Marea by Rausch
The famous chefs, the Rausch brothers, certainly know how to pick a spot for a restaurant, and for Marea they chose an ideal setting just outside the city walls by the impressive Clock Tower gate. From the outdoor tables beside the Pegasus dock, where ships both modern and old come to rest, you can admire the domed roofs of Cartagena’s churches and the palm trees swaying in the sea breeze. The vibe of the inside dining area is minimalist and the ocean-colored decoration is refreshing. As the name suggests, the menu is based on seafood, with ceviche, seafood rice dishes, and the traditional Colombian fish platter that are all impeccably executed with the freshest ingredients and spectacular flavors.

Noo Cachaçaria
Noo Cachaçaria forms the newest and most exciting part of the ever-growing foodie oasis in the otherwise unremarkable Praça da Bandeira neighborhood (nearby neighbors Aconchego Carioca and Bar da Frente are also worth a visit if you're in the area). The bar offers a great range of cachaças and derived drinks, but the exceptional bar food should be your motivation to visit. Tied for first place are the Bolinhos de Cucuruqui and the Torresmo. The former are crunchy, chewy, gooey balls of tapioca, cheese and linguiça (sausage). The latter are the best pork rinds you'll find in the city - a near identical snack to the sublime torresmo served in São Paulo's legendary Mocotó.

Espírito Santa
Chef Natacha Fink grew up in Manaus (in the heart of the Amazonian region of Brazil) and gives a wide range of traditional Amazonian dishes a modern treatment that is both light and accessible. Seafood and vegetarian dishes tend to be the best orders, with the fantastic freshwater crab claw entrée (Patinhas de caranguejo) being a highlight. Anyone looking for a boozy pick-me-up should try the Cuia de Pajé, a feisty cocktail served in a traditional gourd and packed full of Amazonian spices reputed for their aphrodisiac properties.

La Veronese
Neapolitan pizza purists may frown, but for the rest of us, the light, saucer-sized pizza from ancient Ipanema bakery La Veronese is a thing of beauty and comfort. The puffy dough can rise two inches or more, but it is light as a feather and deeply satisfying. The topping is pure simplicity. A smattering of Parmesan, a generous serving of tomato sauce, a sprinkle of oregano and a touch more cheese. Trays of these simple pizzas disappear almost as fast as they appear from the open bakery behind the counter.

Notre Maison
Nested on a narrow backstreet in the heart of Lyon’s old town sits Notre Maison. It is classically French, with historic touches that give it an air of nobility and weathered class. The name translates into English as ‘Our House’ and this theme seems to run throughout your experience eating at this restaurant. The place is unpretentious and unassuming, wooden tables and worn décor, with friendly staff and a cozy atmosphere. And the food is equally homely, with an array of hearty meat dishes and solid sized portions that will satisfy even the hungriest of diners. It doesn’t have much in the way of choice for vegetarians, though it does offer a select few fish dishes. The menu does clearly state: “Salad is for rabbits” – so it’s not entirely surprising, though. But if you are an esteemed carnivore, this is most certainly the place to come and enjoy some of the finest meat dishes the city has to offer!

Park Bench Deli
Park Bench Deli serves over-the-top, decadent, packed-to-the-roof sandwiches - the kind the chefs wanted to eat. Their Hoagie rolls are hollowed out for a better filling-to-bread ratio. Choose from Cubano pulled pork, Philly cheese steak, chicken katsu, and even a sweet peanut butter and jelly creation with cornflake-crusted bread. But the Kong Bak Bahn Mi is the king: thick slabs of pork belly braised for a full 24 hours are paired with crisp pickles of daikon, carrot, cucumber and lime leaf, and then topped with crushed peanuts and coriander. It is an absolute blast of flavors and textures.

Kaffana
Adelaide has a little piece of Serbian heaven in the form of a bar and restaurant. Meat Kaffana, all pun intended! The Serbian eatery celebrates family, friends and delicious hearty food designed to be shared. All mains are served with a side of Mumma’s famous bread, potato and cabbage salad. Mumma’s bread might not look like much, but it’s so crisp and toasty and so damn warm! Quickly slather the carby gems with the accompanied soft butter and watch it melt into the fluffy air pockets. But, go slow with the bread because you’ll want to have it with the meats. “Nenad’s specialty” char-grilled baby back ribs are dry rub marinated and finished with a parsley and garlic glaze. They aren’t the “fall off the bone” kind, but they are just as good with a delectable smokiness that permeates the meat. Tender, juicy and incredibly flavourful, a common trait with all the food that’s served here. Kaffana's menu is inspired by years of home cooking and family feasts. You’ll really feel and sense the homely atmosphere through the food and simple presentation. No frills, no worries. Bring your family and friends, the more the merrier, and wear some stretchy pants as you’ll be rolling on out of there! As for drinks, they’ve got you covered too. Beer, wine, cocktails, you’re in good hands as Kaffana transforms itself to a lively bar come nightfall.

Dong Ji Char Kway Teow
The old man at Dong Ji fries a mean char kway teow (fried rice noodles) and he does so with great attention and deliberation - one plate at a time (or two or three portions at most). His is the more savoury and dry version, much like Penang char kway teow, rather than the sweetish and moist type you'll find elsewhere. The wok hei and umami factor is incredible. Go for the S$4 portion with extra ingredients and your plate will be topped with so much seafood, Chinese sausage, crunchy bean sprouts and chives you'll hardly be able to see the noodles.

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
Australia can be grateful that Heston decided to embrace their south-eastern city of Melbourne; firstly with the opening of The Fat Duck back in 2014 and now with the restaurant’s transformation into the equally as iconic ‘Dinner with Heston Blumethal’. In fact, such is the standing of this man that his restaurant is often referred to as simply “Dinner”, which now encompasses dual locations in both London and Melbourne. The Tipsy Cake c1810, is light and fluffy and is served with a decadent portion of pineapple, cooked on a spit roast. The brioche based cake, soaked in a brandy caramel (sauternes custard sauce), is an outstanding triumph. Does it get any better or any more indulgent in terms of dessert? No. It is a decadence overdrive and must be experienced to be understood.

Wexler's Deli
Wexler’s Deli on Santa Monica Blvd, CA, is something rather special. Serving up classic Jewish fare, in an authentic family-run deli which they say stands for tradition, craftsmanship and quality. They hand craft their own pastrami and smoked salmon using old-school methods and their cured meats and fish are smoked in-house over applewood. You can tell the level of care and attention that has been put into this place and the quality of the produce they offer reflects this. Self-described as Jewish soul food, the whole experience of coming here feels legit. From the hand sliced meats to the barrel fermented pickles, this place is a joy to visit and will satisfy on every level.