Discovering a new destination is much simpler when you’re a child. I remember holidays to Italy visiting family, where the highlight was something as small as an ice cream sandwich from a beachside mini market, or a bottle of succo di frutta pulled from a coolbox and handed to me, its unfamiliar label a reminder that I was somewhere else. It’s a sort of spontaneity that’s hard to come by as an adult, when the experience of travel is undoubtedly more prescribed. Where to eat, what to see, where to stay, all mapped out (most likely, thanks to social media) before you have even boarded the plane.
That said, the joy of getting to grips with a new place through something seemingly banal, has never left me. In fact, I think I have quite the knack for it. On a trip to Corsica a few years ago, I became completely obsessed with the Algerian sauce served alongside a late-night French taco, to the point that the next day I made sure to track it down in the local supermarket. On a trip to Turks and Caicos, a slightly chicer enthusiasm for watermelons, always stacked high at the front of the island’s wildly expensive supermarkets, kept me occupied. IMO, that kind of fixation trumps the benefits of recommendations. The kind that either starts, or ends, in the aisle of a supermarket, scanning shelves for something you recognise, or something you do not.
It’s funny because the idea of food shopping at home feels like something to get through as quickly as possible. But abroad, it becomes a way of decoding a place through its shelves, its snacks, its small, everyday details. The Algerian sauce, for example, was a quiet introduction into the layered histories of the Mediterranean, shaped by migration, colonial ties, and the blending of cultures. Meanwhile, the watermelons, stacked high with their eye-watering price tags, were a quick—and tasty— insight into import logistics and the realities of island living.
Okay, admittedly, not everyone is interrogating the foodstuffs to that extent—simply enjoying the novelty is just as rich an experience, which is why it seems to be growing in popularity. Grocery store tourism, as it has been dubbed, has become a habit, and increasingly, a shared one. TikTok and Instagram are filled with late-night snack hauls and supermarket finds, from biscotti and Baci chocolates in Italy to instant ramen in South Korea and the endlessly inventive Kit Kat flavours in Japan.
On side with grocery store tourism is a Hilton 2026 report on travel trends: 77% of travellers say they enjoy browsing local food aisles abroad as a way to experience a destination more authentically. It’s no wonder. Behind the sliding doors of a local supermarket is something closer to the real rhythm of a place. Shelves of hyper-specific snacks, regional drinks and everyday staples offer a kind of unfiltered insight that even the best restaurant cannot quite replicate. There is no booking, no queue, no dress code. You can show up when you want, pick up something unfamiliar, and at worst walk away with a bag of crisps you do not like. At best, you leave with a new understanding of a place.
Now, admittedly, the local bodega or chain supermarket will do the trick. But for those who, despite my argument, still feel a trip to a grocery store is not quite worth their time on holiday, a list of the boujier grocery destinations around the world might pique your interest. These are still grocery stores, but with enough history or atmosphere to justify making a day of it (yes, a day). And there are a few more general spots thrown in for good measure too.
Fortnum & Mason, London
Large supermarkets like Tesco and Sainsbury’s keep the nation running but Fortnum & Mason is something else entirely. It’s more like a well-stocked townhouse. Opened in 1707, it has long supplied the British royal family, earning its nickname as “the Queen’s grocer.” Some say it was behind the invention of the Scotch egg, which is quite a tacky but quintessentially British buffet food, and exactly the kind of anecdote that proves my point about grocery stores as cultural markers. The interiors reflect the institution’s more polished status, with counters overflowing with jewel-toned preserves and wrapped teas. There are five locations across London—go to the flagship in Piccadilly circus, which is the most beautiful.
Peck, Milan
This understated but over the top deli opened in 1883 by Prague-born charcutier Francesco Peck, building its reputation on smoked meats. It once supplied the House of Savoy, which tells you everything about its standing. Today, the Via Spadari flagship feels less like a shop and more like a polished food hall, where counters are lined with truffles, cheeses and neatly arranged cuts of prosciutto, and it is perfectly acceptable to stop for a glass of wine mid-shop.
7-Eleven Mt. Fuji, Japan
Now this one is a little less fancy but no less iconic. 7-Elevens across Japan are legendary for onigiri, sandwiches and late-night ramen, and have become unlikely tourist attractions, fuelled by viral snack hauls and travellers treating them as must-visit stops. The branch at Lake Yamanaka is special because it frames Mt. Fuji. It almost looks fake. Grab a steaming bowl of noodles, head to the picnic tables and enjoy a convenience‑store meal with a postcard view.
La Grande Épicerie de Paris, France
This stylish legend opened in 1923 as part of Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche. While I’m obsessed with the viral, handmade Maison Bordier butter, the two locations at rue de Sèvres and rue de Passy offer much more. Think 1,000 types of cheese and ready-made dishes that genuinely rival restaurant quality. Much of it is prepared on-site, which explains why the food feels so fresh, and why people can’t resist stopping for lunch as well as doing a full shop. It is the ultimate haute-cuisine upgrade from your everyday Monoprix.
KaDeWe (Sixth Floor), Berlin
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One of Berlin’s most impressive food destinations is on the top floor of department store KaDeWe. Here, a pilgrimage is in order for Kobe beef, truffles, and macarons. True to German form, everything is meticulously organised, whether you’re browsing what seems like hundreds of cheeses or simply taking in the sheer scale of it all. What makes KaDeWe particularly special, however, is the way shopping turns into an experience. In between browsing, you can stop for sushi right in the middle of the floor in what feels a little like a sixth floor culinary amusement park.
Julius Meinl am Graben, Vienna
Julius Meinl am Graben is one of Vienna’s most historic and refined gourmet stores. Following its 2021 renovation, it now offers more than 17,000 products, from everyday essentials to carefully curated delicacies. A particular stand out is the selection of over 500 types of chocolate, as well as its long-standing reputation for impeccable service. Staff will guide you through the store with a level of attention that feels wonderfully old-fashioned. And once your done browsing, you can head up to the terrace and enjoy coffee prepared in one of 35 different ways—a detail that, if you ask me, makes it worth a visit.
Zabar’s, New York City
If Fortnum & Mason is our polished Londoner, you can think of Zabar’s as a typical New Yorker. Open since 1934 and still run by the same family, it’s a true Upper West Side institution, built on decades of New York’s immigrant food traditions. It’s loud, crowded and unapologetically chaotic, with queues snaking around counters piled high with smoked salmon, bagels and tubs of cream cheese. Don’t expect a quiet browse. Be prepared to elbow your way to the front and order with confidence. The coffee is legendary, the staff move quickly, and the whole place feels like a snapshot of the city, slightly overwhelming but entirely worth it.
Erewhon, Los Angeles
Depending on your stance, you’ll either love or hate Erewhon, which started as a small health food shop but has now become a temple to Los Angeles wellness culture. It’s a grocery store but it feels like a social experiment. Smoothies are $20 and perfectly arranged organic produce are part of the appeal. It’s easy to be slightly cynical about it, but doing so might make you miss the point. Erewhon is a genuine reflection of how a certain part of LA lives, shops and eats. Come for the novelty, stay for the people-watching.
Pescaderías Coruñesas, Madrid
Describing Pescaderías Coruñesas as a masterclass in Spanish seafood is a cliché but apt. Operating since 1911, it has built its reputation on sourcing some of the best fish and shellfish in the country, with counters that feel closer to a market than a shop. Everything is handled with precision, from whole fish laid out on ice to staff who will prepare your order exactly as you need it, reflecting the importance of quality ingredients, seasonality and a respect for produce, which make up Spanish food culture.
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