Location: Barcelona, Spain Cuisine: Catalan Tucked away near Barcelona’s Estació de França, Restaurant Estrella is the kind of place that feels both traditional and quietly inventive. Its menu is rooted in Mediterranean and Catalan cooking, with a strong focus on seasonal produce, fresh fish…
Location: London, England Cuisine: Venezuelan Arepas were one of those foods I first discovered in London and then started noticing everywhere. My introduction came through Arepa & Co, at its canal-side restaurant in Haggerston. I have always credited it with teaching me what an…
Travelling through Thailand, it’s easy to feel like you understand the food after a few days in Bangkok. The flavours are vibrant, the balance of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy feels familiar, and dishes like pad thai or green curry quickly become reference points.…
Location: New York City, USA Cuisine: American Jewish Certain New York institutions feel bigger than a meal. Russ & Daughters is one of them. Founded in 1914 on the Lower East Side, this century-old appetising shop has built its reputation on smoked fish, bagels,…
Barcelona did not always have good coffee. For years, much of the city ran on torrefacto, the dark, sugar-coated roasting method that produces a bitter flavour and masks the quality of the bean. Café con leche culture dominated, and few places paid serious attention…
Location: Barcelona, Spain Cuisine: Galician Some restaurants feel like good recommendations, while others feel like discoveries that stay with you long after the meal ends. We first went to O Retorno in summer 2025 with friends who were visiting Barcelona, following a recommendation from…
Location: Barcelona, Spain Cuisine: Catalan / Spanish (Tapas) Carrer de Ribes is one of those streets that makes you feel like you are slightly outside the Barcelona most visitors see. It runs between Sagrada Familia and Clot, pedestrian-friendly, lined with neighbourhood bars and restaurants,…
Location: Barcelona, Spain Cuisine: Japanese Japanese food is everywhere in Barcelona. Walk a few blocks in almost any neighbourhood, and you will pass a ramen bar, a sushi counter, or a minimalist dining room serving donburi and tempura. The city has developed a genuine…
Location: Barcelona, Spain Cuisine: Catalan / Spanish We first went to Norte in April 2025, almost by accident. It was one of those easy Barcelona lunches that begins with a couple of cañas and the vague intention of ordering something small. Instead, we stayed.…
Location: London, England Cuisine: Contemporary West African Fine Dining When my mom visited London, we wanted to give her a meal she’d never forget — something special, unique, and celebratory. Akoko in Fitzrovia, a Michelin-starred West African fine dining restaurant, promised exactly that: a…