{"id":21434,"date":"2011-08-03T08:00:44","date_gmt":"2011-08-03T15:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/?p=21434"},"modified":"2023-05-07T07:46:10","modified_gmt":"2023-05-07T14:46:10","slug":"5-european-cities-to-visit-if-you-love-food","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/5-european-cities-to-visit-if-you-love-food\/","title":{"rendered":"European Cities To Visit If You Love Food"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>European Cities To Visit If You Love Food is a big part of travel &#8211; it&#8217;s a great way of understanding the culture, people and their traditions.<\/p>\n<p>European Cities To Visit below are worth visiting for more reasons than just the food, BUT what makes them different is that food alone is a good enough reason to visit &#8211; enjoy!<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/5-european-cities-to-visit-if-you-love-food\/#European_Cities_To_Visit_If_You_Love_Food\" title=\"European Cities To Visit If You Love Food!\">European Cities To Visit If You Love Food!<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/5-european-cities-to-visit-if-you-love-food\/#Thessaloniki_Greece\" title=\"Thessaloniki, Greece\">Thessaloniki, Greece<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/5-european-cities-to-visit-if-you-love-food\/#London_England\" title=\"London, England\">London, England<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/5-european-cities-to-visit-if-you-love-food\/#Brussels_Belgium\" title=\"Brussels, Belgium\">Brussels, Belgium<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/5-european-cities-to-visit-if-you-love-food\/#Paris_France\" title=\"Paris, France\">Paris, France<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/5-european-cities-to-visit-if-you-love-food\/#Traditional_French_Food_You_Must_Try\" title=\"Traditional French Food You Must Try\">Traditional French Food You Must Try<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/5-european-cities-to-visit-if-you-love-food\/#Foie_Gras\" title=\"Foie Gras\">Foie Gras<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/5-european-cities-to-visit-if-you-love-food\/#French_Bread\" title=\"French Bread\">French Bread<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/5-european-cities-to-visit-if-you-love-food\/#Escargots\" title=\"Escargots\">Escargots<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/5-european-cities-to-visit-if-you-love-food\/#Cheese\" title=\"Cheese\">Cheese<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/5-european-cities-to-visit-if-you-love-food\/#Cuisses_de_Grenouilles\" title=\"Cuisses de Grenouilles\">Cuisses de Grenouilles<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/5-european-cities-to-visit-if-you-love-food\/#Where_To_Shop_in_Paris\" title=\"Where To Shop in Paris\">Where To Shop in Paris<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/5-european-cities-to-visit-if-you-love-food\/#European_Cities_To_Visit_and_Shops_to_Choose_From\" title=\"European Cities To Visit and Shops to Choose From\">European Cities To Visit and Shops to Choose From<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/5-european-cities-to-visit-if-you-love-food\/#Istanbul_Turkey\" title=\"Istanbul, Turkey\">Istanbul, Turkey<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/5-european-cities-to-visit-if-you-love-food\/#Understanding_Cafe_Culture_In_Europe\" title=\"Understanding Caf\u00e9 Culture In Europe\">Understanding Caf\u00e9 Culture In Europe<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/5-european-cities-to-visit-if-you-love-food\/#Understanding_Cafe_Culture_In_Europe-2\" title=\"Understanding Caf\u00e9 Culture In Europe\">Understanding Caf\u00e9 Culture In Europe<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/5-european-cities-to-visit-if-you-love-food\/#Swedish_%E2%80%9CFika%E2%80%9D\" title=\"Swedish &#8220;Fika&#8221;\">Swedish &#8220;Fika&#8221;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/5-european-cities-to-visit-if-you-love-food\/#Italys_Quick_Coffee\" title=\"Italy&#8217;s Quick Coffee\">Italy&#8217;s Quick Coffee<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/5-european-cities-to-visit-if-you-love-food\/#English_Afternoon_Tea\" title=\"English Afternoon Tea\">English Afternoon Tea<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/5-european-cities-to-visit-if-you-love-food\/#Viennas_Coffee_Houses\" title=\"Vienna&#8217;s Coffee Houses\">Vienna&#8217;s Coffee Houses<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"European_Cities_To_Visit_If_You_Love_Food\"><\/span>European Cities To Visit If You Love Food!<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Thessaloniki_Greece\"><\/span>Thessaloniki, Greece<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Thessaloniki is known for its great food; \u201dQueen of exquisite cuisine\u201d, \u201dFood capital of Greece\u201d, \u201dDessert capital of Greece\u201d, the city has many names praising their food.