Sightsee

Pakistan is a dry nation, with alcohol never served in any restaurants. Even full-fledged hotels like Pearl Continental Lahore offer no wine or beer in their eateries or for room service - instead, you'll find gin and beer only in PC's Rumors Bar, tucked discreetly on the hotel's second floor, ou...

With its own indoor courtyard, Cosmos Coffeehaus is the perfect place in Nepal's ancient city of Bhaktapur for escaping the crowds and relaxing over a contemporary honey-laced latte in classic surroundings.

Priding itself on Nepali coffee beans cultivated in local hill farms, Himalayan Java Coffee has branches across this South Asian nation - but its most distinctive venue may be at Patan Durban Square, nestled in a heritage building protected by the country's Department of Archaeology.

Hoppers are Sri Lanka's quintessential snack, savoury and sweet appam that can be relished throughout the day - our favourite is the soft-boiled egg hopper, paired with lunumiris spicy sambal paste.

Voted best Bangladeshi restaurant in a 2015 poll by the country's largest English-language newspaper, Star Kabab is a worthwhile stop in Dhaka for hearty, flaky paratha, accompanied by an array of meaty curries and dal.

The Dude abides, in Iceland's capital, of all places: Inspired by the Coen brothers movie, Reykjavik's Lebowski Bar is a cool diner that dishes out a wide variety of American burgers and White Russian beverages in a setting with bowling-alley vibes.

Budapest's 'ruin bars' - bringing new life to formerly derelict buildings of the old Jewish Quarter - are among the Hungarian capital's most distinctive destinations; even if you're not a drinker, it's well worth soaking in the atmosphere at these colourfully vibrant settings. Szimpla Kert is hai...

Budapest's Getto Gulyas is all about the comfortingly soulful stews that have nourished & nurtured generations of Hungarians, revived for this 21st century. Try the rooster testicle & comb stew, with smooth, tender textures, served warm & richly gravied.

Lamprais is one of Sri Lanka's best-loved forms of comfort fare, originally introduced by the Dutch Burgher community in the 18th century - rice is boiled with stock and baked with a variety of ingredients, including meat curries and ash plantains, served all wrapped up in banana leaves for a car...

Wenchang chicken, fed on coconut and peanut bran, and Wenquan goose, fattened on bran, rule the roost for poultry pleasure in Hainan, firm and fleshy to the bite, bearing the full-bodied flavour of fowl in each chew.

Pod Temida offers a step back in time to communist-era Poland - this is one of Krakow's enduring 'milk bars,' which once served as popular public cafeterias that offered cheap but nourishing fare. Expect authentic, no-nonsense Polish grub, like steamed potato dumplings and buckwheat groats in hea...

Karak spiced tea shops are ubiquitous in Qatar's capital, Doha, serving up the Gulf country's milky equivalent of masala chai. Since staying hydrated is essential here, other popular thirst-quenching treats include avocado shakes and pomegranate juice.

Road-tripping through Iceland is a long, laborious affair, with hundreds of kilometres to travel. If you're heading through the highlands, the Hrauneyjar Centre can be a convenient place to refuel with Icelandic lamb soup, battered fish and local beer.

Camel meat has long been one of Oman's traditional proteins and remains popular today in recipes like qabuli (essentially similar to rice preparations across the Gulf). Fun fact: Camel is reputedly healthier and lower in cholesterol compared to lamb; it's a little less gamy too (think venison) th...

For a Milanese meal that reflects well on Italian produce, check out Ricette Tricolori for blueberry risotto (for the vegetarians) and patties made of pure Chianina beef (for the meat lovers). Don't forget an aperitif or two, concocted with bitter Campari and Martini Rosso.