Dining & Food

We understand that dining can be a very personal and subjective thing to do. We are not hear to recommend you what places are good to eat at and which are bad. We do want to tell you about your options so can find places that fit your desires.

  • Local establishments frequented by locals are usually always good choice. Local hang outs like pubs, bars & bier gartens can be very good. The food is fresh, local and reasonably priced.
  • There are gastronomic or fine dinning establishments. These can be a locally known fine restaurant to a world class Michelin star rated location. Of course these are fine places to dine but, come with a high cost.
  • Food markets exist in almost every European city and town. This is where the locals shop for fresh perishables but and you can also find pre-cooked foods at many.
  • There are Fast Food Chains, just like in the U.S. You’ll find both American and European fast food establishments. For something quick and inexpensive and familiar food like that in U.S.
  • Street Food, this is more common in Europe than in the U.S. These street vendors can also offer good quality food at a budget price. 
  • Unlike the larger super market grocery stores in the U.S. many of these are much smaller in Europe. They do usually do offer a better selection of pre-made sandwiches, salads and other items for lunches and snacks. 

Europe’s International Cuisines

With the age of the global economy, Europe is being influenced by diversity from all over the world.  Europe has also experienced an influx of immigration like that in the US. Those immigrants bring with them their culture and cuisine. As well as the local cuisines offerings, it has developed offerings for international cuisines, like Chinese, Thai, Indian, Mexican, Japanese, Middle Eastern and African. In fact you can find some of the best Indian restaurants in the world located in London. The establishment of restaurants that feature international cuisine can be found just about everywhere, including good old American offerings. In many restaurants you can find dishes on the menu that you would find on menus back in the U.S.

Dinning Areas in Major European Cities… 

 AUSTRIA

VIENNA
Innere Stadt
Leopoldstadt
Mariahilf
Neubau

 BELGIUM

BRUGES
Markt Square
Sint-Anna Quarter

BRUSSELS
Matonge
Place du Chatelain 
Place Stephanie 
University Quarter

 CROATIA

Dubrovnik
Lapad
Old Town

DENMARK

Copenhagen
Amalienborg
Frederiksberg
København N
Parken
Tivoli Gardens

CZECHIA

Prague
Holešovice
Malá Strana
Staré Město
Vinohrady

FRANCE

BORDEAUX
Grand Hommes-Le Triangle d’Or-Quinconces
Vieux Bordeaux

LYON
Brotteaux
Guillotière
Pentes de la Croix-Rousse

PARIS
Bastille
Belleville
Bourse
Canal Saint-Martin
Champs-Elysées
Grands Boulevards
Le Marias
Louvre/Palais-Royale
Montmartre
Oberkampf
Quartier de la Réunion
République
Sainte-Germain-des-Prés
Sentie

 GERMANY

BERLIN
Helmholtzplatz,
Kastanienallee
Mitte
Neukölln
Savignyplatz
Winterfieldplatz

MUNICH
Altstadt
Au-Haidhausen
Maxvorstadt
Schwabing

 GREECE

ATHENS
Kolonaki
Monastiraki
Plaka
Psiri

HUNGARY

BUDAPEST
District V – Belváros-Lipótváros
District VI – Terézváros
District VII – Erzsébetváros

 IRELAND

DUBLIN
O’Connell Street
St. Stephen’s Green
Stoneybatter

  ITALY

FLORENCE
Oltrarno
Saint Ambrogio
Santa Croce
San Frediano

MILAN
Brera
Centro Storico
Navigli

ROME
Centro Storico
Esquilino
Monteverde
Monti
Ostiense
Pariloli
Pigneto
Pinciano
Prati
Salario
Testaccio
Trastevere
Trionfale

VENICE
Cannaregio
Dorsoduro
San Marco

 NETHERLANDS

AMSTERDAM
De Pijp
Jordaan
Leidseplein
New West
Noord
Old City Centre
Oost
Plantage
Rembrandtplein
The Ij Islands
West 
Werterpark
Zuid
Zuid-oost

 POLAND

KRAKÓW
Kazimierz
Podgórze
Stare Miasto

WARSAW
Mokotów
Old Town
Powiśle
Praga

 PORTUGAL

LISBON
Bairro Alto
Docas de Santo Amaro
Parque das Nações

PORTO
Bonfim
Ribeira
Miragai

 SERBIA

BELGRADE
Dorćol

 SPAIN

BARCELONA
Barceloneta
Cuitat Vella
Eixample
El Born
El Raval

BILBAO
Bilbao la Vieja
Casco Viejo
Deusto
Santutxu

MADRID
Chueca
Malasana
Recoletos

SAN SEBASTIAN
Old Town

SEVILLA
Barrio Santa Cruz 
Centro Histórico

VALANCIA
El Cabanyal

 SWEDEN

GOTHENBURG
Järntorget/Långgatorna

UNITED KINGDOM

LONDON, England
Bethnal Green
Brixton
Camden
Cerkenwell
Clapham
Covent Garden
Dalston
Islington
Marylebone
Notting Hill
Peckham
Seven Dials
Shoreditch
Soho

EDINBURGH, Scotland
New Town
Portobello
Stockbridge

We agree with the philosophy to eat like the locals. That probably means eating something you have never eaten before, but as they say “Not Guts No Glory”. Locals typically don’t eat expensively so they can point you in the right direction to good fresh homemade dining. If you want to eat the local cuisine, eat well and not pay through the nose, stay away from locations near high volume tourists attractions.

These are some of the most visited cities in Europe. Their cuisine scene can reflect all that is great about local European cuisine. But these cities, like those in the States, have become hubs of international diversity. Their restaurants can reflect incredible choices of cuisines from all over the world. The neighborhoods listed have a concentration restaurants that will offer a variety of cuisines to satisfy a wide range of tastes.

Another great place to find wonderful food are the large food markets that exist in almost every city and town across Europe. Shopping at these markets for fresh meats, cheeses, breads, fruits, vegetables, wine, prepared local hot dishes and more are part of the everyday European life. This way of purchasing food has been going on for centuries in Europe and is still going on today. The food markets are great options for lunch, dinner or a snack. Below is a list of some of the better know markets throughout Europe. Some have been in existence for centuries and make for a wonderful visit.    

Little markets, Europe’s version of a convenience store, have good selections of sandwiches, cheese, meats, salads, desserts, snacks and beverages available in small individual sizes, perfect for picnicking. The stores are usually stocked fresh daily and run low on products later in the evening.

Europe’s Fast Food…

You will find some of the same fast food restaurant chains located in European cities that you find back home as well as their own fast food versions. Go to our ➾ Fast Food in Europe page for more information.