9 Small Towns in Europe Worth Visiting For the Food Alone in 2025

These towns don’t often make the “must travel for the food” lists or typical influencer videos. Sometimes the town hardly has enough accommodations to house the tourists that type of recognition brings. Both only add to the charm if you’re willing to make the effort to get there. And when it comes to these nine small towns the Matador Network team has fallen for after food-filled trips, the effort is always worth it.

Contributors: Debbie Gonzalez Canada, Morgane Croissant, Suzie Dundas, Katie Gavin, Nickolaus Hines

Photo: Katie Scott Aiton

Photo: Fjord Norway/Einar Engdal

Photo: Katie Scott Aiton

• Why we love it: Locavore dining at its finest
• What to eat: Seafood and seasonal dishes

Along Norway’s northwest coast, you’ll find small fishing villages serving some of Scandinavia’s finest seafood. These hearty dishes use nearby produce and follow recipes passed down for generations. On a recent trip, I found myself in the tiny hamlet of Bud. Bud is 20 minutes from the Atlantic Road — one of Norway’s most impressive sights and one of the 18 Norwegian Scenic Routes. At first glance, Bud’s scattering of red- and yellow-hued tinder houses seems like any other pretty fishing port in the region. Yet the new restaurant Slipen makes Bud stand out even in a region with no shortage of great dining.

The welcoming wooden dining room and bar are owned and operated by the talented Rune Skeide, who turned what was once a nothing-to-write-about establishment into a destination restaurant. The building was once a place to offload and store fish — hence the name “Slipen,” referring to the slip boat use.

Skeide celebrates everything local, serving me venison shot on a hillside he can point to from the dining room window. With plans to go nose-to-tail with a butchery downstairs, I have no doubt the menu here will continue to impress in the future. There’s zero pretension, small portions, or unnecessary ingredients on plates here. Each element is seasonal and has a story to tell. Eating the entrée of wild halibut from Romsdalsfjord with glazed carrots, peas, and a mussel fumè felt like a warm hug. As did the kindly service that reminded me of dining at my grandmother’s home. I visited at the end of fall during torrential rain and have plans to revisit in summer, to sit outside and tuck into one of Skeide’s burgers. — Katie Gavin, lifestyle editor

Photo: trabantos/Shutterstock

• Why we love it: Historic small town with a restaurant that will bring you tears of joy
• What to eat: Bacalao a la vizcaina, cuajada, and other traditional Basque dishes

I visited Ujué to see a 12th century fortified church (which is absolutely stunning), but I would go back for the food. Perhaps no surprise in Basque country. The northern autonomous region in Spain has its own culture, language, and, maybe most cherished by travelers, gastronomy. The capital of San Sebastián has one of the most Michelin star restaurants per capita in the world, while Bilbao is equally enticing for food lovers with great food at lower prices. Ujué has a small population that’s a tiny fraction of either of those towns: 171 inhabitants by the the 2017 census, and almost half of them over 60 years old. The food still impresses. After a full day of walking about, my mom and I sat at Mesón Las Torres for a meal and some rest. The panoramic view from the restaurant was breathtaking, so at first I thought it could be a tourist trap. The menu consisted of mostly traditional Basque dishes, some of which we had already tried in Pamplona and other places. I still remember her tears of joy when she tried bacalao a la vizcaina (a Basque version of salt cod stew) and it tasted just like the one her grandfather used to cook for her. Traditional desserts were a highlight too. If you are having a hard time choosing, go with the cuajada (curd) with caramelized nuts. — Debbie Gonzalez Canada, SEO Editor

Photo: Belmond Hotels /Otto Geleng and Tyson Sadlo

Photo: Belmond Hotels /Tyson Sadlo and Mattia Aquila

Photo: DaLiu/Shutterstock

• Why we love it: Exceptional food from street carts to Michelin star restaurants
• What to eat: Seafood and fresh produce

Sicily, the biggest island in the Mediterranean, is the birthplace of my favorite food: arancini. The island off the boot of Italy is also where I’ve made some of my most cherished food memories. It’s an island of contrasts. Volcanic soils sustain fertile farmlands that produce some of the finest fruit and vegetables in the world, while the coastline provides a bounty of seafood. You can eat cones of arancini from greasy paper on a crate on a side street in Palermo, dine on terraces overlooking vineyards, and savor eggplant parmigiana from Michelin star kitchens. And each experience is exquisite in its own way. Sicily’s culture is just as mix-matched, and that influences the dining scene.

I took my sister, a chef, to Sicily in 2022. She had a list as long as her arm of places to eat and shop. Although I’m more haphazard in my approach to choosing where to eat – some of my best dining experiences have been accidental finds — I followed her lead and ended up in the hilltop beach town of Taormina. Taormina sits on Sicily’s western coast, and it’s here where we ended our road trip and ate an unforgettable meal at Michelin starred Otto Geleng.

