BEST OF THE BEST: 10 OF THE TOP SPOTS TO DINE WHILE TRaVELLING EUROPE
Foodie culture and gastronomy are bigger than ever, and travellers and consumers alike demand top meals for their dining dollar. With that in mind, we searched far and wide to come up with 10 of Europe’s finest restaurants.
Here you will find tastes from all over the continent, suiting every palate, and the finest dining Europe’s topchefshavetooffer: Osteria Francescana, Modena, Italy Ranked the world’s best restaurant for 2016 and the best restaurant in Europe for 2016 by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, Massimo Bottura’s contemporary Italian restaurant was also awarded three Michelin stars. Aside from their a la carte menu, there are two set menus: “Festina Lente”, 220 euros ($323 Canadian) per person, and “Tutto”, 250 euros ($367) per person. There are also wine pairings. “Festina Lente” wine pairing: 130 euros ($191) per person and “Tutto” wine pairing: 170 euros ($250) per person.
El Celler de Can Roca, Girona,
Spain Another restaurant with three Michelin stars, the Roca brothers offer up “modern freestyle” cuisine. The restaurant garnered a rating as the No. 2 restaurant in the world by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Menu ranges in price from 95 euros to 195 euros or approximately $136 to $280Canadian. Noma, Copenhagen, Denmark Ranked No. 5 by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, René Redzepi offers seasonal Scandanavian dishes, with the specialty being sweet shrimps wrapped in ramson leaves. A fixed price menu at 1,900 Danish Krone or approximately $367 Canadian. Mirazur, Menton, France A twostar Michelin-rated restaurant on the French Riviera, a stone’s throw from the Italian border, the Mediterranean cuisine of chef Mauro Colagreco is led by oyster and pears as its special dish. Menu ranges in price from 55 euros to 140 euros or approximately $79 to $201Canadian. Steirereck, Vienna, Austria The modern Austrian cuisine of chef Heinz Reitbauer is highlighted by char with beeswax, yellow carrot, pollen and sour cream. Steirereck is rated with two Michelin stars and a top 10 rating by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Menu ranges in price from 85 euros to 142 euros or approximately $122 to $204 Canadian.
The Ledbury, London, U.K.
Chef Brett Graham, from Australia, is creating “Modern British” cuisine at this London outpost. No. 14 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, they describe the establishment as “a journey in British produce ... ”. Menu ranges in price from 50 to 80 British pounds or approximately $83 to $133 Canadian.
White Rabbit, Moscow, Russia
A restaurant with an Alice in Wonderland theme is not what most would expect on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, but the modern Russian cuisine of chef Vladimir Mukhin finds itself in the top 20. Cost for the tasting set menu is 8000 rubles or approximately $161 Canadian.
Restaurant Tim Raue, Berlin, Germany
Asian cuisine in Berlin from chef Tim Raue, a culinary artist who has prepared food for Barack Obama and Angela Merkel. This restaurant’s notable dish is wasabi langoustine, it comes in at No. 34 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurant list and has the distinction of two Michelin stars. Menu ranges in price from 38 euros to 188 euros or approximately$54to$270Canadian.
De Librije, Zwolle, Netherlands
Located in a former prison, this Dutch restaurant is rated three stars by Michelin and has earned a top 40 spot on the World’s 50 Best Restaurant list. They specialize in modern, local, seasonal cuisine, with a notable dish being langoustine in kombucha. Menu ranges in price from 122 euros to 190 euros or approximately $175 to $273 Canadian.
Le Louis XV, Monte Carlo, Monaco
A three-star Michelin restaurant, it describes itself as “the haute couture of taste — Riviera cuisine,” whereas Michelin calls it a “fabulous homage to the Mediterranean.” Menu ranges in price from 210 euros to 330 euros or approximately$302to$474Canadian.
(Exchange rates and average menu prices subject to change, correct at presstime.)