9 Anthony Bourdain–Inspired Destinations Around the World

As the inspiration for that first successful book, New York City is perhaps the essential stop for any Bourdain fan. Born and raised in Manhattan, he trained as a chef in France but eventually made his way back to NYC to run restaurants such as the now-defunct Supper Club and (perhaps most notably) Les Halles.

In his hometown, Bourdain often espoused the superiority of delis, recommending quintessential spots such as Katz’s (of the giant pastrami sandwich and When Harry Met Sally fame) and Russ & Daughters (known for their bagels). Then, of course, there’s Le Bernardin, famously the only place he claimed he would risk a fish dish on Mondays. Though it’s easy to visit these locations independently, you can choose from myriad NYC food tours for a taste of different cuisines.

No Anthony Bourdain travel guide could overlook Vietnam, one of the countries that most lends itself to local food culture travel. If you’ve watched Parts Unknown then you’ll likely recall the iconic scene of him dining with then-President Barack Obama at the low-key Bún Chả Hương Liên in Hanoi. The restaurant is still open for visitors, but that table is now roped off.

Although Bourdain did visit other specific eateries—such as Nhà Hàng Phương Dung and Ahn Tuyet Restaurant for the specialty chicken dished up with keffir lime leaf—he most often ate at unnamed streetside stalls and holes-in-the-wall. To get a feel for the dining experiences he so loved, it’s best to join a guided Hanoi street food tour.

Bourdain believed Argentina was one of the top food destinations worldwide, but it was tiny Montevideo (the capital of Uruguay) that captured his attention for its great cuisine. However, he did admit that this meat-loving country is a tough sell for vegetarians—its national sandwich, the chivito, features no less than three types of meat, after all.

Montevideo, known for its coastal views, is a place where red meat and red wines rule the roost, as evidenced on its many food tours. You can also beeline for a parrillada (grill) experience at Estancia del Puerto before grabbing a pizza topped with fainá (crispy chickpea flatbread) at Bar Las Flores—both spots where Bourdain ate.

Japan is the foodie destination du jour right now—but Bourdain got there first. Alongside Hanoi, Tokyo was perhaps his most visited and most beloved city in Asia. He famously claimed: “If I had to eat only in one city for the rest of my life, Tokyo would be it.”

Here, he dined at a mix of street stalls, markets, and Michelin-starred restaurants. While he strongly recommended the upscale Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongi, he also lauded the tamago sando (egg sandwich) from Lawson convenience store—a Tokyo food experience needn’t go over budget, after all. These days, Tokyo food tours can introduce you to the city’s thriving culinary scene, whether you want to focus on Shinjuku or the famed Tsukiji fish market.

Italy is one destination where Anthony Bourdain traveled widely—unsurprising, as it's home of two of his notable ex-partners—visiting Rome, Venice, Florence, Sardinia, Sicily, and more. In fact, as detailed in his field notes for the Southern Italy episode of Parts Unknown, the region of Puglia was initially recommended to him by the Italian actress, Asia Argento.

Here, he dined onscreen at spots such as Alle Due Corti in Lecce, and Masseria Spina, though he also dove headfirst into the region’s local dining experiences, with plenty of street food dishes among them. Sans an Italian actress to show you around, opt instead for a Puglia street food tour. (And if Puglia seems too far-flung, know that Bourdain also spent plenty of time trying the food of the Amalfi Coast, too.)

Quebec City may not rank among the most offbeat food destinations visited by Bourdain—no cobra hearts, here—but it was certainly one of his favorites. In the capital of the eastern Canadian province, he went back to his roots as a trained-in-France chef and tucked into classic French food at Le Continental, as well as dining at L’Affaire est Ketchup, a Quebec stalwart.

After enjoying dinner at these two pillars of Quebec City’s dining scene—please book in advance!—you can explore even more on a food tour of the city and benefit from the extra insight of a local guide for even more foodie recommendations. (And you can go wine tasting, too. Ooh la la.)

From a French-speaking province to real-life France, we move over to Marseille, the southern French city that captured Bourdain’s attention on a trip with his longtime friend, chef Eric Ripert. While Le Petit Nice Passedat—a three-Michelin-starred gourmet restaurant on the coast—may seem out of reach, a Marseille food tour certainly won’t break the bank.

And you can’t leave Marseille without exploring the Cours Julien neighborhood, one of the most bustling-with-bars-and-eateries hangouts in the city. If you don’t want to wander alone, a private and customizable walking tour might be the best option.

Mexico City and Oaxaca—both places Bourdain also visited and loved—are what generally spring to mind when you think of foodie destinations in Mexico. However, the expansive Baja Peninsula (home to Tijuana in Baja California, as well as Baja California Sur) is a place for which Bourdain developed a special soft spot.

Naturally, tacos are a must here. Follow in the footsteps of Bourdain and sample the tacos from the stalls along Tijuana’s Taco Alley, aka Las Ahumederas. (Alternatively, one of Tijuana’s best known taco stands is Tacos El Franc—Bourdain didn’t eat there but you definitely should.) Over in the famed Mexican winemaking region of Valle de Guadalupe, grab breakfast at La Cocina de Doña Esthela, where you can try all manner of Bourdain-approved Mexican classics.

We round out this guide with a mention of one of Bourdain’s beloved Spanish cities—San Sebastián, home to a true glut of exceptional Michelin-starred restaurants. Anyone who’s anyone knows that this waterfront city is the culinary capital of the northern Basque Country. However, it’s not all upscale dining and hard-to-reserve tables here.

You can also indulge in one of the best culinary travel experiences in Spain: lively pintxo tours. Pintxos are the Basque equivalent of tapas, and there are few better places to indulge than San Sebastián. If you’d rather go it alone, check out Astelena Bar, Ganbara, or Bar Haizea, all visited by Bourdain himself.