Otto Geleng sits 16, but thankfully, my sister had booked far in advance. It’s housed on a balcony with terracotta pots of fuchsia that lace the view of Mount Etna on the dusty pink-walled Grand Hotel Timeo. The air smelt of orange zest and sea salt, and with a glass of spumante, we began our tasting menu journey through southern Sicily. The choose-your-own-adventure menu, steered by Roberto Toro, takes you to the sea, through valleys, or the vegetable garden. I opted for seven courses inspired by the ocean, a fitting accompaniment to the view over the Bay of Naxos. Dishes such as grilled octopus with wild fennel escarole and creamy fusillone with cuttlefish and broad beans brought silence to our table. Sharing this experience with my beloved sister is a memory I hold close to my heart. And if you’re fortunate enough to visit Sicily, take a leaf out of her book and reserve a table at Otto Geleng before you arrive on the island. — Katie Gavin, lifestyle editor

Photo: Sina Ettmer Photography/Shutterstock

• Why we love it: A small harbor city on the Baltic Sea with beautiful and colorful North German Gothic architecture
• What to eat: Fish sandwiches, beer, and German cakes

Travelers tend to forget that Germany has a coastline both on the North Sea and on the Baltic Sea and that, consequently, fish-based dishes are a significant part of the country’s traditional cuisine. The small and charming city of Greifswald, home to the 800-year-old fishing village of Wiek on the Baltic sea, is worth a stop for a traditional fish sandwich. The tastiest and most affordable place to do just that is Fisch 13, a small take-away shop with a large variety of sandwiches. Order one with plum or raspberry jam for an unexpected fish feast. If you’d rather have a proper sit-down meal in a more refined atmosphere, visit Natürlich Büttners or Restaurant Tischlerei. For something sweet and traditional, make your way to Bäckerei Kässler for a slice of mohnkuchen (German poppy seed cake). Everything at this bakery is made in-house from time-honored recipes. Because one can’t visit Germany without trying out some local beer, stop by Störtebeker Braugasthaus. Located in a beautiful North German Gothic building on Greifswald’s marketplace, this restaurant serves a large variety of specialty beer, as well as some beer-based cocktails, alongside traditional German dishes like beef-based rinderroulade and the herring-based brathering süß. — Morgane Croissant, deputy editor

An outdoor fondue pot on a summer afternoon. Photo: Suzie Dundas

Visiting a cheesemaker in the hillsides around Gstaad, Switzerland. Photo: Suzie Dundas

Siting in a lifesized fondue pot in the Swiss Alps. Photo: Suzie Dundas

The town of Gstaad, Switzerland. Photo: Suzie Dundas

The too-cute-to-be-real streets of the historic part of Gstaad. Photo: Suzie Dundas

• Why we love it:The Swiss alpine views of dreams, and a multitude of adventures for the cheese obsessed
• What to eat: Hobelkäse, Bergkäse, fondue, raclette, and all other cheeses

Gstaad, in the Swiss Alps, is known for its gorgeous snow-covered landscapes. But among food lovers, it’s also known for its culinary landscape — especially when it comes to dishes focused on cheese. I traveled there in fall of 2024, and though I went for the hiking and wouldn’t consider myself a huge foodie, the food experiences were really what stole the show.

In Gstaad, farmers move their cows to hillside farms every summer, where they produce the town’s signature offering: Hobelkäse. The hard cheese must be made in such a specific way that there’s an entire cheese co-op dedicated to making sure its recipe remains pure and high-quality.

The co-op runs one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen while traveling: an underground cheese grotto in an old water tower. It’s been transformed by the co-op into a cheese aging facility, where the aging process for each of the thousands of wheels in the coop is overseen by a cheesemonger extraordinaire. Guests can book tours into the grotto, complete with cheese and wine tastings.

But if you’d rather stay above ground — or want to see those famous mountain views — there’s another equally fun option offered in partnership with the tourism board and cheese co-op. Visitors can order “fondue backpacks” loaded with everything needed to make fondue al fresco (including a local fondue spice that’s mouthwateringly good), then hike to one of half a dozen life-size fondue pots scattered around Gstaad’s hillsides. The kits have everything needed, so you can enjoy the town’s signature dish while admiring some of the prettiest views in Switzerland. And if you’re completely obsessed with hobelkäse – which you very well might be after a taste – you can book experiences like hikes into the hillsides to visit a Swiss cheesemaker. You’ll need to stay overnight in a Gstaad hotel, and you’ll get a tourist card, which includes the ability to book experiences such as farm visits. It also includes other perks, like free transportation and cable car rides (useful if you’d prefer to hike down, not up).

