When it comes to my trips, the bulk of the activities are planned around food.
I will spend a good amount of time researching the best places to eat in particular destinations, mixing casual and fine dining restaurants, incorporating old favourites with the current must-visit place.
A 2025 trip to Copenhagen was something of a food crawl, which took in Poulette's chicken sandwiches, made famous by The Bear, one Michelin-starred meal, hot dogs and more cardamom buns than I care to admit.
Every time I go back to Edinburgh, I make sure I have a table booked at my favourite restaurant, Noto, with at least one other reservation to see if any contenders can knock it off my top spot. And when people come to the UAE to visit, I have a list as long as my arm of places I am sure they will enjoy.
Today, I am thrilled that the 50 Best Restaurants list is doing much of the planning for me.
The annual list of the best restaurants around the world was announced at a ceremony in Lima, Peru, last night. Asador Etxebarri in Spain’s Basque Country topped the list, followed by Bangkok’s Gaggan in second place and Copenhagen’s Alchemist in third. Mexico City’s Quintonil and Hong Kong’s Wing completed the top five.
A trip to the Basque Country, particularly San Sebastian, has long been close to the top of my travel bucket list. A few days indulging in its pintxos culture and incredible seafood sounds like my perfect getaway.
Closer to home, Dubai's Tresind Studio made the 50 Best list this year, coming in 28th. Helmed by chef Himanshu Saini, the Palm Jumeirah restaurant secured a place in the top 50 for a fourth consecutive year, slipping one position from last year’s ranking of 27th. It entered the top 50 at No 11 in 2023 before placing 13th in 2024. Read more about the list here.
If you need me this week, I will be planning a trip around my next truly great meal.
Until next time, safe travels.
Travel news you may have missed
• British Airways resumes daily London-Dubai flights after an eight-month suspension. Read more here.
• The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands will welcome the UAE's Tashas Cafe, by Natasha Sideris, for a three-day pop-up from December 1 to 3. Read our review of the Maldives hotel here.
• Dubai is rolling out a five-year tourism loyalty card with a multiple-entry visa. Read more here.
• Six Senses The Palm, Dubai is preparing to open on November 23 on the West Crescent of Palm Jumeirah. The all-suite, wellness-focused beachfront resort marks the brand’s UAE debut and a sister property to Six Senses Zighy Bay in Dibba, Oman.
• Flydubai has announced the resumption of flights between Dubai International Airport and Skopje International Airport in North Macedonia. Flights will resume in April next year.
UAE carriers lead ranking of world’s most extravagant airlines
Etihad Airways and Emirates have taken the top two spots in a new ranking of air travel's most extravagant luxuries.
Etihad’s The Residence, a three-room suite on its Airbus A380, leads the list by air passenger rights company AirAdvisor. Emirates follows for its A380 Shower Spa and makes a second appearance for its on-board lounge, while Qatar Airways features for its Al Safwa First Lounge in Doha.
The ranking assesses individual experiences rather than airlines as a whole, comparing amenities that extend beyond conventional first and business-class seats.
Read more about the top 10 here.
Travel buy
A compact first-aid kit is a handy addition to luggage for any trip. Either make it yourself, with a selection of essentials such as plasters, disposable gloves, antibacterial wipes, a bandage and scissors, or outsource the hard work and buy a ready-made one.
They can easily be found on Amazon and this General Medi kit comes with everything I listed and more. Just make sure you check airline guidelines if you try to travel with the kit and scissors in your hand luggage.
Spotlight destination: Rabat
Romantic Casablanca, bustling Marrakesh and alternative Tangier tend to overshadow Morocco's capital when it comes to tourism. The greater Rabat area had one tenth of Marrakesh's hotel stays in 2025.
This week, The National's Alexander Christou shares his 48-hour itinerary from the city, pondering why visitors would opt to skip a visit.
As he learnt, it is far from simply an administrative capital, but a city where an ancient past blends with a vision for a prosperous future.
Read his full tried-and-tested itinerary here.
Top tip
When looking for restaurants, cafes or attractions, translate your search terms into the local language rather than searching in English. Searching for trattoria in Italy or izakaya in Japan can uncover places that don't necessarily appear in English-language travel guides, helping you find more neighbourhood favourites and fewer tourist traps.
In the headlines
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