For some of our clients, discovering a destination begins with its landmarks, its landscapes or its history.

For others, it begins at the table.

Food has always been one of the most meaningful ways to experience a new place. It tells us about a country’s traditions, its people, its landscape and the ingredients that have shaped generations of cooking. And for our clients, some of the most memorable moments of a journey often happen over a meal. Be it an unforgettable tasting menu, a table in a tiny neighborhood restaurant or lunch shared with a local producer.

In the second installment of our gastronomic travel series, we’re traveling to three exceptional gastronomic travel destinations where food is not simply part of the journey. It is the reason to go.

Japan: The Gastronomic Capital, Kyoto

Few destinations offer the same level of culinary discovery as Japan. Kyoto is perhaps where its food traditions feel most deeply connected to culture and place. As Japan’s former imperial capital, the city has centuries of culinary traditions woven into its temples, gardens, markets and seasonal celebrations.

Kyoto is particularly renowned for kaiseki, an elegant multi-course cuisine that celebrates seasonality, balance and presentation. But there is much more to discover beyond the formal dining room. From delicate tofu and Kyoto vegetables to tea, pickles, noodles and sweets, the city’s food culture reflects a deep respect for ingredients and the seasons.

A private gastronomic tour through Nishiki Market and Kyoto’s historic neighborhoods is a wonderful way to begin. With a knowledgeable local guide, travelers can discover traditional ingredients and the small shops that have served Kyoto’s residents for generations. For an even more immersive experience, a private cooking class can introduce guests to the ingredients behind some of the city’s most beloved dishes.

For a truly special evening, we would arrange dinner at Kappo Sakamoto, an intimate Kyoto restaurant where the chef showcases traditional Japanese cuisine through seasonal ingredients, meticulous craftsmanship and exceptional attention to detail. The kappo style offers a particularly personal dining experience. The chef preparing the meal directly in front of guests and the menu reflecting what is freshest that day.

Kyoto is a destination where food becomes another way of understanding the culture around you. In Kyoto, the food on the table, the rhythm of the seasons and the care behind every dish reveal as much about Japan as any temple or garden.

Portugal: Gastronomic Tours in Porto & the Douro Valley

Portugal is a country that invites you to eat slowly and stay awhile.

From the seafood of the Atlantic coast to the wines of Porto and the vineyards of the Douro Valley, Portugal’s cuisine reflects the landscapes, traditions and ingredients of the places that produce them.

In Porto, a private gastronomic tour offers an introduction to the city through its markets, historic neighborhoods and traditional foods. With a local guide, travelers can taste their way through the city while learning about the history behind Portuguese staples. And there are many – from seafood and cured meats to cheeses, pastries and wine.

For clients who want to take the journey further, we love pairing Porto with the Douro Valley. A private day among the vineyards can include a visit to a historic quinta, wine tasting with the estate’s experts and a leisurely lunch overlooking the valley. It is an experience where the landscape on the plate and the landscape beyond it become part of the same story.

For an exceptional dining experience in Porto, we would recommend Casa de Chá da Boa Nova. This is a Michelin-starred restaurant designed by renowned Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza. Perched dramatically above the Atlantic in nearby Leça da Palmeira, the restaurant combines contemporary Portuguese cuisine with an extraordinary coastal setting.

But Portugal’s food culture is just as rewarding away from the tasting-menu table. A traditional tasca, or neighborhood restaurant, is the place to enjoy simple Portuguese dishes. Don’t miss the local wine and the lively atmosphere that makes dining here feel so wonderfully unpretentious. We love these smaller, informal experiences because they allow travelers to see how food fits into everyday Portuguese life.

Portugal reminds us that gastronomic travel doesn’t always need to be complicated. Sometimes the greatest luxury is simply having exceptional food, good wine and nowhere else to be.

Denmark: Copenhagen

Copenhagen has transformed the way the world thinks about Scandinavian food.

The New Nordic movement placed an emphasis on seasonality, local ingredients, sustainability and a renewed appreciation for traditional Nordic techniques. This has turned Copenhagen into one of Europe’s most exciting culinary destinations.

For travelers interested in understanding this food culture, we might begin with a private food tour through the city. From bakeries and markets to traditional specialties and food halls, a local expert can introduce travelers the foods that help explain Copenhagen.

For an extraordinary dining experience, Geranium is an exceptional choice. The three-Michelin-starred restaurant takes an intensely seasonal, ingredient-driven approach to contemporary cuisine. It creates an experience that reflects the natural world and the philosophy at the heart of New Nordic cooking.

But there is another side to Copenhagen’s food culture that we love just as much. At Aamanns 1921, travelers can experience one of Denmark’s quintessential dishes: smørrebrød, the country’s famous open-faced sandwiches. Traditional in spirit but thoughtfully modern in execution, it offers a more relaxed — but no less distinctly Danish — dining experience.

And, of course, no gastronomic journey through Copenhagen would be complete without making time for one of the city’s exceptional bakeries. Sitting down with a coffee and a freshly baked pastry is a wonderfully simple way to experience the Danish approach to food. It is seasonal, thoughtful and meant to be enjoyed without rushing.

Copenhagen’s culinary identity is constantly evolving, but its connection to nature, seasonality and simplicity remains at its heart.

Travel Through the Table

The most memorable gastronomic journeys are rarely about simply finding the most expensive restaurant or securing the most coveted reservation.

They are about the story behind the meal.

It might be meeting the producer who has been making the same cheese for generations, walking through a market with someone who knows every vendor by name, tasting a wine where it was produced or sitting down at a restaurant where the chef has built an entire menu around what the season has to offer.

These are the experiences that allow us to understand a destination in a more personal way. These are exactly the kinds of details we love incorporating into our tailor-made journeys.

Contact us today to start planning your tailor made gastronomic holiday.