It is a truth universally acknowledged that food is one of the best parts of travelling.
Whether it’s a seven-course meal in a Michelin-starred restaurant or down-to-earth home cooking, the meals we’ve enjoyed abroad are some of our most treasured travel memories. Here are some of our favorite foodie tips from last year’s villa visits to inspire your culinary adventures.
Bali, Indonesia
There are many reasons people visit Bali: beautiful scenery, unique traditions and some of the most warm and welcoming people on the planet. For us, one of the main draws has always been the amazing local food. Drawing inspiration from across the Indonesian archipelago, the local food relies on fresh produce, rich spices, plenty of spicy sambal… and rice, always rice. In fact, many Indonesians don’t consider a meal an actual meal unless it includes rice!
In villas like Villa Kapungkur, Villa Asli and Villa Bayad, you can immerse yourself in the local cuisine while also being surrounded by authentic Indonesian architecture, art, and antiques. We have stayed and dined in these villas ourselves and the experience has always been very special. The beef rendang at Villa Bayad is divine and it’s not just us saying that – this iconic Indonesian dish has been voted among the best food in the world.
Besides the local cuisine, we love exploring Bali’s more cosmopolitan food scene. Jalan Kayu Aya in Seminyak is the island’s original Eat Street where you can find Italian, Indian, Greek, Pan Asian, Turkish, and Indonesian cuisine all within a 500-metre radius. Staying in Villa De Suma allowed us to explore all the area’s best restaurants on foot – this villa really is a walker’s paradise!
There is always something new to try on Eat Street which is exactly what makes it such an appealing concept. And speaking of new: while Jalan Kayu Aya used to be the place to be in Bali, the crowds have since started to gravitate up the coast. Canggu in particular has exploded onto the culinary scene. We loved staying at Villa Zambala where we were surrounded by the area’s trendiest restaurants and hottest beach clubs but also had the option to enjoy relaxed meals at the villa whenever we felt like it.
Siem Reap, Cambodia
This Cambodian city has all the hallmarks of a hidden gem – even the food is something of a revelation. Cambodian cuisine is often overshadowed by its neighbours, with Thai and Vietnamese food commanding a far stronger presence on a global scale. That makes it all the more rewarding to discover local Cambodian dishes like fish amok (a steamed fish curry) and kuy teav (a hearty noodle soup).
While Siem Reap still flies below most travellers’ radar, the city has a vibrant buzz about it. It feels very reminiscent of Bali, say, 10 years ago. But because the area has not fully emerged onto the scene (yet!), it still offers a sense of adventure – and amazing value for money.
Back home, dining out every night of the week would feel like an extravagance but in Siem Reap, restaurant meals come at a terrific price point. Some of our fondest memories from Siem Reap include exploring the market stalls and restaurants lining Pub Street. Neon lights, colourful umbrellas, and a steady stream of travellers from all walks of life lend this strip a fun and festive air. For 20 dollars, you can have a lovely dinner as a couple, while 100 dollars translates to a fabulous meal for an entourage.
We found Rose Apple Residence to be the perfect home base for exploring everything Siem Reap has to offer – including the ancient ruins of Angkor. When we felt too exhausted to head out after a full day spent exploring the temples, we were happy to discover that our butler was a very skilled cook too.
Niseko, Japan
Japanese restaurants are obviously ubiquitous across the globe. But eating Japanese food in Japan, prepared by a Japanese chef, is a very different experience from wolfing down some sushi on your lunch break back home. The northern island of Hokkaido is a particularly appealing destination for foodies. As Japan’s largest agricultural producing region, the island is famed for its high quality produce, dairy, and seafood. It’s not surprising then that Niseko, the best ski resort in Asia, has emerged as a culinary force to be reckoned with.
Niseko’s food scene is wonderfully varied – it’s very easy to alternate between haute cuisine and more down to earth fare. While Niseko has certainly expanded over the years, Grand Hirafu remains the liveliest resort in the area. It also offers the largest number and most vibrant mix of restaurants. You can enjoy an exquisite dinner at the Michelin starred Kamimura or sneak off to an unassuming izakaya hidden in the lower village – or drive out to this tiny soba joint buried amid the snow.