<\/p>\n<p>The only downside of <a href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/greek-nightlife\/\" rel=\"noopener\">visiting Thessaloniki<\/a> will be your increasing waistline! :P<\/p>\n<p>Try the bougatsa, a breakfast pastry famous for this city, filled with Greek custard or cheese.<\/p>\n<p>Thessaloniki&#8217;s specialty however, is Greek Mezethes.<\/p>\n<p>These assorted plates of Greek tidbits are so good you would think they were made up by the Greek gods.<\/p>\n<p>They are found everywhere, and are always served at parties in Greece.<\/p>\n<p>This culinary custom derives from the ancient Greeks, who believed that no guest should be welcomed and no drinks should be served without a nibble.<\/p>\n<p>Get your mezethes in an Ouzeri downtown, and wash it down with a glass of the famous Ouzo.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"London_England\"><\/span>London, England<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_21487\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21487\" style=\"width: 290px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-21487 size-medium\" title=\"London, England\" src=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/indian-food1-300x196.png\" alt=\"London, England\" width=\"300\" height=\"196\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/indian-food1-300x196.png 300w, https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/indian-food1.png 624w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-21487\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">London, England<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>London is the perfect place for the food lover to go if you don&#8217;t have time to travel to all the countries in the world just to try their food \u2013 it can all be found here in London.<\/p>\n<p>London is the most culturally diverse city I have ever been to, walking the streets you will encounter people from all corners of the world, and when it comes to food, it&#8217;s in fact easier finding Chinese, French, Italian, Indian \u2013 pretty much any type of food, than it is to find British cuisine.<\/p>\n<p>But then of course there is always the good old fish n chip places around the corners, which should not be forgotten during a visit to London.<\/p>\n<p>Indian food in particular, has a good reputation in London.<\/p>\n<p>Some even say that they have had better curries in London than they have in India!<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Brussels_Belgium\"><\/span>Brussels, Belgium<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_21488\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21488\" style=\"width: 290px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-21488 size-medium\" title=\"Brussels, Belgium\" src=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Belgian-waffles1-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"European Cities To Visit If You Love Food - Brussels, Belgium\" width=\"300\" height=\"197\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Belgian-waffles1-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Belgian-waffles1.jpg 619w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-21488\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Brussels, Belgium<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>You probably thought I would include some city in Italy, didn&#8217;t you?<\/p>\n<p>Well, I won&#8217;t.<\/p>\n<p>Italian food is great, but I&#8217;m not a big fan of pasta, and believe it or not, but the best pizza in Europe is not found in Italy, but in Romania and Sweden.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s true, you HAVE to try the pizzas in these two countries, they&#8217;re crazy good!<\/p>\n<p>Brussels, on the other hand, has three things that you simply won&#8217;t find better anywhere else than in Brussels.<\/p>\n<p>This is the city for everyone with a sweet tooth.<\/p>\n<p>Belgian chocolate is so delicious your knees will tremble a little when you have your first bite of a praline, and you can get these chocolate orgasms whenever you want, the streets have more chocolate shops than anything else!<\/p>\n<p>Belgian waffles are like no other waffles, freshly made the crunchy waffles are topped with whipped cream, strawberries, kiwi fruit and melted chocolate.<\/p>\n<p>I mean, can it get better than this?<\/p>\n<p>Brussels also has the best hangover food in Europe &#8211; Frites Freiten.<\/p>\n<p>Buy yourself a paper cone of these frites, and you will never mistake Belgian frites for french fries again!