NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Travel

The world's best undiscovered foodie hubs

AAP
6 Sep, 2016 04:34 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

The medieval hill town of Todi is known for juicy figs, foraged greens and delicious meat. Photo / Getty Images

The medieval hill town of Todi is known for juicy figs, foraged greens and delicious meat. Photo / Getty Images

There are plenty of foodie havens around the world where you can taste stunning, local delights without battling crowds.

Food is a major drawcard for tourists, who flock to Rome for pasta, Paris for pastries and Tokyo for sashimi.

But there are plenty of foodie havens around the world where you can taste stunning, local delights without battling crowds.

Using data from 34,000 global travellers, Booking.com has unearthed a handful of unknown, gastronomic gems.

TODI, ITALY

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Todi is nestled in Italy's "green heart" of Umbria, which neighbours the much-heralded region of Tuscany. Visitors to this medieval hill town can dine al fresco while indulging in juicy figs, foraged greens and delicious meat. Alternatively, dig your fork into palomba alla ghiotta - a classic dish of spit-roasted pigeon with sage, rosemary and garlic.

Todi is a great place for al fresco dining with a view. Photo / Flickr, Dale Musselman
Todi is a great place for al fresco dining with a view. Photo / Flickr, Dale Musselman

MOTOVUN, CROATIA

Set to bring out anyone's inner-hunter-gatherer is Motovun, which sits atop one of the many hills along the Istria peninsula of the Adriatic Sea. The area is known as the land of truffles and offers foraging excursions into the woods. For those who prefer a slower pace, the pretty village has a charming main square where you can put your feet up with a crisp local wine and a spread of fine cheeses and hams - and truffles, of course.

Truffle oil for sale in Motovun, Croatia. Photo / Getty Images
Truffle oil for sale in Motovun, Croatia. Photo / Getty Images

SAYULITA, MEXICO

This coastal Mexican village offers every taco combination under the sun. Kick back with a margarita in one of the brightly-decorated cafes or wander into one of the jungle beach town's many restaurants. The food is as colourful as the town, with mole enchilladas, green chorizo and blue corn tortillas. Or you could indulge in the Yucatan-style slow roasted pork. Tourists should expect to walk away with full tummies without having to empty their wallets.

There are a variety of taco trucks to choose from in Sayulita. Photo / Flickr, apasciuto
There are a variety of taco trucks to choose from in Sayulita. Photo / Flickr, apasciuto

KAGOSHIMA, JAPAN

Kagoshima is known for its view of the active volcano Sakurajima, but the real explosion in the seaside city is its food scene. Local dishes are filled with flavourful meat, delicious boiled vegetables and aromatic sauces. Black pork, Satsumaage (fried fish cakes) and tempura sweet potato make up some of the unique fare available.

Satsumaage (fried fish cakes) on sale in Kagoshima. Photo / Getty Images
Satsumaage (fried fish cakes) on sale in Kagoshima. Photo / Getty Images

TANUNDA, AUSTRALIA

Tanunda, in the picturesque Barossa Valley, has been heavily-influenced by its 19th-century German settlers, with bratwurst, kransky and pretzels available by the dozen from bakeries and sausage shops in town. For a more fine dining experience, most of the local wineries are open seven days a week.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Rockford Winery's tasting room in Tanunda. Photo / Getty Images
Rockford Winery's tasting room in Tanunda. Photo / Getty Images

AIT-BENHADDOU, MOROCCO

The ancient fortified settlement of Ait-Benhaddou is positioned along the old trade route between the Sahara and Marrakech. But even more striking than the town's terracotta architecture is its traditional Moroccan menu, with dishes full of spices and mouth-watering flavours. Travellers are encouraged to work up an appetite with a stroll to the area's perfectly preserved Kasbah, an ancient North African citadel.

A market between Ait-Benhaddou and Aroumd. Photo / Flickr, cliff williams
A market between Ait-Benhaddou and Aroumd. Photo / Flickr, cliff williams

ROCKPORT, USA

Forget hot dogs in diners, this American mid-coast haven presents a quaint, laid-back atmosphere with lighthouse views to admire while tucking into a fresh lobster roll. Rockport is big on slow food, but the seaside town in Massachusetts has jumped on the street food bandwagon and has a plethora of food trucks offering high-quality goodies.

Enjoy a freshly made lobster roll in Rockport. Photo / 123RF
Enjoy a freshly made lobster roll in Rockport. Photo / 123RF

DARWIN, AUSTRALIA

While not exactly undiscovered, Darwin's quality Asian cuisine is a surprise to many, with the city lying closer to its Asian neighbours than its fellow Australian capitals. Take a steamy Saturday morning stroll at the Parap Village Markets, or wait for the Northern Territory sun to drop for a wander at the Mindil Beach Sunset Market.

Darwin is known for quality Asian cuisine - which can be found at the Mindil Beach Sunset Market. Photo / Flickr, Grant Williamson
Darwin is known for quality Asian cuisine - which can be found at the Mindil Beach Sunset Market. Photo / Flickr, Grant Williamson

Expect Indonesian charcoal BBQ meats, exotic fruit, Asian greens, and Thai curries and laksas, to name a few. You'll also come across the Territory's green mangoes, popular in Asia and now in demand across Australia.

- AAP

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Travel

Travel

Are we entering a new era of golden-age train travel?

24 Jun 01:00 AM
Herald NOW

Winter travel trends to escape the cold weather

New Zealand

'Read our travel advice': MFAT urges travellers to regularly check news for updates

23 Jun 06:42 AM

One pass, ten snowy adventures

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Travel

Are we entering a new era of golden-age train travel?

Are we entering a new era of golden-age train travel?

24 Jun 01:00 AM

For those tired of the go, go go, Rovos Rail offers the ultimate in luxury train travel.

Winter travel trends to escape the cold weather

Winter travel trends to escape the cold weather

'Read our travel advice': MFAT urges travellers to regularly check news for updates

'Read our travel advice': MFAT urges travellers to regularly check news for updates

23 Jun 06:42 AM
Premium
Disneyland Aotearoa: Is it a dream worth considering?

Disneyland Aotearoa: Is it a dream worth considering?

23 Jun 03:00 AM
Your Fiordland experience, levelled up
sponsored

Your Fiordland experience, levelled up

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP