No visit to East Asia is complete without sampling what the street vendors have to offer, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is no exception. Malaysian culture — and by extension, culinary heritage — is a unique blend of Malay, Chinese and Indian influences. In the enormous range of flavors and culinary styles you’ll encounter, you’ll recognize ingredients and elements from elsewhere in Asia, but with a distinct Malaysian twist. And while there arelots of great restaurants in KL, sometimes you’re just in the mood to grab a plastic stool and enjoy street-side barbecue skewers under strings of paper lanterns, join locals under a tarp for a steaming bowl of tangy laksa soup or indulge yourself with a sticky-sweet roti at a buzzing night market. When you are, we’ve got you covered:
Nasi lemak
Start your day with a serving of nasi lemak, a classic Malaysian dish of rice cooked in coconut milk with anchovies, cucumbers, roasted peanuts, hard boiled egg and spicy sambal sauce, wrapped in a banana leaf. This eclectic breakfast packet makes for a very hearty meal and — perhaps surprisingly — was included in TIME‘s 2016 list of healthiest breakfasts from around the world.
My favorite nasi lemak stall, also hugely popular with locals, is at the corner of Jalan Alor and Changkat Bukit Bintang. Line up early, because it’s gone by noon. Pile on extras of your choice, from eggplant to beef curry to fried fish.
Mantou
Jalan Alor is a humming street food hotspot, even after the nasi lemak is long gone. The street is crammed with little shops and stalls that welcome a mix of tourists and locals at all times of day, conveniently around the corner from the nightlife on Changkat Bukit Bintang. At night, the street fills up with plastic tables and chairs, transforming into a giant, buzzing outdoor restaurant. Try the shaokao, Chinese-style barbecue cooked street-side. Pick from all sorts of fresh meats, vegetables and seafood, and I’d recommend getting a skewer or two of the mantou (little bread pillows), which go well with everything.
Char kuey teow
On Wednesday evenings, head to the buzzing Taman Connaught Night Market (also known as Cheras Pasar Malam), where you’ll eat your way along two kilometers of food and goods stalls. You’ll find more than your fill of both classic and creative street food options: curry noodles, barbecued seafood, Malaysian-style savory pancakes, char kuey teow (fried noodles with meat, seafood and vegetables) and numerous other delicious local specialties served up fresh. Brave the line and infamous smell to try the stinky tofu. Pick up some kuih — best explained as bite-sized steamed cakes — or refreshing coconut jellyfor dessert.
Laksa
You can’t leave KL without trying laksa — a classic Malaysian rice-noodle soup available in a range of regional varieties and not for the flavor-shy! Two of the main types you’ll encounter are curry laksa, which has a coconut-milk curry base, and asam laksa, with tangy tamarind and seafood. I can personally vouch for a piping hot bowl of spicy asam laksa as the perfect antidote for getting caught in an afternoon monsoon. Grab a bowl at the Taman Connaught Night Market, duck into a stall on Madras Lane in KL’s Chinatown, off of the main drag Jalan Petaling, or enjoy a bowl under the stars and paper lanterns on Jalan Alor.
Roti canai
Reflecting Malaysian cuisine’s Indian influences, roti canai are another delicious staple. Corner stalls and hole-in-the-wall restaurants across the city serve up both savory and sweet varieties of this thin, flaky bread. Try it with lentil, meat or fish curry, or — my personal favorite — with banana and condensed milk.
Lot 10 Hutong food court
If you’re looking for something a little more upscale (by street food standards), head to Lot 10 Hutong Food Court in Bukit Bintang, where you can eat your way around an indoor collection of the city’s most famous hawker stalls. A KL native, nostalgic for the street food of his youth but frustrated by how dispersed and inaccessible some of his favorite food stalls were, convinced a number of the oldest and most famous vendors to open stations in a downtown mall. Thanks to him, you can sample some of KL’s best street food in one clean and well-maintained space; and while prices are increased from what you might find on the street corner, everything is still extremely affordable.
Must-tries include the black hokkien mee at Kim Lian Kee — the smoky, rich KL version of a classic Malaysian braised egg noodle dish — and the Chua Brothers’ delicious homemade fish balls, which they’ve been selling since 1930. If you’re in the mood for adventure, try an ais kacang from Oriental Dessert (not technically one of the market’s heritage brands, but still worth trying): a mountain of shaved ice covered with all sorts of ingredients including jello, peanuts, coconut, red beans and sweet corn, among others, and drizzled with condensed milk. You’ll either love it or hate it.
Ais kacang
Banana leaf rice
The neighborhood of Bangsar is home to lots delicious Malaysian Indian cuisine, including the popular banana leaf rice. Dive into a scoop of fresh rice served up on a bright green banana leaf, smothered in your choice of seafood, meat and vegetable curries and spicy, flavorful condiments. Try Devi’s Corner, although for the banana leaf rice, you’ll have to sit in the upstairs restaurant area (so I guess it’s technically not street-food, but it’s too delicious not to mention).
Teh tarik
Wherever you go, treat yourself to a steaming, creamy glass of the ubiquitous teh tarik — literally “pulled tea” because of how it’s poured back and forth during preparation to give it that nice frothy head. This extremely sweet, milky beverage is considered a national drink and will give you just the boost of caffeine and sugar you need to kickstart your day, or explore two kilometers of night market stalls, or beat the heat of a spicy curry… there are a dangerous number of good reasons for one more glass.
Rambutan
If you’re looking to satisfy a sweet-tooth with a healthier option or are on the hunt for something refreshing after a day of exploring, you can’t go wrong with fruit. A hot afternoon calls for at least one coconut from any of the roadside stalls you’ll encounter, where they’ll chop off the top, hand you a straw and voilà: a whole coconut’s worth of fresh and delicious coconut water. Stop off at a fruit stand like the ones lining Jalan Alor to snack on some of the country’s exotic offerings like the tangy rambutan, creamy chikoo and crisp rose apple. If you’re feeling brave, try the infamous durian, which locals will try to convince you doesn’t actually taste anything like its hot garbage scent. If you’re like me and can’t get past the smell, grab yourself a cup of durian ice cream it has a nice, subtle flavor without any of the notes of hot trash so overpowering in the fresh variety.
Lviv is Ukraine’s cultural capital — a literary city in the west of the country that leans closer to western European than cities elsewhere in the country. It’s gradually becoming more popular, but is still untouched compared to other regional destinations like nearby Kraków in Poland. Discover this Ukrainian gem in 48 hours with our guide.
Day 1
When you arrive in Lviv, one of the first things you will notice is the city’s charming old town. The Old Town is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and has yet to be spoiled by tourism like other centers in Eastern Europe. A ramble through the city streets will help you gain an appreciation for the vibrancy of Lviv. If you are feeling adventurous then why not climb to the top of the the City Hall tower in the main square,Ploshcha Rynok.
After all of that, you’ll have almost definitely worked up an appetite. Thankfully, Lviv is home to a bustling cafe culture and some very delicious (and budget friendly!) restaurants. A tasty lunch can be enjoyed for a very reasonable price at Museum of Ideas (Valova, 18a), while vegetarian dishes can be enjoyed at Pid Klepsydroyu (5 Armenian Street).
The refectory in the Museum of Ideas
Afterwards, a jaunt to check out the city’s famous cathedrals and churches is sure to satisfy those craving spirituality. Among the most impressive are St. George’s, the Eastern Rite Catholic cathedral (Ploshchad’ Svyatogo Yura, 5), the Dominican church and monastery (Museina Square, 1), the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption — often simply called the ‘Latin Cathedral’ (Katedralna Square), and the Armenian Cathedral (Virmens’ka St, 7). After this we suggest you indulge in an afternoon nap in order to prepare for the city’s bustling nightlife.
St. George’s Cathedral
Upon waking from your slumber, throw on your best outfit (the people of Lviv love to dress up) and head to the super swish Baczewski restaurant (8, Shevska Street), Baczewski offers some of the finest food in the city and their fruit-infused vodka is a must try for any visitor.
Baczewski Restaurant
Afterwards, we suggest you put your dancing shoes on and check out the city’s famous nightlife scene. For an evening with a difference, we suggest you pay a visit to Cafe Masoch (7, Serbska St.), the venue is named after BDSM pioneer Leopold Ritter von Sacher-Masoch who was born in Lviv in 1836. The seemingly normal bar allows customers to get whipped on request, although those with a lower pain tolerance can just enjoy a regular night out.
Masoch Café
Day 2
Whether you wake up licking your wounds or not, a delicious Lviv-style breakfast is a must. Svit Kavy (6, Katedralna Square) offers some of the best coffee in town alongside a selection of savoury and sweet options to start your day off the right way.
Afterwards, why not check out a traditional banya, a Russian-style bathhouse that is more steam room than sauna. Galaktika Club, a 15-minute bus ride from the Old Town is among the best in the city. There you can also indulge in a massage and other spa treatments.
The banya at Galaktika Club
For lunch, check out Dim Legend, a 5-story restaurant/bar/world of weirdness (48, Staroievreiska St). The food is tasty and the photo opportunities are many in this folklore-themed eatery. Be sure to get your hands on a Local card….but we’ll tell you more about that later.
Dim Legend
You will feel so good that your body won’t even care if you pay a visit to the city’s famous brewing museum (18, Kleparivska St) afterwards. The building houses the oldest brewery in the country and is arguably home to the best beer that Ukraine has on offer. If you fancy a clearer head then pay a visit to the Union of Lublin Mound (Vysokyi zamok). This 29 meter high artificial mound was created in 1869-1890 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Union of Lublin. It is located on the summit of Lviv High Castle.
Beer and Brewing Museum
For dinner, why not check out the wonderfully quirky “The Most Expensive Galician Restaurant”(14 Ploshcha Rynok, 2nd Floor, Apartment 8). The restaurant offers excellent local fare with a Masonic theme. Be sure to take a Local card from sister restaurant “Dim Legend” for a discount which will make this weird and wonderful delight pretty damn affordable.
The Most Expensive Galician Restaurant
Afterwards, we suggest that you finish off your visit with a trip to the city’s famed opera house and theater. The Solomiya Krushelnytska Lviv State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet ( is undoubtedly one of the city’s greatest historic cultural centers (Svobody Ave, 28). Catching a performance in this beautiful building with certainly make your trip to Lviv an occasion which you will never forget.
Our Experts’ Choice awards are are based on recommendations from leading travel media. Winners are determined by taking into account placement in published “best of 2018” lists, as well as the quantity and quality of reviews for hotels, restaurants and attractions. We’re pleased to announce that the winner of this year’s award for best South American destination is Buenos Aires.
From its sultry tango halls and Belle Époque architecture to its dynamic restaurants and timeless cafes, Buenos Aires has long counted itself among the world’s greatest cities. The city promises to become an especially sought-after destination with publications like Travel + Leisure and the Robb Report listing Buenos Aires as one of the best places to travel in 2018.
According to Travel + Leisure: “This year, Buenos Aires becomes a hub for art, sports, and politics: the inaugural Art Basel Cities program, the Youth Olympic Games, and the G20 will all take place in the city.”
Buenos Aires boasts world-class museums like the Museo Nacional, the MALBA, and the Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo, as well as a vast collection of galleries and the multi-year Art Basel initiative reinforces the Argentine capital’s place in the international art scene.
Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires
In addition to art, Buenos Aires boasts a flourishing design community. Hot independent boutiques like Animaná (a fashion store located in founder Adriana Marina’s Palermo apartment), Vacavaliente (a leather goods showroom in up-and-coming Villa Crespo), and Tamara Lisenberg’s jewelry workshop in Palermo Soho showcase the vibrance of the city’s creative sector.
The culinary landscape continues to evolve, too, as a wave of hungry young chefs infuse new flavors onto Buenos Aires menus. Among this year’s most notable restaurant openings: Proper (featuring an ever-changing menu of small plates showcasing indigenous ingredients), La Alacena (an all-day restaurant-bakery serving sourdough croissants and fresh tagliatelle), and Los Galgos (offering Negronis on tap and contemporary twists on classic Argentine dishes).
Meanwhile, local food lovers continue to swear by Tegui, an eight-year-old restaurant in the trendy Palermo neighborhood, which was recently named one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants while La Cabrera Sur, a parrilla that serves what might be the best beef in BA is TripExpert’s highest-scoring restaurant in town.
La Cabrera Sur
If you’re a beverage enthusiast, you’ll also find a cluster of new craft beer bars (Buena Birra Social Club, Bierlife), speakeasies (Harrison, Victoria Brown) and coffee shops (Cafe Registrado, Lab) to satisfy your thirst.
The Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires boasts a trio of hotels with a TripExpert score of 90+: the Palacio Duhau, a Belle Époque mansion; the landmark Alvear Palace Hotel; and the massive and massively luxurious Faena Hotel. The city also welcomed a new luxury property in 2017: the Alvear Icon Hotel, a five-star location with 159 rooms and 50 residencies in the waterside neighborhood of Puerto Madero is a sister to the Alvear Palace and the Alvear Art Hotel. Across from the Faena Arts Center, the stylish hotel features a high-end spa and fitness center and a bar with 360-degree views of the city — not to mention Glitter, South America’s first upscale kosher restaurant, which is set to open imminently.
If you’re searching for a city that blends old-world charm with a modern sensibility, look no further than Buenos Aires. Long considered the cultural capital of South America, the city continues to be one of the most exciting places to visit in the hemisphere.
Our Experts’ Choice awards are are based on recommendations from leading travel media. Winners are determined by taking into account placement in published “best of 2018” lists, as well as the quantity and quality of reviews for hotels, restaurants and attractions. Hawaii has earned this year’s Best Beach Destination designation.
Coastal Living puts the archipelago “back at the top of the A-list” for 2018 while Islands seconds the motion, saying vacationing in Hawaii is “always a good idea, but it’s an even better one now.” The critics are excited about new and renovated hotels and resorts and keen on rediscovering this classic island destination with its perfect weather and gorgeous beaches.
Kapalua Bay Beach
US News & World Report lists Oahu and Maui among the top five best places to visit in the USA, respectively, and the North Shore of Oahu is featured on National Geographic’s list of Places You Need to Visit in 2018. Kapalua Bay Beach on Maui, treasured for its “wonderfully private feel” and “clear azure waters” is one of Insider’s top picks for Best Beaches to Visit in 2018.
Whether you’re island-hopping or settling in on your favorite beach, an experience of luxury awaits. Nine Hawaii hotels have a TripExpert score of 90+ and more than 50 hotels have a score of 80+. The top 4 hotels are found on Oahu, the Big Island, Kauai, and Maui. Newcomer Four Seasons Oahu is much buzzed about and recently renovated Four Seasons Lanai is an exciting draw this year.
Waikiki, in Oahu’s Honolulu, boasts both TripExpert’s #1 hotel in Hawaii, the Halekulani Hotel. Guests of the Halekulani receive complimentary access to Experts’ Choice award-winning attractions like Iolani Palace and the Bishop Museum.
Halekulani Hotel
Oahu is also home to Hawaii’s #1 restaurant, Chef Mavro as well as Experts’ Choice winners La Mer and Alan Wong’s. Alohilani Resort in Honolulu is a new arrival of Fall 2017, featured on Travel + Leisure’s Hotel Openings to Watch Out for in 2017 for its dazzling centerpiece, “a fantastic Oceanarium in the lobby, which will filter water in directly from the ocean and serve as home to more than 1,000 protected marine life.”
Kauai and the Big Island offer spectacular natural wonders including Hawaii Volcanoes National Park where, if you’re lucky, you may get a glimpse of flowing lava along the ancient, jet-black lava rocks. Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area offers, an Experts’ Choice winner, offers a more rustic way to experience the natural beauty of Hawaii’s beaches with cabins overlooking the ocean.
Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area
Waimea Canyon and the Kauai’s Na Pali Coast feature breathtaking peaks and valleys full of hidden, cascading waterfalls and lush rainforest. Inaccessible by land, the only way to experience these magnificent natural sights are by helicopter tour, an activity well worth its price.
Plan your exploration of our 2018 Experts’ Choice Best Beach Destination for the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions in the Aloha State. We’ve got Hawaii covered from every angle and for every budget.
Tropical, colorful and welcoming, Colombo is a fantastic destination for anyone looking to take in Sri Lanka’s vibrant cultural heritage, explore the island’s unique and flavorful cuisine and unwind on the edge of the dramatic Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka’s capital is reminiscent of other South Asian cities but without the overwhelming crowds and pollution, offering a more relaxed, tropical alternative to Delhi or Dhaka. An incredibly diverse city, Colombo is home to many ethnicities and cultures, all of which contribute to the city’s complex and vibrant character.
Get to know Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s rich and diverse history spans millennia and reflects influences from a range of regional actors and global powers. A series of ancient dynasties and regional kingdoms followed in more recent history by a number of European colonial powers — Portuguese, Dutch and British — have all left their marks on modern Sri Lankan culture and consciousness.
Originally opened in 1877, this striking white building houses art and artifacts from millennia of Sri Lankan history. It’s a good place to begin to get a grasp on Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage. The collection of colorful antique demon masks, used in traditional Sri Lankan rituals and performances, is a personal favorite.
Adjacent to the National Museum, Colombo’s Natural History Museum is worth a visit for anyone interested in learning about the country’s endemic species.
Experience the cuisine
If you’re new to Sri Lankan food, as I was, you’re in for a treat. Be prepared for some spice, and look forward to flavorful meat, seafood and vegetable curries, steamed banana-leaf packets of meat and rice (lamprais, from the Dutch for “lump” and “rice”), and a range of rice flour, wheat, coconut and lentil breads and bread-like dishes for ripping and dipping. Various fruits like mango, jackfruit, coconut, and others feature heavily in curries, sauces and condiments. If you’re familiar with South Indian food, you’ll find it similar, but definitely distinct.
If you want to dive right in to Sri Lankan cuisine, head to the buffet at Raja Bojun, where you’ll find an extensive array of local specialties — a good introduction to the range of flavors and dishes you can expect on your visit.
Housed in a colonial bungalow and former studio of famed architect Geoffrey Bawa, the café’s patios, courtyards, water features and works of art by local artists create an alluring and peaceful dining experience. The menu features a range of dishes reflecting Sri Lankan, regional and European cuisine. The Sri Lankan-style black pork curry is a favorite. Make sure to leave room for dessert.
Set in a quaint house, this local institution is part bakery, part restaurant, known for its baked goods and curries. There’s also a vegetarian lunch buffet.
Tucked away in the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Nuga Gama — a proudly “carbon neutral” venue — is known for its traditional Sri Lankan cuisine in a setting that evokes Sri Lankan village life under a 200-year old banyan tree.
If it’s street food you’re after, Nana’s serves it up hot and delicious in a stall right on the scenic, oceanside Galle Face Green. Enjoy a bowl of kottu — chopped roti (a flatbread) with some combination of vegetables, egg and meat — while you watch the colorful kites overhead, listen to the ocean and take in gorgeous seaside sunsets.
Explore houses of worship
Sri Lanka is home to many religions including Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus and Christians, and boasts a number of striking temples and houses of worship open to visitors. Temple of Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam Kovil: This stunning, colorful structure — the oldest Hindu temple in Colombo — is a must-see, at the very least from the outside. If you do plan to go inside, dress modestly, and note that you’ll have to remove your shoes to enter. Gangaramaya Temple: This beautiful Buddhist temple, over 120 years old, sits within a vibrant complex devoted to Buddhist worship and learning on the edge of scenic Beira Lake.
Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque: The striking red and white “Red Mosque” is tucked away in Colombo’s commercial district, Pettah. Completed in 1909, the building represents a mix of architectural traditions reflecting Indo-Islamic, British and Indian styles.
Jami ul-Alfar Mosque
Shop
Known for its gemstones, wood carvings and a range of other handicrafts, Sri Lanka has plenty to offer anyone looking for a keepsake or gift. Explore Colombo’s artisan markets and boutiques for a chance to take home a variety of mementos.
Lakpahana
A commercial arm of the Sri Lanka Craftsmen and Artisans Association, Lakpahana houses handicrafts from over 500 artisans across the island. Browse jewellery, woodcarvings, masks, pottery, hand-woven products and many other items — great if you’re looking for both affordable souvenirs and higher-end items.
Kalaya
Add a touch of Sri Lanka to your home with their beautiful bedding, rugs, lamps, crockery and other housewares. Kalaya prides themselves on using natural and sustainable materials, and supporting the work of rural artisans.
Stone ’N’ String
Sri Lanka boasts an abundance of precious and semi-precious stones — which, for more than three decades, Stone ’N’ String has been crafting into gorgeous jewelry. This is a great spot to treat yourself to something beautiful or find the perfect gift for a special someone.
Relax
This laid-back city offers plenty of opportunities to relax, whether on the edge of the striking Indian Ocean, with a tropical cocktail by the pool or on the massage table. Galle Face Green: Join a local evening ritual and sit or stroll along the Galle Face Green, stretching about a third of the mile along the edge of the Indian Ocean. Stop to watch children flying dozens of colorful kites, families playing in the ocean and dramatic sunsets. Pool Bar, Galle Face Hotel: This picturesque poolside and oceanside bar is the perfect place to relax after a day of sightseeing. Azmaara Spa: Unwind with a balinese massage or a coconut scrub at the award-winning Azmaara Spa in the Cinnamon Lakeside
This iconic, colonial-era hotel offers luxury accommodations overlooking the ocean. Originally a Dutch villa, the Galle Face Hotel opened in 1864 and today, combines historical charm with modern comforts. Even if you don’t stay there, it’s worth visiting.
A true hidden gem, the Bungalow, a converted 19th-century house, is an oasis of green space and rustic comforts.
Take a day trip
Sri Lanka is small as countries go, and diverse ecological zones are within easy reach of the capital. Explore sandy beaches, hike ancient monuments, visit cities hidden in lush jungle or glimpse wildlife during a quick day-trip from Colombo. Transportation is inexpensive; even hiring a private car for the day can be very reasonable — all the more reason to get out and explore. Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage: Meet endangered Sri Lankan elephants at this wildlife reserve where they work to protect and rehabilitate the species. At around an hour and a half away, Pinnawala is an easy train ride or car trip from Colombo. Kandy: Visit the lush, inland city of Kandy — last capital of Sri Lanka’s ancient kings. Tucked away in mountainous jungle, the scenic two and a half hour train ride winding through the rainforest itself makes the visit worthwhile. Sigiriya: Explore the ruins of the ancient city (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and hike the dramatic rock fortress, the “Lion’s Rock.” The easiest way to get there from Colombo is by car, which should take around three hours. Galle District Beaches: Head south by train or car to one of the scenic coastal towns in Galle District. Unawatuna and Hikkaduwa are known for their beaches. If you have time, visit Galle’s Old Town, a historic, colonial-era town and fortress and a UNESCO World Heritage Site around an hour and a half from Colombo.
We’re excited to announce the winners of our third annual Experts’ Choice Awards. This year, 24,000 outstanding hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions around the world have earned the award. For the first time this year, we are also announcing destination winners in several categories, including best emerging destination, best budget destination, and best overall destination. Experts’ Choice is the only award that aggregates the advice of professional travel writers. Our 2018 award winners have been selected on the basis of over 1 million reviews from 85 publications.
The Seychelles, one of 50 TripExpert new destinations
We’ve been busy since our 2017 awards season, adding 50 new destinations on three continents, including Normandy, Cape Cod and the Seychelles. We’ve also incorporated a number of new publications, including Departures, Monocle, and The Telegraph.
It’s encouraging to see the philosophy underlying Experts’ Choice continue to be embraced by travelers and the hospitality industry alike. Meanwhile, problems with user review travel sites (which we’ve written about extensively before) were even more apparent than usual in 2017.
