shirted waiters roam the dining rooms, peacocks parade through the leafy grounds and cloistered courtyards. Don't miss a visit to the cave winery. Bianco This contemporary Italian restaurant has reigned for several years now as the in-vogue dining venue in the heart of downtown Playa de Las Américas. The funky styling is as attractive as the catwalk-ready staff. Even the food is good-looking, especially the truffle linguine with pecorino cheese. Evening meals come with a side order of soft serenading by an island singer. Ask for a street-view table on the terrace if you want to watch the world go by along the resort's Golden Mile. Back to index Best for cheap eats Las Goteras There are three reasons why both locals and visitors are drawn from all over the south to this unassuming rustic restaurant in a hillside town – meat, meat and more meat. Fillet steaks as big as a boxer's fist are arguably the best on the island, while the barbecued chicken, flaming sausage platter, and giant pork chops give any Canarian restaurant a run for their money. Like the decor, the house wine is down to-earth, and in my mind is best avoided. Area: Tejina de Isora Contact: 00 34 922 857 056 Prices: £ Reservations: Recommended (especially at weekends) La Bodeguita de Enfrente If you're looking for downright traditional in a chocolate box setting, book a table at this cutesy hobbit-like cottage on the outskirts of Puerto de la Cruz. This family-run restaurant serves all the Canarian stalwarts along with a few spins on the island's originals, including guinea fowl in salmoreja. Although the food is fabulous, the friendliness and setting are the real draw. Oasis This simple roadside eatery serves the locally famous 'Adeje chicken', a secret recipe of crispy thighs and drumsticks in garlic and mojo sauce. It's by no means the biggest or most well-known restaurant specialising in this dish, but it's one of the most authentic. Pavement tables slope precariously, the wine is served in earthenware jugs, and the menu is limited to two choices – Adeje chicken or go somewhere else. Area: Adeje Contact: 00 34 922 780 827 Prices: £ Reservations: Recommended Back to index Best for fine dining El Rincon de Juan Carlos This 2-star Michelin restaurant lies in the new foodie capital of the south, La Caleta. Choosing your meal is easy when you only have one option - the tasting menu (not suitable for vegetarians, nor those intolerant of lactose, seafood or shellfish). A seemingly never-ending succession of tantalising teasers provides teeny works of art in their own right. There's a definite seafood slant, but meat makes an appearance too in dishes such as pigeon, and Canarian black pudding. Char If meat is your thing, Char is perhaps the most stylish grill house on the island that will satisfy your carnivorous cravings. While the interior is trendy and the staff are young, their aged cuts are cooked primitive-style over glowing embers by young Senegalese chef, Babacar Fall. Wagyu and other premium meats dominate the menu, but the buttered King crab leg with cava cream should definitely not be overlooked. Troqué A chic and cheerful bistro in oceanfront La Caleta that oozes style. The food has a Spanish slant and covers the whole gamut of food choices from grilled lamb chops in garlic herbs to bluefin tuna belly and creamy lobster broth. The service is exceptional, and for this diner, the garlic prawn croquettes and the Sorlut oysters are a shoo-in for starters. The wine menu is extensive, featuring some of the island's finest. Back to index Best for walk-ins Flashpoint This beachfront shack in El Médano started life as a drop-in watering hole for the watersports set. Still popular with the wind- and kite-surfers, it has now become a go-to bar and snack joint for the young at heart. Their fresh fruit and granola bowls light up the breakfast menu, while burgers, huge salads, and picky bits provide sustenance for those who want to hang out with the cool kids and watch the windsurfers. Area: El Médano Contact: 0034 922 176 111; Prices: £ Reservations: Walk-ins only Asador La Camella Another paradise for meat lovers, this steakhouse lies slightly off the beaten path in La Camella, 5 minutes' drive from Los Cristianos. The vast interior – decorated with cattle artefacts, including trophy heads – all but guarantees walk-ins will be seated straight away. Before you delve into the dry-aged ribeye and Wagyu, try the wafer-thin slices of Iberian ham with a fruity glass of something local. The Vault A class up from you typical, British bar and bistro in Tenerife, The Vault Bar is dressed in shiny brass, lacquered wood and carries the velvet swagger of industrial-chic. In addition to a range of craft beers, the menu concentrates on Tex-Mex, burgers and steaks. A children's menu and super-friendly staff make families welcome, and nightly live bands play music for all generations. Their 'buy me a drink' service allows friends and family back home to order a round straight to your table. Back to index Best for views Las Estrellas While the grilled meats are as pleasant as in any other low-key tapas bar on the island, it's the views, not the food, that makes hikers, bikers and drive-by day-trippers turn off the tree-lined road on their way to Teide National Park. From the terrace, the panorama of pine forest and coastline is monumental, three neighbouring islands providing a trio of proverbial cherries on the cake. Area: Guía de Isora Contact: 0034 922 850 906; Prices: £ Reservations: Walk-ins Sauco Although there's a cosy interior at this trendy, Italian-leaning restaurant, it would be silly to sit inside and miss out on the spectacle of waves frothing over the rocks below, so plonk yourself at a promenade table. The Valencian paella is always worth a punt, but the creamy seafood linguine made with homemade pasta is understandably a perennial favourite. Lunchtime is the best time to linger with a glass of dry white by your side. Restaurante El Timón As one of the very few Tenerife restaurants perched over the ocean, the clutch of balcony tables at this tiny, family-run eatery are the hottest tickets in town. El Timón serves simple seafood dishes inside, on the covered roof deck, and at the aforementioned balcony tables. One word of warning though – when the tide is in and the waves are choppy, you won't need to season your food, the ocean will do that for you. Area: El Médano Contact: 