I studied abroad in Europe this summer, and visited five cities: London, Paris, Rome, Madrid, and Prague — all in ONE month! Europe has smaller servings for meals, but that didn’t stop my appetite for the best foods in each city. As a passionate foodie, I began to document everything I ate on my adventure.
It can become overwhelming and tedious to research where you’d want to eat. So if you’re visiting any of these cities, these foods and places are a MUST-TRY when you go.
Borough Market
OH SO FRESH. Made to order, this chicken burger was simple, yet delicious! You can find this along with other street foods from the locals. Vendors also offer various goods like fresh cheeses, olive oils, meat, and dairy. You can find Borough Market south of London Bridge. The market is open seven days a week, from 10 am to 5 pm on weekdays.
SkyGarden
35 floors high, SkyGarden has food AND a panoramic view of London’s skyline! True to its name, the restaurant is a real garden as well. At night, Sky Pod bar offers drinks, such as this Red Passion cocktail. Yes, it’s topped by a REAL piece of passion fruit on rose petals. Talk about #fancy. If you plan to eat at Skygarden, remember to make a reservation. No RSVP needed for Sky Pod.
L’As du Fallafel
The English translation cannot be more accurate: The ACE of Falafels. I have never had such a delicious meal in between pita bread. (It’s kosher too!) Located in the Jewish quarter of Le Marais, the area is full of little boutiques for you to discover. I recommend grabbing your falafel to-go, wandering the cobblestone roads, and peeking into stores that tickle your fancy.
Ladurée
Home to the world’s most famous macarons, Ladurée pastries are pleasing to the eyes and tastebuds. More than 15,000 macarons are sold everyday, and the hype has not died since 1892 (124 years strong)! Their decorative boxes are just as beautiful as their pastries — use it hold your mementos. Before you leave the City of Lights, make sure to grab another box to take home to your family and friends. Charles de Gaulle Airport has three locations, so you CAN’T forget to take a piece of Paris home.
Osteria da Fortunata
Want to watch pasta being handmade by locals? Check out Osteria da Fortunata. No tricks here — their pasta is made fresh right in front of your eyes. Nothing beats perfect al dente pasta paired with fresh Roma tomatoes. This little restaurant comes complete with custom cups and plates, making sure you don’t forget their name.
Gelato
It should be a crime to leave Italy without eating gelato — and Gelateria Frigidarium is THE place to go. Scoops of gelato are piled precariously onto a tiny cone and topped with a cookie (only with the Frigidarium flavor). Yes, they have a flavored named after themselves. Like most gelaterias, the store is very tiny, but the line often goes out the door into the street. I’ve had a good amount of gelato in Italy, but this is the best one I had.
Jamón
Let’s make this clear: Spanish jamón is NOT your typical American ham. Southern Europe traditionally dry cures their hams, and it is VERY tasty. Pork legs are hung on the wall for all to see, and the ham is thinly sliced in front of you. Jámon is usually accompanied by bread, eaten as seen above or sandwich-style if you’re on the go. Either way, Spanish jamón is definitely different from any other ham you’ve ever had.
100 Montaditos
100 Montaditos is the Spanish equivalent of Buffalo Wild Wings — instead of ordering wings, you’re ordering tapa-sized sandwiches. There are 100 different types (which can be a small nightmare for an indecisive person). Try their Tinto de Verano, a wine spritzer made of house wine and lemon-lime soda. It only costs 1 euro. That’s CHEAPER THAN WATER.
Trdelník
Cheap but delicious, this famous Czech pastry that is made of dough baked around a stick and topped with walnuts and sugar. For an additional cost, you can add Nutella on the inside as well. You can easily find little booths selling trdelník as you get closer to Prague’s famous Old Town Square. Other variations of this dessert include ice cream inside a dough cone.
Gourmetpauza
Not a Czech-cuisine restaurant (because honestly, Prague isn’t known for its food), but Gourmetpauza is worth noting because of its quality. Grilled crispy chicken made-to-order with garlic aioli and veggie fries were a delicious comfort food after weeks of non-American cuisine. Add some prosecco and friends I’ve made over the trip and this restaurant made a great “last supper” in Europe.
Hopefully you found these recommendations helpful for your upcoming trip or bookmarked for your dream vacation. If you’re a college student, I highly recommend studying abroad. I was able to learn so much from traveling on my own — not just from my classes, but about myself in relation to the big wide world.
#SpoonTip: If you’d like to see EVERYTHING I ate in Europe, take a peek at my food Instagram, @tableforlily!