Downtown Kyoto
Set in an old sweets shop in a traditional Japanese building on a quiet downtown street, this is where locals come for excellent soba (buckwheat-noodle)…
Must-see restaurants in Asia
Myeong-dong & Jung-gu
Feast on artfully plated, contemporary twists on Korean classics, such as pinenut soup with soy milk espuma (foam) or raw blue crab, at this serene…
Little India & Kampong Glam
Despite Singapore's cut-throat restaurant scene, gastro geeks remain loyal to this ode to fusion cooking. Expect the unexpected, from beef-tongue tacos…
Penghu Islands
Moz, the English-speaking owner of Bang Bang Banana, is an astoundingly talented chef, and before the Bang Bang bar opens, she cooks superb, multi-course,…
Assam
In a well-spaced dining room off MG Rd, Chouka's menu is full of bamboo shoots, banana flowers, elephant apple, mustard greens, poultry in sesame-seed…
Pai
Meat-free takes on international dishes, fresh-pressed juices, a pleasant shaded garden, a noticeboard advertising yoga classes, the odd hippy: basically…
Maharashtra
This stylish all-day breakfast-only hotspot in a residential building 7km southwest of the centre is worth a diversion. English, American and Belgian…
Khiva
Charmingly located in a low-lit and cosy stone building in front of the Allakuli Khan Medresa, this is definitely one of the best choices in town, with…
Phuket
This glorified roadside food shack makes absurdly good kôw pàt þoo (fried rice with crab), pàt see·éw (fried noodles), chicken stew and noodle soup. It…
Yangon
Ticking all the right boxes, this restaurant gives a great first impression with its handsomely restored heritage building and elegant, two-level dining…
Pokhara
Rustic ambience, an open fireplace and jazz on the stereo add to the bistro atmosphere of this cosy Italian pizzeria. The breakfasts are big and tasty,…
Sandakan
Located in the heart of the stilt village of Kampong Buli Sim Sim, 3km east of the centre, this large, breezy terrace strung with fairy lights is a…
East Bali
After you've chilled out, chill out some more. This excellent cafe right on the beach serves good, fresh food, with many vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free…
Arashiyama & Sagano
To sample shōjin-ryōri, try Shigetsu in the precincts of Tenryū-ji. This healthy fare has been sustaining monks for more than a thousand years in Japan,…
Ella
A neo-rustic log cabin that looks suspiciously like a backwoods hipster hang-out but is actually just a simple, very cheap roadside joint run by a jovial,…
Chiang Mai
Dining at the restaurant in The House boutique feels like eating in a posh Thai mansion, with antique furniture, comfy sofas and fine china. The Thai food…
Tashkent
A charming, laid-back and family-friendly environment reigns here. There's a varied and interesting menu that runs from Georgian specialities to Asian…
New Delhi
Located in a peaceful garden-courtyard inside Triveni Art Gallery, this delightful cafe has seating on a plant-filled terrace overlooking a small, grassy…
Johor Bahru
Super salad and quinoa bowls, avocado and salmon bagels, fresh juices and great coffee are on offer at this chilled cafe/bar, where recycled wood and…
French Concession
Frequently crammed, this boisterous, narrow, two-floor, MSG-free spot tucked away on Jianguo Rd does a roaring trade in well-priced Shanghainese cuisine…
Mumbai (Bombay)
Behind a modest entrance on a quiet Kala Ghoda lane is this often-lauded, intimate South Indian seafood restaurant. It’s not a trendy place – the decor is…
Wan Chai & Northeast Hong Kong Island
A trendy diner that wows with its bao (Chinese buns) – snow-white orbs crammed with juicy meat and slathered with Asian condiments – and fusion sharing…
Almaty
This authentic Indian restaurant is well worth seeking out. Sultry decor and crimson ceilings combined with such classic northern Indian dishes as bhuna…
West Sumatra
Set up as a social enterprise to empower locals, this fantastic new cafe in Sungai Penuh is set inside an atmospheric bamboo building overlooking the town…
Baguio
The clean white, vaguely colonial decor makes one of North Luzon's best meals taste even swankier. Local specialities such as carabao (water buffalo)…
Kunming
On the ground floor of a converted warehouse a couple of kilometres northwest of the city centre, this family-run place strictly uses locally sourced…
Mae Sot
Like dining in a gentrified jungle, Khaomao-Khaofang replaces chandeliers with hanging vines, and interior design with orchids and waterfalls. It's the…
Tokushima & the Anan Coast
Definitely the hottest eating and drinking spot in Tokushima is downstairs in the Clement Plaza building, under the station. New in 2018 is Bar Alley,…
Western Honshū
There's only one thing on the menu in this boisterous spot: pick from a range of fugu sets, such as the dinner Ebisu course, which features the cute…
George Town
This small lane off Jln Burma is crammed every morning with locals filling up for the day on char koay teow (fried noodles with seafood), nasi lemak …
Bagan
The original among the vegetarian restaurants clustered near Tharabar Gate, this garden-like eatery offers a friendly welcome, a name we still don't fully…
The Pamir Highway
This is the most popular meeting place in Khurog, largely perhaps because it's exciting to find anyone even attempting to offer Indian cuisine in such a…
Shymkent
Visually a sultry cross between a stone-walled cellar and a library, with plenty of books on art and design on surrounding shelves, this gorgeous…
Chitwan National Park
This rooftop restaurant is easy to miss, but don't! It's the best place to hang out in downtown Sauraha, at any time of day, with a cool vibe and tunes to…
Thanon Sukhumvit
Unless someone conclusively proves otherwise, Indus will reign as Bangkok's finest traditional Indian restaurant. Its North Indian staples such as biryani…
Mumbai (Bombay)
The much-acclaimed Khyber has a Northwest Frontier–themed design that incorporates murals depicting turbaned Mughal royalty, lots of exposed brickwork and…
Solo
Sharing space with a heritage hotel is this attractive restaurant offering home-style Solonese specialities. While the menu makes good reading, giving the…
Osaka
This two-Michelin-starred restaurant specialises in exceptionally light and delectable tempura served at the counter, where you can watch the chefs, or in…
Trat
This simple open-sided restaurant north of the centre is deservedly a local favourite, with some excellent seafood dishes and well-meaning service from an…
Karakol
When the people of Karakol go for ashlyanfu, this tin-roofed shack off Jusaev is where they go. It's the best in the city, therefore perhaps the best in…