TripAdvisor not only managed to be gamed by a writer who made a non-existent shed the top-rated restaurant in London, but was forced to apologize for deleting reviews by a woman who was sexually assaulted by staff at a resort in Mexico. Why not turn instead to a source that brings together the trusted advice of people whose job it is to review hotels, restaurants, and attractions?
More consumers are looking for critical consensus — think Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic — to make informed decisions and TripExpert delivers.
Help us grow our movement. If you’re an award winner, join the more than 2,000 past winners who have shared their press release or Experts’ Choice badge (read more below). If you’re a traveler, tell your friends about how much more sense it makes to go with the advice of professionals.
About the winners
Our winning venues cover 124 countries and span a wide range of establishments, from luxury hotels to highly recommended hostels and from Michelin-starred restaurants to food trucks. What they have in common is expert consensus that they’re among the best in their respective categories.
Experts’ Choice is highly selective. Over 400,000 hotels, 1.5 million restaurants, and 300,000 tourist attractions were considered for the award; about 2.5% of hotels, 0.5% of restaurants and 1.5% of tourist attractions were selected.
As in previous years, hotels in Europe were the most critically acclaimed. This year, restaurants in North America performed especially well, picking up over 5,000 of the approximately 8,000 awards.
Destination awards
This year, for the first time, we awarded Experts’ Choice to destinations. From February through April, we announced winners in eleven categories. Follow the links to coverage of each destination below.
Experts’ Choice is awarded to hotels, restaurants, and attractions that both have a TripExpert Score of 70 or more and are in the top 10-20% of comparable venues in the same destination. The TripExpert Score is calculated based on how many of our 85 source publications have recommended the venue and what they have said about it. A number of adjustments are made, for example to account for the fact that newly opened venues may not yet have been widely covered in the press. Our scoring system is objective and impartial; the TripExpert team makes no decisions about whether particular venues will receive the award.
Information for winners
If your establishment has been awarded, we will notify you via email. We’ve prepared a press release for each winner, which we encourage you to add to your website and share on social media. You’re also eligible to display our electronic and hard copy “Experts’ Choice” badges and certificates. To get your badge, click “Venue Support” from your venue’s page on TripExpert page. Badges and certificates, including hard copy versions, are delivered to you free of charge. If there’s anything we can help you with, pleasecontact Chris Blume.
In sultry Salvador, Brazil’s first capital and third largest city, the vast majority of social life – and socializing – takes place in the streets. Bars and restaurants spill onto sidewalks. Samba jams, pocket shows and mega concerts erupt in squares, parks, and on beaches. Then there’s the city’s legendary Carnaval; it’s billed by the Guinness Book of Records as the largest street party on the planet. In light of this alfresco state of being, it’s not surprising that Salvador has one of Brazil’s most original and appetizing street food scenes.
Bahian street treats
In Salvador, street eats begin at dawn with local women who fuel workers with rice, tapioca and creamy corn mingau (porridge), spiked with cloves and dusted with cinnamon.
Bolinhos de estudante
As the morning progresses, in front of schools and university campuses, students line up to get their sugar fix with bolinhos de estudante. Named in their honor (“student balls”), these deep-fried treats owe their chewy consistency to tapioca flour mixed with coconut milk.
Meanwhile, those with leisure time on their hands can head to one the city’s myriad beaches where vendors, armed with tin can barbecues, grill skewers of queijo coalho. This tangy regional cheese is particularly addictive when doused in oregano and sugar cane molasses. Salvador’s street food scene gathers additional heat, and spice, in the late afternoon, with the release of workers from jobs and kids from school, and the lengthening of shadows on the beach. Suddenly, the air is infused with the heady fragrance of dendê oil – a distinctively pungent smell that is the perfume of Salvador.
Salvador’s favorite “fast food”
Acarajé
The scent of dendê – a species of palm that grows along the coast of Bahia and whose fruits are pressed into oil – is the calling card of acarajé, Salvador’s most iconic and ubiquitous “fast food”. Basically defined, acarajés are tennis ball-sized fritters made from a puree of black-eyed peas that are deep fried – until crisp (on the outside), but fluffy (on the inside) – in crater-sized pots of sizzling orange dendê oil. And that’s just the beginning. Once cooked, acarajés are split open and then comes the fun part – filling them up. Choices include one or all of the following: Vatapá, a thick paste dominated by cashews, shrimp, ginger and coconut milk; Caruru, a puree of diced okra; and Salada, in which finely diced tomatoes are seasoned with onions and cilantro. For an extra real or two, you’ll be blessed with a bonus serving of glistening pink-orange camarão seco, dried shrimp whose salty bite adds an oceanic twist to the proceedings. If you want your acarajé with all the trimmings, ask for a “completo.” Those who like it hot, and put in a request for “quente,” will receive a generous smear of fiery pimenta (malagueta pepper) sauce. Gringos with heat sensitivity issues should make sure their acarajé is served “frio.”
An edible heritage
Baianas
Like much of Salvador’s distinctive local cuisine, acarajés originated in Western Africa where they were known as akara, which in Yoruba translates into “ball of fire.” The recipe crossed the Atlantic with the hundreds of thousands of slaves shipped to work Brazil’s colonial sugar plantations. To this day, acarajés are among many sacred foods eaten during Afro-Brazilian Candomblé ceremonies and presented as offerings to the divinities known as orixás. In fact, many Afro-Bahian women who prepare acarajés on street corners throughout the city are followers of Candomblé. In keeping with tradition, “baianas” are often clad in the white turbans, voluminous hoop skirts, glass beads and bangles worn by mães de santos, or priestesses. As symbols of Bahian culture and identity, baianas have a memorial-museum dedicated to them in the historic Pelourinho district as well as an official day of commemoration on November 25. In 2012, the state government of Bahia declared baianas de acarajé as intangible cultural heritage.