<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Paris_France\"><\/span>Paris, France<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_21489\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21489\" style=\"width: 290px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-21489 size-medium\" title=\"Paris, France\" src=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/french-food1-300x212.png\" alt=\"Paris, France\" width=\"300\" height=\"212\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/french-food1-300x212.png 300w, https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/french-food1.png 622w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-21489\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Paris, France<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It would almost be a crime not to include this place in the list &#8211; French cuisine is perhaps the number one cuisine which has spread to all corners of the world.<\/p>\n<p>Although their rather odd food habits like eating snails and frog legs hasn&#8217;t really caught on with the rest of the world, their scrumptious baguettes and croissants are now on&nbsp;everyone&#8217;s&nbsp;breakfast plates.<\/p>\n<p>Walking down the streets of France you realize just how important food is for the French people<em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 290px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"French food\" src=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/french-carrying-baguette1-300x216.png\" alt=\"French food\" width=\"300\" height=\"216\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">French food<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In the afternoon every second person you see walking down the street carries two baguettes in their hands, one to munch on while they&#8217;re walking home, and another one for dinner!<\/p>\n<p>I can see why so many decide to simply stay in one of the&nbsp;Paris apartments, unbuckle their belts and dive into the jungle of French food, not leaving until they have tried every single thing worth trying.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Traditional_French_Food_You_Must_Try\"><\/span>Traditional French Food You Must Try<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Although there are many delicious delicacies to try in France (not to mention the wines) there are a few distinctive traditional french dishes which are so &#8220;French&#8221; that you really shouldn&#8217;t leave France without tasting them!<\/p>\n<p>This is my most favorite French Cookbook by Miss Julia Childs<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Foie_Gras\"><\/span>Foie Gras<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This is in essence goose liver pate, the texture is soft and creamy and although it can look unappetizing the taste is divine.<\/p>\n<p>Foie Gras is incorporated into several dishes it can be pan-seared, roasted or it can be eaten on its own or with toasted French bread.<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes Foie Gras is flavored with liquor, fruit or fried onions.<\/p>\n<p>During the Christmas season you&#8217;ll find it on a lot of menus and it is generally considered a gourmet-type delicacy often served with truffles.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"French_Bread\"><\/span>French Bread<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The most well known traditional French food has to be the baguette, many imagine Frenchmen cycling along wearing a beret and with a baguette in the bicycle basket!<\/p>\n<p>Well you may just see this image on a trip to France.<\/p>\n<p>Try buying a freshly baked baguette and pairing it with good French cheese and wine \u2013 simple and delicious.<\/p>\n<p>French bread can be eaten as a simple meal or accompanying any meal to soak up the gravy and wipe your plate clean.<\/p>\n<p>Apart from the French baguette there are other types of French bread that should be tried and of course the delicious pastries like the French croissant.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Escargots\"><\/span>Escargots<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Although some may turn their noses up at this uniquely French treat escargot or snails are delicious.<\/p>\n<p>Served as an appetizer, the mollusks are often part of a gourmet menu.<\/p>\n<p>They are usually taken out of the shell to be cooked with garlic and butter then returned to the shell with generous amounts of butter and garlic and served to the diner.<\/p>\n<p>The diners are given special tongs to grip the shells while digging out the snails with a small fork.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cheese\"><\/span>Cheese<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Just like the wine, every region of France has its own famous cheese.<\/p>\n<p>Cheese is a standard part of most traditional French food.<\/p>\n<p>A cheese platter can be served as a final dish of a multi-course meal or as a small meal in itself.<\/p>\n<p>The range of French cheeses is vast with about 400 unique kinds including Brie de Meaux, Roquefort, Camembert, Comte and Chevre.<\/p>\n<p>When in France either order a cheese platter in a restaurant or visit the local fromagerie to select a few samples.