From street food in Beijing to tapas in Barcelona; you can get to the heart of a city by sampling the local flavors. So if you're looking for a memorable meal on your travels, we've uncovered the ultimate places to visit if you want to eat like a native.
Beijing
Food is the cornerstone of Chinese culture and Beijing is bursting with every type imaginable. To sample real Chinese cuisine – including Beijing's famous hotpot – take a walk down Gui Jie (Ghost Street) at night. Over 100 restaurants line the bustling street and it's one of the best ways to experience real Beijing life.
Street food stalls and night markets are the ideal places to enjoy some of the most delicious, cheap and exotic food in Beijing. Visit the night market and Snack Street, off Wangfujing Street, to sample traditional street food and local delicacies; including skewers of beef or squid, tasty pancakes and even deep-fried scorpions.
Beijing is also famous for its roast duck and there are thousands of restaurants that specialize in duck across the city. To sample the dish as it should be, Beijing Dadong Roast Duck Restaurant is a favorite amongst many Beijingers and less over-priced than many of its rivals.
Find out more about local restaurants in Beijing
Istanbul
Steeped in history and tradition, Istanbul is a fascinating city and no visit is complete without experiencing the amazing range of food available. Most Turkish meals begin with Meze – collections of small starters – although you could easily eat enough for a whole meal, with a vast list of dishes available. A great place to sample local Meze and have a truly traditional experience is Balıkçı Sabahattin. Open since 1927, it's situated in an old house complete with an outdoor terrace, antique carpets and lively gypsy violinists!
Turkey's most famous culinary export is the kebab – called kebap in Turkish – and for a taste of this traditional local lunch try the köfte at Köfteci Arnavut. Istanbul's proximity to the sea means that fresh fish is also popular with the locals. Visit Kömür or Fasil restaurants for simple seafood and fresh grilled fish served straight from the Black Sea.
If you've got a sweet tooth, delicious pastries such as baklava – a flaky pastry drenched in syrup - are sold all over Istanbul; in shops and by street vendors. Visit Karaköy Güllüoğlu baklava shop for some of the finest in Turkey, with the pastries sold by the kilo!
Find out more about local restaurants in Istanbul
Barcelona
As the capital of Catalonia, Barcelona's cuisine has very distinct flavors and is one of the most exciting in Europe. For a true taste of Barcelona, head to one of its many markets to see stalls heaped with fresh fish, meat and a dazzling array of fruit and vegetables. In the mainly residential area of Gracia, La Llibertat and L'Abacería Central are two great markets to explore and experience the local culture.
If you want to sample authentic Catalan cuisine at a good price, head to Agut or Set Portes for perfect paellas and seafood platters. Or, for some of the best tapas in town, try the local institutions Bar-Restaurante Can Tomàs and Cal Pep for fresh food, straight from the local market.
Perfect at any time of the day, Cafe Zurich is one of the most famous cafes in Barcelona and is in a great location to sip a coffee and watch the world go by.
Find out more about local restaurants in Barcelona
Sydney
Sydneysiders are passionate about socializing and food is always central to a good time. Sydney's harbor-side location means that seafood is a popular choice and there's nowhere better to sample it than at the Sydney Fish Market. Each day, over 65 tonnes of fresh fish are sold; with a fair amount of the catch ending up in one of the market's numerous restaurants, cafes and sushi bars.
As one of the world's most cosmopolitan cities, there's an enormous variety of restaurants spread throughout the city. To sample a few, head to Fifi's for some of the best Lebanese cuisine, Il Bareto for cheap and delicious Italian and Tsukasa for traditional Japanese food. Plus, don’t miss out on fish and chips at Mohr.
And if you want to try breakfast Sydney-style, check out Brown Sugar or Foto Café, plus for those in-the-know, Coffee Culture is the place to be for the best cup of coffee around.
Find out more about local restaurants in Sydney
San Francisco
Eating in San Francisco is an international affair, with different ingredients and styles from around the world combined to create 'California Cuisine'. To sample this fusion cooking at its best, visit St Michael's Alley in Palo Alto.
Many visitors head straight to Fisherman's Wharf for a taste of the local crab and sourdough bread. The locals don't really eat here but if you're in the area, eat at Scoma's – one of the oldest and best seafood restaurants around.
Away from the wharf, there are plenty of other places to enjoy great cuisine and avoid the high prices. Chinatown is a must-visit area of the city with its bustling, noisy streets and exotic restaurants and Tommy Toy's is undoubtedly one of the best. And if you love Chinese food, Ton Kiang has arguably some of the best dim sum in the city.
If you're looking for a great cup of coffee and one of the most authentic cafes in town, head to Caffè Trieste and for breakfast the local way, check out Ella's for their mouth-wateringly good banana pancakes.
Find out more about local restaurants in San Francisco
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