4 Ways I Find New Places

I'm always on the hunt for new restaurants, bakeries, cafe's, bars, wineries, ice cream places... you name it I wanna try it! Check out the ways I research new places.

As you can imagine, I’m always looking for new places to try. I just love trying things that are different. Things that are unconventional or special, like coffee flights, churro waffles or drink tree’s. I want to experience all that food has to offer. There are a number of ways I find new places:

1. Maps

The way I find most of the places I eat at is kind of strange. What I usually do is go to my maps and look up the area I want to go to. Then I check out the places there. I go on their websites to see their menus, and then I pull up their Instagram to see how the food looks. That’s the ultimate test. Then I’ll give the options and my synopsis to whoever I’m going with: “this place looks like it has really good cocktails, but seems expensive. If we want Italian, Mario's looks decent and has outdoor seating.”

There are a lot of variables. Sometimes it depends on location, other times I might choose a place that's not so expensive. It all depends on what I'm looking for and the group I'm with. Maps is a great place to start seeing what's around!

2. Search

I’m also a frequent flyer on Google and Pinterest. I’ll just search for what I’m looking for, whether that be a Thai place in Austin or ice cream in Los Angeles. I'll type in what I want and the area I’m looking to find it in. Often I will have no idea what type of food I want, and I’ll search for the best restaurants in the area. Then I’ll pull up other food blogs and see what they suggest! I will especially do this if I’m traveling to a new city or country. It also helps to see what the local cuisine is in that location, and what I should be looking to try!

3. Ask

Another tip is to ask! If I’m going somewhere new I will ask my friends, family and coworkers for recommendations. Knowing someone who can give a review makes a huge difference. Another tip is asking the locals. Usually they’ll give you candid advice and will point you to some unique local finds. When visiting Portland, ME we asked a bartender where the best place to grab a burger was, and he did not disappoint. We went to a cute local joint and had the most delicious meal!

4. Instagram

And of course so many of my finds come from Instagram. Those are usually by happenstance. A blogger or friend will post something and I will decide I have to try it for myself. I don’t typically seek places to try through Instagram, but if I see something good I will of course add it to my list.