Chalets like Akatsuki and Zai-On bring you to the heart of Niseko’s thriving food scene, with the main dining strip (Momiji-Zaka) practically on your doorstep. Then again, you might prefer to stay in Lower Hirafu where you can check out all the best izakaya joints hidden amid the pow. Kazane, Kasetsu and Jun are some of our favourite chalets in lower Hirafu village that are walking distance to fabulous cuisine.
Sri Lanka
In a world that’s dominated by generic travel trends, discovering something new and exciting feels exceedingly rare. While Sri Lanka’s star has been rising for a few years now, the country still maintains its unique charm and raw beauty. The local cuisine too is full of delight and surprises.
While Indian dishes like biryani, tandoori, and tikka masala are popular the world over, far fewer people have tried or even heard of Sri Lankan dishes like hoppers or kottu roti. We fell in love with the latter while staying at the fabulous Ubuntu Beach Villas in Mirissa and can confirm that this Sri Lankan staple (consisting of chopped up flatbread, meat or veggie curry, scrambled eggs, onion and chili) is utterly addictive.
Seafood is another key component of Sri Lankan cuisine. From tuna to shrimp and from lobsters to oysters, the spread is very abundant and incredibly fresh. It’s little wonder then that many local chefs specialize in seafood. During our stay at Samudra House, the villa’s chef prepared the most magnificent seafood feast – the succulent lobsters and tender squid left us all asking for seconds.
Efate, Vanuatu
Vanuatu is our favourite escape when we’re in need of some sea, sun, and smiles. Though it’s less than a three-hour flight from Brisbane, landing here always feels like stepping into another dimension: you can instantly feel all your stress melt away. A day spent kayaking in those clear blue waters (a favourite pastime at Rockpools) is bound to leave you famished – so what’s cooking?
Just as you’d expect, the local cuisine on this dreamy tropical island relies on fresh local ingredients, be it ocean-to-table seafood or exotic fruit plucked straight from the tree. While the growth of tourism means you can find restaurants serving pizzas, burgers, and fried rice, we highly suggest seeking out local dishes as well.
The national dish lap lap contains grated bananas, breadfruit, taro, and meat which are wrapped in banana leaves. While similar dishes are often steamed or grilled, lap lap is prepared by cooking the wrapped dish in a natural earth oven that’s dug in the ground. The dish is irresistible and a little surprising – just like the island itself.
Marrakesh, Morocco
Mixing influences from Middle Eastern, North African, and Mediterranean cuisines, Moroccan food is simply divine. Just like the vibrant souks of Marrakesh, the local food is bursting with rich colours, textures and aromas. From couscous to tagine and from harira to bastilla, Moroccan food is one of our favourite cuisines in the world.
Besides their delectable dishes, Marrakesh’s restaurants wow with their ornate design. We love exploring the city’s medina and discovering hidden gardens and concealed rooftop restaurants. Many venues come with amazing stories and rich histories that date back centuries. Settling down for a meal at Dar Essalam – a venue that dates back to the 1800s – feels all the more special knowing that it was used as a backdrop in the Hitchcock classic, The Man Who Knew Too Much.
We love nothing more than getting lost in those rambling souks, ducking into a secret garden for some pastries and mint tea, and then retreating back to a palatial villa hidden in the desert.
In the end, it’s the people who really make the experience what it is; the people preparing and serving your food and the ones you share it with. If you’re lucky, your meal might even be accompanied by some live entertainment – perhaps a fabulous band or a troupe of traditional dancers.
More often than not, it’s the personal touches that stay with you the most. Perhaps the chef came over to your table to share stories behind the menu. In Bali, it is very common for waitstaff to entertain guests’ toddlers and even hold their babies, allowing the parents to enjoy their meal. These heartfelt gestures are what really stay with you – and make travelling so worthwhile.
Constantly on the move in search of exceptional villas, we have built our lives around exploring different cultures around the world. Feel free to contact us when planning your next adventure.