Best of baianas
Oyá Digital’s map of baianas
There are an estimated 4,000 baianas scattered throughout Salvador, all of whom can be digitally located via the Map of Baianas published on oyadigital.com. A handful of these women have become local legends, whose fritter-frying renown has earned them national fame and considerable fortunes. For years now, the reigning triumvirate of baianas has been Dinha, Regina and Cira. All three hold court on outdoor squares in Salvador’s bohemian beachfront hood of Rio Vermelho. Meanwhile, most Salvador residents have their own favorite (more affordable) baianas to whom they are faithful. My own predilections include Neinha, located on a corner of Centro’s main street of Avenida Sete de Setembro, and Luiz, a rare male baiano who has a loyal following in the historic neighborhood of Mouraria. Located on a leafy cobblestoned street, Luiz’s ponto is outfitted with plastic chairs and a wide-screen TV. This set-up allows customers to watch snatches of a soccer game, or the latest political scandal, while chasing their acarajé with an icy beer, or – better yet – a chilled can of Coke (the cola’s sweetness plays surprisingly well off the spice and salt of the acarajé).
Acarajés get a lot of love – and press. However, most baianas also serve equally enticing, yet mysteriously unsung abarás, made of pureed black-eyed peas that are boiled instead of deep fried. After being mashed, the thick bean paste is densely packed and then elegantly wrapped in banana leaves to seal in the moisture. The resulting taste sensation skews smooth and silky and is more delicate than acarajé. Happily, all the same delicious fillings apply.
Chicago boasts some of the best bars in the country, with drinking establishments of all styles spanning the city’s myriad neighborhoods. From cocktail tasting menus at The Aviary in Fulton Market and $100 daiquiris made with rare spirits at downtown’s Milk Room, to culinary-inspired craft beer at Moody Tongue’s newly opened Pilsen tap room and tiki tipples at River North’s Three Dots and a Dash, it’s easy to drink well in the Midwestern metropolis. Over the past year or so, one neighborhood that’s emerged as a bar Mecca is Logan Square, a northwest side enclave brimming with more booze than people.
Pioneer of the craft cocktail
The Whistler
Logan Square, conveniently situated along the CTA Blue Line between O’Hare International Airport and downtown Chicago, can lay claim to being one of the birthplaces of Chicago’s craft cocktail boom, thanks to groundbreaking spots like The Whistler. The nondescript music venue/cocktail haunt is still packing in the crowds for its ever-changing arsenal of seasonally inspired mixed drinks, like the green-hued Masa Verde made with mezcal, absinthe and verdita, or the cozy Mothership Connection with cold-brew coffee, rum, lemonade and pineapple.
This is also where Paul McGee, one of the most renowned and talented mixologists in the country, made a name for himself before skyrocketing to fame with crowd-pleasing bars like Lost Lake. Located just up the street from The Whistler, this tiki wonderland transports guests to a tropical oasis filled with irreverent drinks, quirky glassware, twisty straws aplenty and a general beach party vibe. Drinks change fairly often, but some noteworthy hits include Stranger in Paradise with tequila, Rhum Agricole blanc, pineapple, Falernum, cinnamon, allspice, angostura bitters and absinthe; and A Lonely Island Lost in the Middle of a Foggy Sea, which contains two kinds of rum plus Rhum Agricole blanc, coffee, pineapple, lime and Demerara.
Elsewhere in the ‘hood, drinkers can sip habit-forming Negroni slushies at Parson’s Chicken & Fish, a sprawling watering hole with quenching slushy concoctions and other mixed drinks like Oaxacan On Sunshine (El Buho mezcal, Cocchi Americano, grapefruit, habanero, soda, red wine) and Pineapple Punch (Plantation Pineapple Rum, Aperol, pineapple juice, lime, tea, Angostura Bitters).
Parson’s signature Negroni slushy
A couple blocks west of Parson’s is Scofflaw, an ode to gin with lip-smacking combos like aperol, cantaloupe, fresno chile and gin. Come on a brisk winter night and perch by the fireplace for a truly memorable evening. Continue your cocktail crawl even further west along Armitage Avenue with a stop at Best Intentions for boozy horchata and herbal milkshake-like drinks that taste like mint chocolate chip ice cream.
The best of the breweries
Revolution Brewing
While cocktail bars continue to establish themselves all over the neighborhood, Logan Square is also home to some exemplary breweries and taprooms. Revolution Brewing popped up on Milwaukee Avenue well before the neighborhood was the hot spot it is today, churning out a lineup of brews like its famed Bottom Up Wit, Eugene Porter and Anti-Hero IPA. Shortly after the brewpub began packing in the crowds, Revolution doubled down with another facility a bit north on Kedzie Avenue. The industrial space is where Revolution does most of their brewing, and patrons at the bar can get an up close and personal peek at the process while they sip their ale.
One promising newcomer is Hopewell Brewing Company, a slick and inviting taproom with a modular interior reminiscent of something out of an IKEA catalogue. And that’s meant in the most complimentary way possible. The sunny space sports highly drinkable brews like its mouthwatering First Lager, its 24:37 Red IPA and the tangy All Hope Kettle Sour. Hopewell stocks a handful of nostalgic board games as well, in case you’re in the mood for Connect Four with your beer.
Don’t forget about wine
Webster’s Wine Bar
Proof that no potable goes underserved, one of the best wine bars in Chicago boasts a prominent locale right at the nexus of the neighborhood square itself. At Webster’s Wine Bar, a dimly lit nook that feels like a drinking parlor J.K. Rowling would imagine, the bar stocks upwards of 500 bottles, with several dozen available by the glass. Varietals span the globe, with both old-world and new-world wines getting due diligence, and sommeliers are well-equipped to guide you towards something you’ll love. Match your vino with any of Webster’s fantastic plates, designed for sharing and pairing. Items include bacon-wrapped dates, venison tartare and bistro hanger steak.
One new wine bar entry, located a bit further west of the square, adopts a Latin accent for its wine and food. Penumbra Wine Bar features a menu of ceviche and bocaditos, attuned to a miscellany of South American, Spanish and Californian wines.
What’s new?
