Restaurants in European capitals that are worthy of a stop-over

Air travel throughout Europe is still scattered with travel deals that are too good to pass up. For anyone looking for an excuse to get away from the daily grind and enjoy a change of scenery, here are some of the most interesting restaurants in European capitals that are worth stopping over for in their own right.

London, England

Let’s start the culinary journey with the oldest restaurant in England’s capital city. Rules have been serving up traditional British staples since 1798. Located in the bustling and trendy Covent Garden, this restaurant once served patrons, including HG Wells and Charles Dickens. Visitors can savour the English flavours with dishes that include breast of pheasant or steak and kidney pie. To this day, Rules is still privately owned and has only had three owners since initially welcoming the public.

Dublin, Ireland

The year 1798 must have been magical as it’s also the year that Davy Byrnes in Dublin, Ireland started. One can even find reference to Davy Byrnes and his pub in James Joyce’s famous book, Ulysses. Still open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, diners can try famed grass-fed Irish beef or the beer-battered catch of the day. Those preferring to keep their meals as authentically local as possible wouldn’t want to pass up the slow-braised beef and Guinness pie.

Athens, Greece

Athens has always been a food lover’s dream destination and proves that one doesn’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy a gastronomic flavour feast. Atitamos is a relatively small restaurant a little off the beaten track but well worth the walk. For 20 to 30 Euros per person on average, one can easily enjoy a multi-course meal with a drink. It’s a good idea to pace oneself and save space for the best baklava on the planet to round out the meal.

Lisbon, Portugal

When arriving in Lisbon, it’s recommended to securely store your bags and go on a convoluted search for authentic Portuguese food. This is food that won’t be found in a Michelin-star restaurant, but rather made using the same family recipes that have been in circulation for generations. Top of the list is Cantinho Lusitano, where, ideally, a reservation should be ensured. Residents of Lisbon know that this is the spot for tapas-style, traditional Portuguese food such as baked goat’s cheese with rosemary and honey or pica pau.

Bern, Switzerland

No trip to Bern is considered complete without a visit to Kornhauskeller Restaurant. The ambiance is spectacular, so it shouldn’t be surprising to find oneself gazing up at the domed ceilings with mouth agape at the exquisite detail work. The food and wines are distinctly seasonal and focus on Bern specialties, including delicious Swiss chocolate desserts.

It’s important not to forget that Europe has 44 countries to explore, each with its own distinctive cuisine and fantastic restaurants. It’s a great idea to start a list and see how many can be visited by bouncing from one city to the next.

The editorial unit