We Asked 6 Travel Experts Their Favorite Food Destination-and They All Picked the Same Region

"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."

""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.""

Food has become a primary travel motivator for many Americans, with 21 percent taking trips specifically to eat local food and an average willingness to travel nearly 500 miles for a great bite. Chefs and travel experts repeatedly identify the Iberian Peninsula—Spain and Portugal—as premier food destinations. Lisbon's food scene blends pastries like pastel de nata and drinks like ginjinha with savory dishes including piri-piri chicken, octopus, salt cod, potatoes, gambas, and memorable steak sandwiches. Recommended Lisbon venues include Bonjardim, Petisqueira Dos Sentidos, and Casa da India. Indoor restaurant markets and fresh pastas and sauces expand Portugal's culinary appeal.

Read at Travel + Leisure