Fresh bars seem to take shape every day in Logan Square, and there’s an exciting crop of newcomers that have recently opened their doors. This includes Estereo, a Latin-accented nook from established bar group Heisler Hospitality; The Ladies’ Room, a clandestine Chinese drinking den from the hitmakers behind Fat Rice; Spilt Milk Tavern, an ode to corner bars of yore with Concord Grape Juleps and boozy soft-serve ice cream; and Mezcaleria Las Flores, Chicago’s first mezcal-devoted bar chock full of offbeat agave spirits and cocktails served in unique “glassware” like gourd husks.
That’s what “Maboneng” means in Sesotho and it is a name truly befitting this hip, artsy enclave on the eastern edge of Johannesburg’s CBD. The inner city has come a long way in the past number of years, transforming from a gritty place that would fuel stories of the crime-ridden city, to having pockets of neighborhoods thriving as they undergo a rapid regeneration period. Maboneng is one of those areas. TheMaboneng Precinct is the brainchild ofPropertuity, a property development group that has made a name for itself through investing in the urban renewal of African cities. It all started back in 2008 when the group took five old warehouses and turned them into a hub for creatives to gather, ideate, work, play, and share. This space was namedArts on Main and today, it’s a mix of galleries, retail shops, offices, and creative spaces, and remains the beating heart of Maboneng as the neighborhood continues to grow and evolve. Despite it being a relatively small area, it’ll take more than one visit to really get a feel for Maboneng and discover all of its secrets. There’s plenty to explore but the following arts and culture spots are great places to start!
Sundays at Market on Main
While Maboneng hums with creative energy any given day of the week, if you come visit on a Sunday, you’ll notice a remarkable difference. Once a week, Arts on Main plays host toMarket on Main—a weekly market that showcases regional food and local design—taking the energy of the neighborhood to another level as it buzzes with tourists and locals alike.
Wander around the food stalls on the ground floor and let your nose (and your stomach) lead you from one table to the next. Maybe try the bunny chow (a hollowed out loaf of bread filled with curry that hails from Durban) or go straight for the sweet stuff and head over to the beignet stall where the guys here comically call out to the crowd with choruses of “Oooh, tasty!” as they turn out batch after batch of freshly fried, sugary goodness.
Bunny chow
Go upstairs for a bit of eclectic retail therapy where you’ll find racks of vintage clothing, tables of bags and shoes in colorful African prints (check out the popularMaria McCloy Accessories), and unique jewelry. To get your fill of art, there are plenty of places to explore—you just need to walk around and be curious. Duck into Inappropriate Gallery, a tiny space packed with paintings that is hidden above a second-hand and vintage home decor shop;David Krut Print Workshop, which is attached to a gallery space that exhibits some of their new projects; andArt Afrique, located on the outside of the Arts on Main building, just next to the entrance to the food hall.
Maria McCloy Accessories
Maboneng also has its own deliciously eclectic soundtrack on Sundays. The voices of people laughing and calling out to one another mix together with a jazz quartet that serenades passersby. Out on Fox Street (one of the main strips), the high-energy drumming of a local performance group pulsates through the air as people leisurely stroll along, soaking up vibe.
The Bioscope
When you’ve grown tired of the multi-million dollar budget blockbusters, The Bioscope will cure your Hollywood hangover. Located further down Fox Street, it is Joburg’s only truly independent cinema and has just 62 seats and a single screen. They show an incredibly diverse selection of films with a program that includes local and international cinema, provocative art house classics, intriguing documentaries, and shorts and animations.
Rooftop screening at the Bioscope
On top of that, The Bioscope also features talks and live performances and they host signature events like Noodlebox Cinema, where you can enjoy Kung Fu films while chowing down on noodles provided by The Blackanese, an Asian fusion restaurant also right in Maboneng.
POPArt
In the same space as The Bioscope, you can get your theater and performing arts fix at POPArt, which stands for People of Performing Art. Another independent company, this performance space is a hub for artists to come together and showcase their pieces. You’ll find raucous sketch comedy one night and thought-provoking storytelling the next. In between, they also host workshops for everything from improv for beginners to the basics of production.
SoMa Art + Space
SoMa is an event space that has a rotation of exhibitions featuring local artists, as well as performance arts pieces and special events. Even though it’s located along a street with relatively heavy foot traffic, the gallery is never crowded and offers a welcome respite from the weekend crowds. Even better? There’s a bar so you can grab a cocktail. (Fun fact: If you’re wondering where you’ve heard the name “soma” before, this space was named after the hallucinogenic drug from Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World.)
The Cosmopolitan
Hazard is a contemporary art gallery found within the walls of the gorgeously refurbished Cosmopolitan Hotel, a heritage building that dates back to 1899 and likely has many a story to tell. Making the most of the old hotel’s layout with its narrow hallways, old wooden floors, and rooms of varying sizes, Hazard Gallery feels intimate and like you’re constantly making a new discovery. Pop in and out of the rooms as you take in a mix of emerging Pan-African artists alongside internationally established names.
The Cosmopolitan
Long abandoned, this turn of the century building sat on a prominent street corner for years, windows boarded up and paint peeling away. Luckily, the founders of Hazard Gallery recognized the beauty and potential of this piece of history and carefully restored it into this repurposed space with a well-curated retail shop, artist studios, and other goodies. Hidden behind The Cosmopolitan is a courtyard with rambling greenery and pebble paths, transporting you away from the concrete jungle that lies just outside the gates. Here you’ll also discover the fine dining restaurant Cube Tasting Kitchen (its sister bar can be found at the front of the building), the charmingly minimalistic Firebird Coffee where coffee is an art form, and the magnificent Yswara Tea Room, which is worth a visit for the interior design alone.
Cube Tasting Kitchen
AGOG Gallery
AGOG Gallery, a fine and modern contemporary art gallery, is a unique space just a short walk away from the main hustle and bustle of central Maboneng. Focusing on young emerging artists, the gallery doesn’t just display the finished pieces — they also provide a platform for the artists to provide insight into their works so you can learn about their backgrounds, as well. The AGOG building also houses The Nine Barrels (a wine and tapas bar) and The Q Club (for whiskey lovers) so you can come for the art and stay for a drink!