<\/p>\n<p>The local markets are also a great place to try French cheeses.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cuisses_de_Grenouilles\"><\/span>Cuisses de Grenouilles<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you&#8217;re really adventurous and want to try something uniquely traditional French then the ultimate traditional French food is frog&#8217;s legs!<\/p>\n<p>The taste can be compared to salty chicken with the consistency of white fish. They are usually prepared with salt, pepper and lemon juice then crumbed and fried in olive oil.<\/p>\n<p>If you try frog&#8217;s legs &#8220;a la Parisienne&#8221; they&#8217;ll be served with an onion cream sauce.<\/p>\n<p>The legs are quite healthy and are high protein and low fat!<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_To_Shop_in_Paris\"><\/span>Where To Shop in Paris<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There has never been a better time to book cheap flights to Paris, especially if you\u2019re looking to combine fantastic shopping with a touch of celebrity spotting. the Alps &#8211; an amazing family destination<\/p>\n<p>Actor Ben Affleck was spotted in the city in mid-October, promoting his latest movie.<\/p>\n<p>While there he managed to squeeze in some retail therapy with his wife, Jennifer Garner, stocking up on designer fashions at Chanel and Dior before visiting the upmarket Bonpoint department store for haute couture kids clothes.<\/p>\n<p>As the designer capital of the world, Paris is perfect for a weekend shopping break.<\/p>\n<p>Those with money to burn head for the Louvre-Tuileries district and the designer stores of Rue Saint-Honor\u00e9, Place Vendome and Rue Faubourg Saint-Honor\u00e9.<\/p>\n<p>Here, classic designers like Herm\u00e8s, Versace and Yves Saint Laurent rub shoulders with innovative independents like N15 and Colette, who sell chic housewares alongside high-end fashion, perfumery and cosmetics.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"European_Cities_To_Visit_and_Shops_to_Choose_From\"><\/span>European Cities To Visit and Shops to Choose From<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>More top designers line the Avenue Montaigne and Avenue des Champs-Elys\u00e9es, including the Chanel and Dior stores favored by Ben and Jennifer.<\/p>\n<p>The area is also home to a number of upmarket chain stores such as Zara.<\/p>\n<p>Further east, but still on the sophisticated Right Bank, lies the historic district of Le Marais.<\/p>\n<p>Dating back to the 13th century, the aristocratic heart of the city offers a totally unique shopping experience.<\/p>\n<p>European Cities To Visit is the Place des Vosges for antiques and artworks, or the trendy Rue de Charonne for hand-crafted leather goods and knitwear.<\/p>\n<p>The boutiques of Rue des Rosiers and Rue des Francs-Bourgeois showcase the next generation of young French designers, while wallpaper, ceramics and other housewares can be found on the Rue de Poitou.<\/p>\n<p>The chic Boulevard Beaumarchais is home to gleaming new boutiques and concept stores, while the Rue Vieille du Temple offers a host of places to eat and drink.<\/p>\n<p>Between the Rue Vieille du Temple and the Avenue des Champs-Elys\u00e9es lies Les Halles, which was once the city\u2019s marketplace.<\/p>\n<p>Today, it is a huge underground shopping mall, which together with the above-ground Rue de Rivoli houses numerous major chain stores.<\/p>\n<p>Saint-Ouen, to the north, is where you\u2019ll find the largest of the famous Parisian flea markets, while prestigious Art Nouveau department stores like Galeries Lafayette and Printemps can be found on Boulevard Haussmann, 3 km to the west.<\/p>\n<p>So far, we\u2019ve only mentioned the stores of the Right Bank, but cross the river and you will find the Bohemian shops and cafes of Saint-Germain-des-Pr\u00e9s, a newly-opened Christian Lacroix and even a Bon Marche department store.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Istanbul_Turkey\"><\/span>Istanbul, Turkey<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/exploring-the-beauty-of-turkey\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Turkish<\/a> cuisine has had a huge influence on all Balkan countries, and there is a reason to that &#8211; it&#8217;s simply irresistible!<\/p>\n<p>While you won&#8217;t find much good food in typical tourist beach cities like Marmaris and Alanya, Istanbul has it all; Mezes, Pide, Dolmas, Kisir, Baklava \u2013 the list goes on.<\/p>\n<p>But best of all is perhaps to sit down at a small cafe in one of the backstreets, order a cup of Turkish coffee and a plate of traditional turkish delights.<\/p>\n<p>The only difficulty would be to avoid the tourist traps which serve boring food at very high prices.<\/p>\n<p>Doy Doy is a place I would recommend, they serve great, filling food with a load of extra bread for cheap prices.