0034 613 773 128 Prices: £ Reservations: Recommended Back to index Best for seafood La Vieja There are plenty of fish restaurants in cutesy La Caleta village, but La Vieja is certainly the most venerable, and the priciest. So what extra bang for your buck do you get here? Beautiful bay views from an elegant interior, for a start. Both the wine and food menus are huge, the latter featuring a colourful regatta of both sea and land-based dishes. The shared sea bass in a salt crust always elicits communal 'wows'. Abordo Abordo, a beachfront fixture for over three decades, reels in locals and holidaymakers with fresh-caught seafood and the salty swagger of affable fishing boat captain and owner, José Luis. The rustic, maritime interior and a buzzing pavement terrace contribute to its popularity as much as their renowned paella and sangria, while the mixed shellfish dish is astounding both in quantity and quality. Area: Los Cristianos Website: Prices: ££ Reservations: Recommended Agua y Sal Facing the ocean in the west coast fishing village of Playa San Juan, dining at Agua y Sal is one of those amazing, messy and noisy affairs that the Canarians do so well. There are no pretences, just an amazing seafood counter where you take your pick, take your seat, and keep fresh seafood dishes coming until you can face no more. The spaghetti marinera is the best on the island. Back to index How we choose Every restaurant in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, who has visited to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets, from neighbourhood favourites to Michelin-starred restaurants – to best suit every type of traveller's taste – and consider the food, service, best tables, atmosphere and price in our recommendations. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest opening and provide up to date recommendations. About our expert Joe Cawley I live in the Canarian hills with my family and other wildlife. I moved here from Bolton in 1991, when, for want of anything else to do, I bought a bar and restaurant before becoming a full-time author and travel writer. I loses no sleep over this decision.
Arab News
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Saudi culinary scene thoroughly deserves its place in Michelin Guide, says its international director
RIYADH: The first restaurants in Saudi Arabia chosen for inclusion in the Michelin Guide will be unveiled toward the end of this year, Gwendal Poullennec, the guide's international director, mentioned during his appearance on The Mayman Show this week. He said they are being selected in collaboration with the Saudi Culinary Arts Commission, and inspectors are already busy in the field exploring the vibrant food scene in various parts of the Kingdom. 'When we consider a destination, because we have to establish a road map, we need to have a gradual plan, so as not to compromise with the value and the methodology,' Poullennec said. 'We need also to acquire the knowledge of all the different food cultures. So that takes time. But to set up a clear priority, we monitor, in the field, the evolution of the different food scenes.' The guide announced in June that it was adding Saudi Arabia as a destination in its 2026 edition. The Kingdom's diverse landscapes, from its vast deserts to the stunning Red Sea coastline, provide a backdrop for some unforgettable dining experiences, Poullennec noted, and the country is also home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Diriyah. This deep historical and cultural heritage helps to set it apart. 'You feel the dynamic, the talent joining the industry, the diversity,' he said. 'And based on what is happening today — and even more on the potential it has to develop in the years to come — we decided to move to the next step, which is to publish a Michelin Guide selection … And this will happen at the end of the year, with three digital releases: Oct. 15, Nov. 15, Dec. 15.' The recommendations will initially focus on culinary hot spots in Riyadh and Jeddah, he explained. During the process of expanding into Saudi Arabia Poullennec found there were still a lot of misconceptions about the country's identity and authenticity in the eyes of foodies. 'I think there are a lot of places that need to be in (the guide); hidden gems that deserve their time to shine,' he said. 'And through the restaurants, we are also putting the spotlight on the culture.' He also shared some of the initial findings about the Saudi food scene based on the feedback from inspectors so far. 'What they found is the open-mindedness,' Poullennec said. 'Not only do you have local restaurants inspired by the culinary heritage but you have a lot of creativity. You have inspiration from all around the world. 'So, you feel the dynamics; you feel that, definitely. There is a momentum and that's the reason why we decided to move forward.' With a mind for strategy and a palate shaped by curiosity, Poullennec has been quietly helping to shape the future of fine dining through his work for the guide for the past two decades. From the launch of Michelin's Tokyo guide to steering its digital transformation, he has helped bring the renowned red book to 45 destinations around the world. Known for his motto, 'On the move,' he embodies the spirit of discovery, biking thousands of kilometers a year and sampling new dishes not out of hunger but wonder. He leads with discipline but eats with joy. 'When I joined Michelin, I wanted to contribute to expanding the Michelin Guide abroad because I felt it had an incredible potential to transform the world, to contribute to putting the spotlight on the cultures,' Poullennec said. 'And that's basically what happened, because I've been working 20 years now for the Michelin Guide and I have been able to make it happen, you know, to make the dreams come true and to contribute to the international expansion of the guide, starting with the US, outside of Europe, and then Asia, where we landed the guide in Japan.' The more authentic and unique a destination is, the more appealing an option it is for inclusion in the guide, Poullennec said, because it means it can recommend places that offer 'something that you will find nowhere else. It is a reason to travel for, based on the Michelin Guide criteria. And from that perspective, Saudi (Arabia) has a lot to offer and truly deserves its place in the world of culinary conversation.'
