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Top 4 Foodies Destinations for 2019

The start of a new year means new adventures, and it’s never too early to start looking for your next travel destination. For foodies, these places need to be fun, bursting with culture and most importantly, full of amazing foods.

We have worked with Thomas Cook to give these tips on where to go in 2019 to satisfy your travel craving:

1) Bruges, Belgium

If you’re looking for the ultimate indulgence trip, Bruges is the place for you. With so many chocolate tours to choose from, you may leave Belgium a couple of pounds heavier (with all that chocolate stuffed in your case of course). If you want to make a day of it, The Choco- Story on Wijnzakstraat includes a walk through the history of chocolate making, followed of course by a tasting and demonstrations.

If you like your chocolate in liquid form, the Old Chocolate House on Mariastraat has been said to have the richest hot chocolate in the city. They handmake their chocolates in-house and you can even mix your own bowl of chocolate adding white, milk or dark chocolate chips, to create your dream combination. If you want to find a more traditional chocolate shop, Dumon is a family-run business with 3 locations in Bruges. Nothing is labelled so make sure you speak to the workers who will help you pick out your perfect selection.

And when you need something to wash down the chocolate? Belgium is also known for its Beer Tours. UNESCO has even included Belgian Beer Culture on their list of ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’ to uphold the significance of the tradition that drinking beer truly is in Belgium. Its annual beer festival is usually held at the start of February and is one of the best in the world, offering more than 350 different beers to try. If you go at any other time of year there are plenty of walking tours to choose from when you arrive.

2) New York, USA

 

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New York is the ultimate foodie experience. From the Chelsea Market’s array of cuisines to Little Italy, you will never run out of amazing places to eat in NYC.

Known for their pizza, Brooklyn has a countless number of slices to try. If you’re going over the Brooklyn Bridge and want to stay nearby, a great suggestion for pizza is Grimaldi’s. Their coal brick oven pizza is a true New York experience and is highly recommended by tourists and locals alike. If a good hearty Italian meal is what you’re after, then head to Little Italy, they have enough amazing Italian restaurants here that you will forget you’re in the middle of Manhattan.

As for dessert, head to Junior’s for cheesecake, known as one of the city’s best places to enjoy the creamy dessert since the 50’s. For doughnuts, head to Chelsea Markets and make your way to Doughnuttery to make your own unique mini doughnuts. Chelsea Market is home to an urban food court. You could go back every day of your trip and try a new cuisine – it is tempting.

Of course, you can’t go to New York and not have a bagel. There are so many to choose from, but if you like your bagel as Instagrammable as possible, The Bagel Store in Williamsburg is home to the original rainbow bagel.

3) Madrid

Madrid may not be the obvious choice for a foodie holiday but the Spanish capital has an abundance of great places to eat. One of the best places to get churros in the world is buried down a back street in the centre of Madrid. Chocolatería San Ginés has been around since 1894 and is one of Madrid’s culinary treasures – a must visit for any travelling foodie.

Down another side street, opening up into a little square, is Federal Café, serving some of the best brunch in the city – and very vegetarian and vegan friendly. It’s the perfect place for the fussiest of eaters and the relaxed décor will make you want to come back time and again. Great lighting for those classic holiday food photos. If photo-friendly is what you are going for, Ojala is where you need to go in Madrid. You may be on a city break but Ojala’s white sand covered floors will have you feeling otherwise.

If you’re looking for somewhere with a buzzing atmosphere, The San Miguel Market is also sure to impress. The glass building is filled with 100 years of Spanish cuisine from the traditional to the obscure – a foodie’s paradise.

4) Lisbon, Portugal

If you like to stroll around in the sunshine whilst enjoying your food, then Lisbon is a great option, with the city getting more sun year-round than most places in Europe. And you can’t go to Lisbon and not try their pastel de nata. Head to Pastéis de Belém if you can. They began making the famous egg tarts in 1837 and the recipe remains exactly the same to this day.

If you love yourself a good brunch spot, then Fauna and Flora in Lisbon has a beautiful setting and amazing food. From a colourful acai bowl to the intricate foam patterns on top of your coffee, the place is an Instagrammer’s dream.

For those who like to go straight from dinner out into the town, Bairro Alto is the capital’s packed party neighbourhood, filled with small bars and clubs with many serving traditional tapas dishes at very reasonable prices.

If you’re hungry for adventure in 2019, these locations are sure to satisfy your cravings and
leave you full – of both food and culture.