It’s a jarring moment, going from the dorm of a youth hostel to the dining room of a three-Michelin-starred restaurant. But you do that when you’re staying in San Sebastian and pouring all your money into one incredible dining experience. I was 25 when the world of food changed for me.
Eating had always been enjoyable, but I had never planned an entire holiday around one meal. But there I was in the north of Spain, scrimping on accommodation in a hostel so I could have dinner at Restaurante Arzak, holder of three Michelin stars, one of the global pioneers of molecular gastronomy and a crucial driver of San Sebastian as a food destination. That meal was mind-blowing – like nothing I had ever experienced.
And it changed the way I would travel forever. Even some 20 years later, food is no side-show. I’m not alone in this transformation – so many Australians now travel with dining in mind.
Food, after all, is culture and dining is a window into a nation’s history, traditions, passions and desires. Restaurants show you everything about the world while also providing the intensely enjoyable experience of eating good food. And so we come to my list of the world’s 50 not-necessarily-best-but-still-really-great restaurants.
If you’re into food you’ll probably be aware that the real World’s 50 best restaurants list was recently announced in Las Vegas, with Spain’s Disfrutar at No.1. That list forms the inspiration for this list, though mine is different.
This is n.
