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Food has become a travel motivator in its own right. A 2025 study commissioned by Visit Anaheim found that 21 percent of American travelers have taken a trip specifically to eat local food, with the average traveler willing to go nearly 500 miles for a great bite. But according to chefs and travel experts, some flavors are worth going even farther for—and many of them point to the same place: the Iberian Peninsula.
Food preferences are highly subjective, but when we asked culinary insiders where they’d plan a food-focused getaway, the answers came back again and again: Spain and Portugal. (As someone who’s lived in both countries, I can confirm they’re onto something.) And they didn’t stop at general praise—here’s exactly where these experts say you should plan your next food-filled vacation.
Lisbon
“While popular for tourism, Lisbon’s food scene often feels underrated,” Travis Masar, the chef behind Pig and Tiger in Denver, told Travel + Leisure. “Many associate Portugal with simple meat-and-potatoes dishes or pastel de nata, but there’s so much more to discover.”
As Masar said, during his own two-week stay, he and his partner “loved starting our mornings with a pastel de nata and a ginjinha, a sour cherry liqueur that perfectly balances sweetness and warmth.” Some of Masar’s go-to spots in the city include Bonjardim for “exceptional piri-piri chicken;” Petisqueira Dos Sentidos, where you’ll find the “best octopus, salt cod, and potatoes;” and Casa da India, which “served some of the best gambas we’ve ever had, finishing with a humble yet unforgettable steak sandwich.”
Sid Simone, the host of the Flavafull Vegetarian Travel Show, agreed, noting that Portugal’s fresh pastas, sauces, and, of course, the pastel de nata, make my home city shine. But that’s not all. “There are indoor restaurant markets (fancy food courts) where you can select from a smorgasbord of entrees, desserts, and wines,” Simone said. Her go-to eatery is Seiva thanks to its “carefully crafted tasting menu and delicately served wine pairing.” Her pro-tip? Take the bus to enjoy the scenery, then walk the waterfront.
San Sebastián
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While, like Portugal, all of Spain offers spectacular flavors, San Sebastián, the pros say, offers something extra. “The city has an almost reverent relationship with food, where even the casual pintxos bars are run with Michelin-level precision,” Whitney Haldeman, founder of Atlas Adventures, told T+L. “Dining there is less about indulgence and more about evolution: wandering from bar to bar, sipping Txakoli and tasting one perfect bite after another.”
Haldeman said her favorite spot is Bar Nestor for its famous tomato salad and “melt-in-your-mouth txuleta (Basque-style steak).”
Mohamed Musallam from Explore Worldwide, also shared plenty of love for the Spanish city. “This coastal Basque gem has more Michelin stars per capita than anywhere except Kyoto, but what makes it truly special is the pintxos culture: these aren’t just Spanish tapas, they’re miniature culinary masterpieces showcasing the Basque region’s obsession with flavor, quality, and innovation,” Musallam said.
His top recommendations include the Old Town’s pintxos bars along Calle 31 de Agosto and Calle Fermín Calbetón, where travelers can hop between centuries-old establishments, each showcasing its own signature creations. Standout bites include classic Basque pintxos paired with txakoli, the region’s lightly sparkling local wine.
Don’t want to wander alone? Tara Busch of the Conscious Travel Collective said she books her travelers on pintxos tours so they can find the best spots alongside a local. “Menus often change daily, and even the selections of bars open will vary from night to night, so each day’s tour truly is unique,” Busch told T+L. “Plus local guides will find out what will pique the interest of their group, and be sure to find something really fabulous just for them.” Though if you do go it alone, Busch said to make sure to try lots of seafood dishes.
And, as chef Mawa McQueen added, because of the city’s proximity to Biarritz, France, you can always hop the border and get a taste of both nations in one trip. “I love to have fun, and I love to eat delicious food, and both of these cities deliver both those things in abundance,” McQueen said. “The food in both places is fresh, it’s simple, and it’s got a base of Mediterranean flavors. Their dishes are designed to bring people to the table, to have conversation, to share, and to savor each bite as they are serving up tapas and other small plates.”
McQueen added that what the chefs in both places are doing isn’t complicated. And that’s what makes them great. “They are using what they have—seafood, cured meats, fresh cheese, and seasonal produce— but that’s what makes it stand out far beyond the other large cities in these countries. The people there are real, and they are the ones actually making your food from scratch, which isn’t always the case in other big ‘foodie’ destinations.”