Gstaad isn’t a huge town, but considering how accessible it is from both Zurich and other popular Swiss towns like those around Lake Geneva, it’s a no-brainer when it comes to including it in a Swiss trip (and truly a must-do for the cheese-obsessed). — Suzie Dundas, commissioning editor

Photo: margouillat photo/Shutterstock

• Why we love it: A classic small Brittany harbor town with narrow cobblestone streets lined with independent shops and restaurants
• What to eat: Crêpes, galettes, and chocolates

For someone like me who grew up nearby, Le Croisic has always felt like the end of the world. It’s located on the very tip of a peninsula jutting into the Atlantic Ocean and is the last stop for all the trains in the area, including the TGV coming from Paris. But Le Croisic’s location doesn’t mean it’s flying under the travel radar — in May, July, and August, the town is crowded with French tourists walking along the quay, visiting the independent shops, and trying out all the Breton specialties they can get their hands on. If you visit outside of those months, you should be able to enjoy the town and its restaurants without having to flare out your elbow or make reservations. First on the list of must-try food venues while in Le Croisic is a traditional meal of either galettes (savory buckwheat crêpes) or sweet crêpes, either accompanied by a small cup of cider at Crêperie Le Bot. My personal favorite items on the menu are the Keir Breizh galette (filled with creamy cheese) and the chestnut paste crêpe. Spending time walking around Le Croisic would not be complete without two making stops: one at Maison La Goulue for delicious chocolates shaped like seashells, bird eggs, rocks, and mussels; and one at Maison Georges Larnicol for buttery kouign-amanns and salted caramel candies. Le Croisic being a fishing harbor, it’s also a good place to try out the celebrated local seafood either at the aptly named L’Océan (high-end) or at the more casual Le Lénigo on the quay in front of the seafood market. – Morgane Croissant, deputy editor

Left, wine tasting in the mountains at Quinta Do Barbusano, just outside Funchal. Right, churrasco is cooked (and often served) on a spit. Photos: Suzie Dundas

Funchal's food influences encompass tropical island cuisine, seafood, influences from African countries, and french and Italian influences, among others from Europe. Photo: Suzie Dundas

Madeira is an outdoorsy paradise, with sports ranging from world-class mountain biking and hiking to scuba diving, hiking, cliff jumping, deep water soloing, and much more. Photo: Suzie Dundas

• Why we love it: Like an affordable Hawaii if you gave the islands bigger mountains, more diverse landscapes, and a European influence
• What to eat: Madeiran wine, seafood, garlic bread, and exotic fruit

Funchal, the capital of the Portuguese island of Madeira, offers a vibrant and diverse food scene that appeals to both adventurous and discerning foodies. It also has an incredible food scene, as the island’s fertile volcanic soil, subtropical climate, and year-round growing conditions provide an ideal environment for agriculture. It’s hard to imagine a crop that doesn’t thrive on Madeira, and local cuisine takes advantage of year-round harvest for everything from exotic fruits like passionfruit and custard apples to vegetables, sugarcane, and herbs to create some of the freshest dishes I’ve ever tasted.

If you’re into seafood, you’ll appreciate that the ocean is inextricably intertwined with Funchal’s culinary identity. Local favorites include espada (black scabbard), often served with bananas, and grilled limpets enjoyed with garlic and butter.

The city’s food markets, such as the Mercado dos Lavradores, offer a sensory experience selling affordable fresh produce, spices, and artisan products. And the town is covered in high-end restaurants offering multi-course fine dining experiences at decidedly non-Michelin prices – see Casa Velha Restaurant, Kampo, and Marisqueira Splendida. (Though the island has plenty of Michelin-designated restaurants, too). If those restaurant names sound international, it’s because they are. Madeira has long been an important trading post in the Atlantic, and its cuisine is influenced by countries ranging from Morocco to Japan, France, and the Americas.

But Madeira is not just about the food – it’s about the wine, too. Madeira, the island, is synonymous with Madeira, the port wine. In Funchal, you need to try Madeirian wine at Blandy’s, then head just outside the city to one of the island’s many hillside wineries. (I recommend taking a wine tour, rather than driving yourself.)

On top of all that, Madeira has some of the best mountain biking, cliffside hiking, and canyoneering in Europe, too. — Suzie Dundas, commissioning editor

Photo: berni0004/Shutterstock

Photo: Yuri Turkov/Shutterstock

Photo: Solarisys/Shutterstock

• Why we love it: Traditional Franken and Bavarian cuisine in a gorgeous, historic setting – and some of the cheapest and best beer in Europe
• What to eat: Schneeballen (snowball) pastries, Franconian red beer, weisenbock, and festbier

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is simply called “Rothenburg” (pronounced “Rote-hen-burg”). It’s a picturesque medieval town in Bavaria with a food scene that celebrates tradition, quality, and authenticity at budget-friendly prices. Unlike larger cities like Munich, Rothenburg maintains a focus on traditional Bavarian cuisine without the intrusion of fast food chains. Here, family-run restaurants, cafes, and bakeries showcase traditional Bavarian and Franconian cuisine. That includes the famous schneeballen — a fried pastry dusted with sugar or dipped in chocolate — first created in the walled city.

