Europe's Most Iconic Culinary Rail Destinations
There’s a reason Americans count down the days until a trip to Europe, and it’s not just the history or architecture. It’s the food. The warm bread from a neighborhood bakery. The pasta you’re still thinking about months later. The pint poured in a centuries-old pub. And knowing the next great bite could be just a train ride away.
In Europe, the train and the table have always belonged together, connecting the greatest food cities and local traditions that give each stop its flavor.
Grain Train ranks Europe’s most iconic grain-based food and drink traditions, from handmade pasta and flaky pastries to local beers and storied breads, bringing together 10 destinations worth traveling for. With Trainline, travelers can follow the flavors across Europe, one train ride and one taste at a time.
On the Grain Train with Nicola Coughlan
Irish actress and foodie, Nicola Coughlan is hopping aboard the Grain Train to share the destinations and dishes she’d add to her own European itinerary.
“It makes me very proud to see Ireland near the top of the list, although anyone who has had brown soda bread in Galway or a pint of stout in Dublin may not be surprised,” said Coughlan. “I’d happily plan a trip around both, and the best part is that the train makes the journey between one brilliant food stop and the next so simple.”
Must-eat dishes
- Moran’s Oyster Cottage, Galway, for brown soda bread
- Nina Marylebone, London, for focaccia with parmesan butter
Favourite grain stops
- Lagana, Shoreditch, London
- Kehoe’s, Dublin
Next stops
- Dublin, for a pint of stout
- Paris, for a raspberry croissant
The Culinary Rail Index: Top Routes & Dishes to Explore
Europe has no shortage of food worth traveling for. But which grain-based traditions are truly worth the trip?
Trainline makes it easy to turn one great food stop into another, whether that’s paella in Barcelona before hopping on the train to San Sebastián for croquetas. To map out the stops worth making, Trainline partnered with Irish-born chef and Hell’s Kitchen winner Ryan O’Sullivan, putting 37 destinations across 11 countries to the test.
The Culinary Rail Index ranks Europe’s best stops for iconic grain-based dishes, considering rail accessibility, food and drink culture, historical significance and overall wow factor. From Bologna’s centuries-old tortellini en brodo and Naples’ world-famous pizza to Manchester’s barm cake, each dish tells a story about the ingredients and traditions that shaped its destination. Then comes one all-important question: Is it worth the trip?
The result: the Culinary Rail Index, ranking Europe’s most iconic grain-based traditions and revealing 10 stops worth planning a trip around.
European Taste Guides
Make the most of every stop with guides to the dishes worth ordering, the best bites for the train, local insider favorites and food you can’t get anywhere else! Have a look at our taste guides and pack an appetite!