<\/p>\n<p>Hungry yet?<\/p>\n<p>Which European Cities To Visit would YOU add to this list?<\/p>\n<h3>The Pub Of 600 Beers &#8211; Or Heaven!<\/h3>\n<p>Candice stumbles upon a Pub in France which claims to serve 600 different beers from around the world &#8211; how can she decide which one is best&#8230; beer tasting time?<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Understanding_Cafe_Culture_In_Europe\"><\/span>Understanding Caf\u00e9 Culture In Europe<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In many countries across Europe, the caf\u00e9 culture is an important part of peoples\u2019 everyday lives, and you can learn a lot about the locals and their traditions by simply exploring the caf\u00e9s as you visit each country.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll be amazed by just how much they differ from each other, and how much their traditions tells you about the people themselves&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.smugmug.com\/photos\/i-CNCfnXf\/0\/M\/i-CNCfnXf-M.jpg\" alt=\"Caf\u00e9 Culture Swedish &quot;Fika&quot;\" width=\"600\" height=\"399\"><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Understanding_Cafe_Culture_In_Europe-2\"><\/span>Understanding Caf\u00e9 Culture In Europe<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Swedish_%E2%80%9CFika%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>Swedish &#8220;Fika&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/how-to-budget-travel-sweden\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Sweden<\/a>, caf\u00e9 culture is a big deal, and a very important part of Swedish culture.<\/p>\n<p>The coffee breaks are called \u201cfika\u201d, and the coffee is always served with \u201cfikabr\u00f6d\u201d (coffee bread) which can be anything from Swedish cinnamon buns, sweet bread and biscuits &#8211; often all of them at once.<\/p>\n<p>Swedes have \u201cfika\u201d up to 4 times per day, and always at least once &#8211; they are among the world\u2019s heaviest coffee drinkers (behind Finland), but they don\u2019t drink espresso, rather large mugs of coffee.<\/p>\n<p>During fika, everyone in the family or all the colleagues at work gather and sit down together and take a long time to drink their coffee.<\/p>\n<p>Going for a fika is also one of the most common ways for friends to meet up, so if you\u2019re ever in Sweden and want to meet up with a friend or ask someone out on a more laid-back date, ask them out for a \u201cfika\u201d.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.smugmug.com\/photos\/i-W8pwS4Q\/0\/M\/i-W8pwS4Q-M.jpg\" alt=\"Caf\u00e9 Culture Italy's Quick Coffee\" width=\"600\" height=\"399\"><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Italys_Quick_Coffee\"><\/span>Italy&#8217;s Quick Coffee<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Unlike in Sweden where people take their time and can sit for hours with one coffee, Italians drink their coffee fast &#8211; and they do it standing up by a bar, sometimes (depending on what coffee they ordered) they even throw it back as a shot!<\/p>\n<p>Coffee is a huge part of Italian culture, but be aware that when you order a coffee, to them it means an espresso.<\/p>\n<p>I was so surprised to see that all the Italians often have for breakfast is a coffee and a biscuit or croissant, but that\u2019s they way they do it.<\/p>\n<p>They also only drink certain coffee at specific times of the day &#8211; they would drink a milk based coffee like Caff\u00e9 Latte or Cappuccino in the morning, but never after a meal or in the evening &#8211; try ordering one and see the look the waiter will give you..!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.smugmug.com\/photos\/i-BPnVVF9\/0\/M\/i-BPnVVF9-M.jpg\" alt=\"English Tea Caf\u00e9 Culture\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\"><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"English_Afternoon_Tea\"><\/span>English Afternoon Tea<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The tea drinking culture dates back many centuries in England, and while in the 18th century women were forbidden in the Coffee houses, they would instead have tea gardens where they would drink the tea outside, which was one of the few places women and men could meet freely.<\/p>\n<p>The afternoon tea became popular later on, and is today a big part of English culture, together with \u201cElevensies\u201d and \u201cHigh Tea\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>A typical afternoon tea usually include warm scones with clotted cream and jam, finger sandwiches, and of course a pot of tea &#8211; in London there has been an \u201cexplosion\u201d of afternoon tea houses, so there are loads of great places to check out.<\/p>\n<p>Most tea houses are in the city center, so if you really want to splurge and indulge in afternoon teas, stay close, and visit Hotels for central London hotels.