Eat your way around the world
Every trip starts at the table.
Street stalls, grandmothers’ kitchens and the occasional splurge. Where we ate, what it cost, and how to find it without a reservation app.
Real numbers
What two weeks of eating in Japan cost
Every receipt, two people, no Michelin stars (well, one).
Trip budget
Food budget, Japan
- Street food$18015%
- Restaurants$62050%
- Markets$14011%
- Cooking class$16013%
- Coffee & drinks$13011%
Groceries for picnics counted under Markets.
Itinerary
A one-day Lisbon food crawl
- 4 stops
- 7 places
- $90 on the ground
- 1
Stop 1
Breakfast: custard tarts
8:00 AM$6- Manteigaria
- Chiado
Two warm pastéis and a bica standing at the counter.
- 2
Stop 2
Market lunch
12:30 PM$34- Time Out Market
- Cais do Sodré
Go early, grab a table, then split up and order.
- 3
Stop 3
Afternoon ginjinha
4:00 PM$4- A Ginjinha
- Rossio
Cherry liqueur in a chocolate cup. Yes, really.
- 4
Stop 4
Dinner: grilled sardines
8:30 PM$46- Alfama tasca
Any tasca with a grill on the sidewalk. Order the house wine.
Estimated on-the-ground cost$90
Tables we’d fly back for
Restaurant picks
No sponsored meals. We paid, we went back, we still dream about them.
RestaurantSunset tableSea Terrace Taverna
Oia, Santorini
4.8out of 5(1,240 reviews)
- Grilled octopus
- Fava with capers
- Book the 8:15 p.m. table
from$55/ person
Reserve — Sea Terrace Taverna
RestaurantCheap eatsKefta House
Medina, Marrakech
4.7out of 5(860 reviews)
- Lamb kefta tagine
- Mint tea on the roof
from$14/ person
Get directions — Kefta House
ExperienceMarket & Cooking Class
Ubud, Bali
4.9out of 5(2,210 reviews)
- 7 a.m. market visit
- Six Balinese dishes
- Recipe cards
from$38/ person
Book a class — Market & Cooking ClassSome links are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Where to eat next
Two cities built around dinner

Destination guide · Morocco
Marrakech
Souks, riads and Atlas Mountain day trips
- Best time to visit
- March to May, October to November
- Daily budget
- $$$$ Budget-friendly
- Visa for US citizens
- Visa-free up to 90 days
- Language
- Arabic, Berber, French
- Currency
- Moroccan dirham (MAD)
- Time zone
- Africa/Casablanca

Destination guide · Japan
Kyoto
Temples, gardens and slow tea mornings
- Best time to visit
- Late March to May, October to November
- Daily budget
- $$$$ Pricey
- Visa for US citizens
- Visa-free up to 90 days
- Language
- Japanese
- Currency
- Japanese yen (JPY)
- Time zone
- Asia/Tokyo
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