| If you're like me, any time you're going on a trip, | | | | international foods in addition to local cuisines. In |
| food is one of the foremost issues on your mind, | | | | cities with a reputation for a modern, |
| in a good way. When I'm planning to go | | | | forward-thinking aesthetic-such as Copenhagen, |
| somewhere like Paris, Rome, Barcelona, or | | | | Cologne, and Amsterdam-expect eclectic and |
| Copenhagen, I can't help but think about all the | | | | creative cuisines. Meanwhile, if you want authentic |
| restaurants, small cafes, diners, take-out delis, and | | | | local meals, go to the smaller towns. |
| eateries that I'm going to visit. In fact, I even | | | | 3. Know what to look for: Outdoor cafes are fun, |
| choose my accommodations based on nearby | | | | and Parisian brasseries are certainly something to |
| food options. And when I'm there, I tend to | | | | experience, but such places usually don't have the |
| organize my day outings around places to eat. | | | | best food. They're more about providing drinks |
| There's no reason to be ashamed of this. Food is | | | | and social settings, and the cuisine is more of an |
| fun, and the Europeans do it better than anyone. | | | | afterthought. If you want top-quality food, head |
| Over the years, I've developed a long list of rules | | | | to places that aren't so flashy. Shuttered, candle-lit |
| for finding the top restaurants in European cities. | | | | restaurants with quiet atmospheres usually |
| For starters, here are the top 5: | | | | specialize in create the best meals. |
| 1. Leave the business districts and city centers: | | | | 4. If you want something quick, go local: When |
| You probably already know that the food options | | | | you're just looking to have a quick meal before |
| in highly tourist-trafficked areas usually aren't very | | | | heading out, it's always tempting to go to one of |
| good. But this is equally true of highly trafficked | | | | the Starbucks or American fastfood chains that |
| areas in general. Anywhere where there are a lot | | | | are increasingly prevalent in many European cities. |
| of skyscrapers, corporate offices, and people | | | | But if you want to get a real high-quality local |
| going around in business suits is not likely to have | | | | experience, head to one of the take-out counters |
| the best food options. In general, the restaurants | | | | in the neighborhood. They're likely to have |
| in these areas will be more fast-food style, meant | | | | fresher, much tastier options. |
| to cater to people on the go. So if you want to | | | | 5. Learn the important phrases: For the best dining |
| find the best food, it's best to head out to the | | | | experience, it's important to know how to say all |
| more bustling parts of the residential areas. | | | | the important things in the local language. |
| 2. Know what you're looking for: In general, the | | | | Otherwise, you'll be tempted to confine yourself |
| character of the cuisine matches the character of | | | | to the restaurants that cater to tourists with |
| the city. In more cosmopolitan towns like Paris, | | | | English-language menus. Such places usually aren't |
| Milan, and Berlin, you're going to find a range of | | | | as good. |