<\/p>\n<p>If you prefer saving money on accommodation, I suggest you stay at a hotel in Earls Court London, as it\u2019s cheaper there.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.smugmug.com\/photos\/i-cDnfStw\/0\/O\/i-cDnfStw.jpg\" alt=\"Vienna's Coffee Houses\" width=\"600\" height=\"360\"><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Viennas_Coffee_Houses\"><\/span>Vienna&#8217;s Coffee Houses<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>I should start by mentioning that while the rest of Austria is more about the beer, their capital city <a href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/perfect-itinerary-long-weekend-in-vienna\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Vienna<\/a> has one of the oldest caf\u00e9 cultures in Europe.<\/p>\n<p>Visiting a Viennese Coffee House is a unique experience, and they are often referred to as the city\u2019s \u201cpublic living rooms\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Sitting down with a Gro\u00dfer Schwarzer and an appel strudel (or the famous Sacher Torte), at a Viennese Coffee houses is one of the best places for people watching and to embrace their cultural heritage, so much so that even Unesco included them on their Intangible Cultural Heritage List.<\/p>\n<p>There are many more countries in Europe and around the world that have a unique caf\u00e9 culture, which is your favorite?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/best-time-to-visit-italy\/\">Best Time to Visit Italy<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/best-festivals-in-europe\/\">Best Festivals in Europe<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/best-food-city-in-italy\/\">Best Food City in Italy<\/a> ~ Best Places to Eat in Italy<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/turin-italys-forgotten-food-capital\/\">Turin Italy<\/a> Forgotten Food Capital<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/best-time-to-visit-bergamo-italy\/\">Best Time to Visit Bergamo Italy<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/bergamo-the-city-milan-doesnt-want-you-to-visit\/\">Bergamo<\/a> &#8211; The City Milan Doesn&#8217;t Want You To Visit!<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/how-do-i-use-my-cell-phone-while-traveling-to-europe\/\">How Do I Use My Cell Phone While Traveling to Europe<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/best-time-to-visit-greece\/\">Best Time to Visit Greece<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/greek-nightlife\/\">Greek Nightlife<\/a> &#8211; Autumn And Summer Destinations<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/best-places-to-visit-in-france\/\">Best Places to Visit in France<\/a><\/p>\n<p>(photo credits: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/webgoddess\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">1<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/jayneandd\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/su-may\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">4<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/avlxyz\/745530631\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">1<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/secretlondon\/3086534509\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">2<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ozmafan\/5863586770\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">3<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/rishabh_m\/5157568814\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">4<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ykjc9\/3559394917\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">5<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/german-dining-etiquette-what-you-need-to-know\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">German Dining Etiquette<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>European Cities To Visit If You Love Food is a big part of travel &#8211; it&#8217;s a great way of understanding the culture, people and their traditions. European Cities To Visit below are worth visiting for more reasons than just &#8230; <a title=\"European Cities To Visit If You Love Food\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/5-european-cities-to-visit-if-you-love-food\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about European Cities To Visit If You Love Food\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":21486,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21434"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21434"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21434\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21486"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21434"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21434"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21434"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}