We’re taking our time traveling this year. After a fitful 2022, when a wave of pent-up wanderlust crashed over hot destinations, 2023 seems like a chance to give up revenge travel and reset. That means leisurely exploring with no set plan, to-do list be damned. In picking 2023’s dining destinations, we thought not just about hit lists and must-try dishes (although those are important, too), but also the aspects of meals that make them feel immersive: the people, environment, culture, and history behind foods that force us to pause and tempt us from preplanned paths. Whether it’s the acidic hit of banana ketchup that sparks dialogue about Filipino food history or the endemic tītī seabird harvested by Māori hunters that has aided a conversation about Indigenous culinary roots, these elements reveal deeper context to visitors who hang around long enough to taste it. These 11 destinations encourage us to not just stuff ourselves until we’re full, but to eat, drink, and travel fully. Which one of these destinations are you adding to your 2023 bucket list? Tap the link in our bio for more. Art 🎨 1: Ryan Duggan (@mr_ryanduggan) 📷 2: Chai Pani (@chaipani) 📷 3: Austin Bush (@bushaustin)