Classic dishes like schweinshaxe (roasted pork knuckle), bratwurst, and hearty potato dumplings (which are often vegetarian) are staples on local menus, and at the family-run taverns the recipes have been handed down for generations.

Rothenburg’s beer culture here is equally enticing, with Bavarian brews flowing generously in beer gardens, historic pubs, and at basically every cafe or restaurant in town. Beer is generally cheaper than in Munich, and the city offers distinctive beers like Franconian red beer, also called Rotbier. It’s distinct to Franconia (a culture with which Rothenburg identifies more so than Bavaria) and has a malty taste – though this being Germany, you’ll find plenty of lighter ales, festbiers, and hefeweizens too, of course.

Pasta with a view at Cuonc Cuonc. Photos: Nickolaus Hines

Photo: Lucamato/Shutterstock, left; Nickolaus Hines, right

Left, seafood pasta at Nettuno; right, truffle-topped pasta at Casa Mandina. Photos: Nickolaus Hines

• Why we love it: The Amalfi Coast without the overbearing crowds and better food than the more touristy surrounding spots
• What to eat: Lemons, seafood, and pasta

The Amalfi Coast is known for its colorful buildings that stack onto the cliffside facing the Tyrrhenian Sea (and the many stairs it takes to get just about anywhere). In recent years, it seems that the quintessential Italian coastal region is just as known for overtourism. That isn’t so much the case in Maiori, one of the most eastern small towns of the Amalfi Coast. Fewer tourists means easier seating at restaurants (and easier-to-swallow prices). On an early summer trip, my wife and I found the hardest seats to grab were at any one of the many small beachside snack shacks during aperitivo hour. Those were worth the hunt for chairs to sit devour small plates of fried fish drink in hand, though equally enticing were the proper sit down restaurants. Ristorante Torre Normana is the fanciest by a long shot and brings new meaning to the phrase “seafood tower.” Housed in a Medieval Norman watchtower, the restaurant serves massive multi-course feasts focused on everything that can be eaten from the sea. The prices are high but more than worth it — just book in advance as it quickly fills up and is known for the regular flow of local and international celebrities. For fine dining with an open kitchen, head into town to the tucked away Ristoranta Casa Mandina to eat truffle-topped pastas and traditional dishes taken up a notch.

The day-to-day meals are equally memorable. The courtyard at Ristorante Pinata 1903 is shaded by lemon trees that hang their fruits above dining tables covered in plates of pasta, seafood, and lemons filled with sorbet. Casa Ferraiuolo is a high-minded cocktail haven with equally delicious pastas. If wine tasting is what you’re after, Made in Eataly is a humble spot for meat and cheese plates alongside an impressive selection of local and national wines. Walk through the local crowd of cats to enter Ristorante Pizzeria Nettuno on the other side of the beach for, yes, pizza, but also fried seafood platters and pasta. That all said, you’d be hard pressed to walk the main road of Corso Reginna and not find an abundance of places to stop for seafood, pasta, and dessert.

The most memorable place we ate in the region, and one of the most memorable dining experiences I’ve had, requires a walk into the lemon fields along the Sentiero dei Limoni trail connecting Maiori and Minori. Lemon farmers open their doors for hikers and serve refreshing, freshly squeezed lemon juice from early summer until harvest. It’s a build up to Cuonc Cuonc near the middle of the trail. This family restaurant is akin to eating in a friendly aunty’s house (if that aunty had breathtaking elevated views of one of the world’s most famous coastlines). The menu follows what is available that day, but you can count on lemons being a major part of any meal. We started with insalata di lemoni: cut up lemons (peel and all) soaked until soft in balsamic vinegar, olive oil, mint, and salt. I expected the appetizer to be bracingly tart, but the sweet local lemons make it incredibly balanced (and a favorite of my lemon-loving daughter who was six months old at the time). Handmade pastas, tomato tarts, and pork wrapped in grape leaves go perfectly with a carafe of unnamed local table wine. Buy some lemon-carrot jams and honey made on the property on your way out to take some of those flavors home. The father-daughter duo who run the restaurant are never too far, it is their home as well after all, and neither is the friendly cat who knows all of the table manners as long as you’re fine with it sitting on your lap during your meal. — Nickolaus Hines, managing editor