Summary

A sommelier shares insider strategies for discovering the best dining and drinking spots in a new city by prioritizing natural wine venues, following staff recommendations, and using observational skills over relying on Google or social media influencers.

Abstract

The article outlines a sommelier's approach to finding quality food and drink establishments when visiting an unfamiliar city. The sommelier advises starting with natural wine bars, as they often serve excellent food. Utilizing an app called Raisin can help locate these venues. The second rule involves engaging with bar staff and owners for personal recommendations, which are likely to lead to hidden gems. While social media can be unreliable, the sommelier suggests using it to follow industry workers and verify recommendations through user-generated content. Additionally, the article emphasizes the importance of using one's own judgment by observing menus, ambiance, and the quality of food and wine in potential dining spots. The sommelier also warns against "fake fancy" establishments and "Instagrammable" restaurants that may prioritize appearance over substance. By following these guidelines, the sommelier promises a more authentic and enjoyable culinary experience in any city.

Opinions

Google and SEO-driven content are not reliable sources for finding the best dining experiences.
Natural wine bars are a good starting point for finding quality food and drink.
Bar staff and owners are valuable sources of local dining knowledge.
Social media influencers are generally not trustworthy for restaurant recommendations, but social media can still be a tool for research if used correctly.
Observational clues such as short, seasonal menus and the presence of trophy wine bottles can indicate a good establishment.
Places that focus on being "Instagrammable" or overly formal may not offer the best dining experiences.
A good establishment is likely to be busy and have a genuine, welcoming atmosphere.
Personal recommendations and on-the-ground observations are key to discovering authentic local spots.

As a Sommelier, This Is Exactly How I Decide Where to Eat and Drink When I Visit a New City

Put Google away

My husband “following the chain of recommendations” from a restaurant owner in Rome. Image courtesy of author

When I watch friends try to find a restaurant or bar using only Google and a prayer, I cry inside.

Too many times I’ve watched this go sideways.

I get it. It’s hard to know how to find good places, especially in new cities when the only information at your disposal is Google, social media, and SEO-driven drivel.

I recently invited you all to go fantasy wine shopping with me and thousands of you turned up.

This week, we’re going out eating and drinking together using some tricks of the wine trade that I use to find the best places in any given town.

The hacks that all us hospitality pros use every time we land somewhere new.

Because Google is not your friend in this situation.

I am.

Rule no. 1 — There is no bad food in good wine places. Go to them first.

You and I have landed in a new city. We’re sat in our Airbnb and wondering where to eat and drink tonight.

This is exactly what I would do. I would start by finding a good wine bar.

There’s an oft-repeated truism in the wine world that whilst almost all wine pros are obsessive about food, not all food pros are obsessive about wine.

Which is why if you’re stuck, you follow the wine first. Because you’ll hardly ever find bad food in a good wine joint.

The one practical piece of advice I have here is to download an app called Raisin which is a comprehensive directory of natural wine bars and restaurants across the world.

Whether you think natural wine is a fad — or question if it’s any good or not — the fact is that there are very few good wine joints in the world that do not offer at least some natural wine. And thus will probably be on Raisin.

It’s a very good, trusted place to start.

Like I say. Follow the wine and good food will follow.

Rule no. 2 — Follow the chain of recommendations

You and I have found somewhere on the app that sounds great for an aperitif. When we get there, we sit at the bar. Why? Because bar staff are a goldmine for good recommendations. And sitting at the bar is the easiest way to strike up a conversation.

Once there’s a lull, we ask the staff. Where do you eat? Where do you drink? What do you like to do when you clock off? Even better, we ask the owner. Because we’ve carefully chosen a good place for our aperitif — and not just landed in the first place that looks OK on Google — it’s likely that we can trust the owner’s recommendations. Good bar and restaurant owners often make it part of their job to eat and drink around their city.

They will know everything from the high-end spots, to the traditional, to the dive bars, to the little snack joints you’d walk past if you didn’t know better.

I guarantee we will leave your aperitif spot with a whole list of gems we’d never find via Google search.

If you HAVE to use social media, use it like this

We’re still searching for a few places to go over the next few days. You suggest using Instagram. What do the influencers have to say about our town?

The dirty-not-so-little secret of social media is that influencers are not exactly a trustworthy source of information, so checking out where they frequent is often a waste of time. If you’re going to use Instagram, do this:

One, use it as a virtual chain of recommendations. Search for the good bars and restaurants and follow their workers. Where are they eating and drinking?

Two, do what many of us already do — double-check places you like the sound of. Delve into the geo-tag. See what real people are posting, not just the establishment’s social media team.

I once met a travel influencer whose advice on Barcelona was to go to the three most touristy parts of the city — The Ramblas, Plaza Catalunya and Plaza Mayor. His reason, he told me, is people search most for those so that’s what he recommends.

And that is who we are supposed to trust online?

Nope. Do this instead:

Use your eyes

We had a good night last night following the chain of recommendations. We get up late and go on a walk around the city.

You’re looking at the sights. I’m looking at the bars and restaurants. If I see anywhere that looks interesting, I’ll star it on Google Maps to look up later.

How the hell do I know, you ask? Surely you can’t judge a book by its cover.

You can’t. But there are clues you can use to spot the good bars and restaurants from the bad including:

The menu on the window. If it’s short, interesting, ingredient-led, and seasonal, I’m all over it.

The food on people’s plates as we walk past. If it looks good, I’m going to stop and have a nosy.

Places full of personality. It’s a hard one to quantify but the more you look, the better you’ll get at differentiating places that are cynically run and places that are run with heart, soul and love.

Trophy bottles. These are the empty bottles that line almost all decent wine bar and restaurant windows or shelves. They show a commitment to good wine and as I say, you’ll seldom find bad food in good wine places.

It’s also important to know what to avoid, including:

“Fake fancy.” This is exactly what it sounds like — style over substance. You can spot them a mile off. Clues include:

Is the staff trussed up in stuffy uniforms? Avoid like the freaking plague. These days many of the best restaurants and bars are casual joints.
Is there plenty of space on the online booking system for an hour’s time? Was it half empty when you walked past at 9.30 pm last night? If it’s a genuinely good restaurant or bar, it’ll likely be full most nights.
Do they have rows and rows of the same wine? I have never drunk well in a place that does this.
Has the place been sponsored by a big-name wine brand? Is that name on the window, the awning or the wine buckets?

“Instagrammable” restaurants. The ones that spend so long making their space look Instagram-friendly, they neglect the food and the booze (or indeed, don’t need to worry about it). Come on guys. Do better.

Online doesn’t tell you everything. You’ve got to use your eyes as you walk about. I’ve found some of my favourite spots in Europe just because I’ve noticed a bottle of wine in a window and it’s piqued my interest.

I may have done my fair share of moaning about eating and drinking out, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t great, good-value places out there.

There are. But you’re not going to find them with a quick Google search or following the wrong Insta-advice.

That’s not you and me. We’ve used my advice and we’ve had a great time in *insert city here.* We found some awesome places. Heck, maybe we even made a hospo friend or two along the way.

If you’re to take away three pieces advice from this article, remember these:

Good wine = good food.
Follow the chain of recommendations.
Use your eyes.

And never ever listen to a travel influencer when you visit Barcelona.

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