Art Installations and graffiti
And finally, instead of planning out your visit to Maboneng, try walking around and seeing what you discover. There are sculptures and installations all over the precinct — on street corners, down alleyways, and perched on rooftops. Keep your eyes open for some spectacular graffiti art, as well as large scale murals that decorate the towering buildings. Maboneng is a neighborhood that needs to be explored from all angles because what you won’t see from one side, will be the most delightful surprise from another.
Ski Magazine perennially ranks Québec’s Tremblant the crème de la crème of eastern North American skiing. But you can be a great movie star without being a great actor. They’ve also written “it sure isn’t the skiing that puts Tremblant at the top of the Eastern rankings year after year.” They love Tremblant’s Disney-like, family-oriented village tucked beneath the roosterlike crests of the Laurentian Mountains. It has a European look and ambiance offering ski-in, ski-out accommodations. We like it too. And we especially like Hotel Quintessence, a zinger of a boutique property with only 30 lakefront luxury suites. Everything so perfect there’s nothing to write about.
If you prefer the anonymity found in a large five-star property, the eyebrow-raising Fairmont Tremblant is just down the road. There are, too, a wealth of other ski resorts centered in the Eastern Townships, one-to-two hours driving time from Montreal and appealing to skiers with a stray-dog complex. But really, who are we kidding? Sometimes skiing the East feels like we’re tugging at a too-short skirt. A lot of ski areas in eastern North America are as interchangeable as light bulbs.
Québec City
Québec City is a ski town
So let me tell you how we like to ski Québec. How we turn it into the most unique place to ski in North America. I mean capital-E Experience the far-reaching slopes while wrapped in that heartwarming French-Canadian mystique. It seeps into your soul and slows time. The real travel begins when you stop moving. Here’s the punchline. We base our ski trip in Québec City, which Travel + Leisure readers’ selected as the best city in Canada 2016. History is never buried here. Let me tell you.
Here is a Québec City scene.
Imagine coming home to a vibrant, romantic French-speaking city at the end of an extraordinary, blindingly bright ski day. There you are in Canada’s oldest permanent European settlement (1608), the only fortified city north of Mexico, and a UNESCO World Heritage site, to boot. Your legs are toast and cheeks ruddy from Christmas-like cold.
You’re bedding down at the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac within the ramparts of Old Québec. The place oozes with a sugar rush of history and over-the-top sensuality. The Frontenac is one of those elegant 19th-century Canadian Pacific Railroad hotels that lord over the best places across Canada, like Chateau Lake Louise, and have been graciously restored by Fairmont. You’re dining on carpaccio of Atlantic salmon. And that’s just for breakfast.
Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac
I could go on, but you get the idea.
If you visit in late February, when the mercury pools in the bulb and the city lives for sunrise, you’ll be a player in Québec City’s incomparable 17-day-long winter carnival, one of the largest winter festivals in the world. Some things in life you just have to do.
Carnaval
Maybe you’re a gourmand; maybe you like to shop. It’s easy to blow off a ski day in this inspiring and completely absorbing city. For fine French cuisine with a regional touch, we like what the locals like and one favorite is Aux Anciens Canadiens Restaurant, which is housed in a 1675 mansion. This Experts’ Choice award winner, steeped in history, is located in the heart of Old Québec.
Have I even mentioned the skiing? It’s why we’re here, right? Three major, high-octane resorts are within easy striking distance of Quebec City. Shuttles operate from hotels. You don’t have to slalom your way along northern roads where the Canadian spare tire is a pair of ice skates in the trunk. There’s a multi-ski area lift ticket and a 75-cent Canadian dollar.
Mont-Sainte-Anne
Mont-Sainte-Anne
Just 30 minutes from Quebec City is Mont-Sainte-Anne, one of the gnarlier ski mountains in the East, but also offering great runs for kids. This is a lulu of a resort giving way to aha-inducing views of the rugged, wild, and lost in time St. Lawrence River. During the off season, from May to October, humpbacks, minkes, blue whales and white belugas gorge in the river and attract flotillas of whale watchers. More than 70 runs topple down three mountain faces, offering everything from elevator-shaft-like black-diamond runs to long, winding intermediate trails. They amble over the contours of the mountains, rimmed by magnificent hardwoods that bleed maple syrup in springtime. Nearby, Canada’s largest cross-country ski center is a mind-blowing stretch of white trails unspooling through the valley and surrounding hills. There are more than 135 miles of track and seven heated huts along the way. If you want to sleep rough and spend a night on the cross-country trail, we like the cozy ski-in L’Auberge du Fondeur, where we mingle with the locals, sharing a kitchen, fireplace and sauna.
Le Massif de Charlevoix
Le Massif de Charlevoix
If you’re looking to amp up the game, a little more than an hour away from Quebec City is Le Massif de Charlevoix, a resort with two mountains of elongated joy attracting feisty skiers with moxie and pep. The two mountains yield the highest vertical drop in eastern Canada and some of its steeps are a meet-yourself experience, echoing why we love movies that make us cry.
Le Masssif towers over a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and the ice-choked silent thread of the St. Lawrence River. The snow can be Utah light. Beside the river lie the Old World, dolled up towns of Petite-Riviere-Saint-François and Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. Some of the third and fourth generation families seem out of Guy de Maupassant. If you want to spend a night nearby, we like Le Germain Hotel Charlevoix and its thermal spa.
Stoneham Ski Resort
Stoneham Ski Resort
Located just 15 miles north of Quebec City, Stoneham sits in a snow-trapping, wind-protected, horseshoe-shaped valley. The trails sprawl across four mountains, making it easy to follow the warm sun. It’s perfect for families that want to ski together. Its three terrain parks and 22-foot Olympic Super Pipe are popular with snowboarders and tricksters on skis — a big sandbox where hope dies last. The resort claims to have the largest night skiing network in Canada. At least two other Quebec ski areas make the same boast. Well, there you have it. That’s how we ski Quebec. May the truth set you skiing.
