The 35 Premier Summer Dining Establishments in 7 Cities, As Indicated By Apple Maps

From Paris to Port Costa, Apple Maps' latest function highlights culinary options that justify the journey.

Credit: Apple Inc.

In anticipation of peak summer travel, Apple Maps has unveiled a new Let’s Eat: Summer Travel Edition Guide, showcasing 35 exceptional restaurants selected by culinary writers from the U.S., UK, and France. It is designed for individuals who organize their travels based on their culinary preferences and locations.

The guide's seven writers offer a localized perspective on their respective cities' culinary landscapes, directing readers to establishments they are intimately familiar with, ranging from longstanding favorites to emerging venues.

These are not only popular reservations. They are locations suitable for planning an entire day or even a weekend.

From ferry excursions to cycling paths, each suggestion illustrates contemporary travel trends: brief distances, profound purposes, and invariably concluding with a wonderful culinary experience. The guide is now available in the Apple Maps application and incorporates insights from seven writers situated in the cities they represent: J. Kenji López-Alt from Seattle, Luke Tsai from San Francisco, Mike Sula from Chicago, Elizabeth Jaime from Miami, Shanika Hillocks from New York, Jonathan Nunn from London, and Céline Maguet from Paris. Their selections emphasize not only what is commendable but also what merits the diversion.

For Jaime, summer provides a unique opportunity to experience her hometown of Miami, devoid of snowbird congestion or delayed bookings. “It is the period when the snowbirds depart, reservations at sought-after restaurants become available, and one is no longer required to contend with extensive traffic to reach them,” she stated. “I perceive it as an ideal opportunity to explore unfamiliar areas and engage in novel experiences.”

Certain places are but a brief diversion from large urban centers: prime rib offered at a biker bar in Port Costa, California; wood-fired pizza concealed behind trees in Livingston Manor, New York; Southern family-style feasts along Michigan’s lakeside. Others demand more from a traveler: a boat excursion for fish and chips on Bainbridge Island, a train journey to a Michelin-starred, vegetable-centric restaurant in Normandy, or a cross-border retreat to the sandy-floored Gusty’s pub in Harbour Island, Bahamas.

However, in every instance, the reward is a meal — and an experience — that one would not discover without local knowledge.

López-Alt, the curator of the Seattle guide, perceives the region's summer dining experience as intrinsically linked to its landscape. “I allowed my appetite to direct me, leading me to various locations throughout the city and its environs to discover the culinary creations and dining preferences of the populace,” he stated. The locations he selected, he observes, exemplify meals that highlight Seattle’s natural splendor, in addition to several exceptional culinary offerings en route.

The Summer Travel Edition serves as a distinct view of the present, while the broader Let’s Eat series undergoes regular updates. It provides insight into the current priorities of regional food writers: local sourcing prioritized above spectacle, character favored over refinement, and meals that remain memorable long after the journey home.

Certain establishments are emblematic, such as Blue Hill at Stone Barns in New York and Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge in Milwaukee. Some are charmingly modest, such as a taco truck in a Safeway parking lot in Guerneville or a solo-operated bagel window in West Palm Beach.

All are instantly placed on Maps, accompanied by integrated descriptions and directions. You can preserve the comprehensive guide to your application, receive notifications upon the addition of new entries, or even create a personalized travel-oriented food map, inclusive of favorites, annotations, and sharing links.

The introduction further advances Apple’s comprehensive initiative to incorporate editorial food content into its Maps platform. Earlier this year, Apple unveiled visual indicators and filters for Michelin-starred, Green Star, and Bib Gourmand restaurants in designated locations, as well as the functionality for users to develop and personalize their own local eating guides.

This summer release is not focused on accolades. The enjoyment of the meal renders the journey worthwhile.

The Apple Maps Let’s Eat: Summer Travel Edition presents itself not merely as a compilation but more as an invitation, featuring a grilled chicken sandwich accompanied by steel-drum music in the Keys and a pink cocktail, created decades ago, still served from recollection in Milwaukee.

Hot Picks From Apple Map’s ‘Let’s Eat: Summer Travel Edition Guide’

Guerneville Taco Truck (Guerneville, California): The Russian River Valley has no shortage of twee wine bars and “elevated” sandwiches, but if I want something unfussy and delicious before my Muir Woods hike? I head to this taco truck parked in a Safeway parking lot. The hefty breakfast burritos are a thing of beauty, as is the well-griddled California burrito, stuffed with smoky carne asada, French fries, and sour cream. (Upgrade to the extra-large, and you can feed a family of four.) Cash only. — Luke Tsai

Proper Fish (Bainbridge Island, Washington): Proper Fish on Bainbridge serves the best fish and chips around: a flaky fillet the size of a cricket bat, golden-battered and fried to perfection. British-born chef Harvey Wolff brings his roots and Nosh food truck legacy to this sit-down spot. Thick-cut fries are crisp and deeply golden, and the minty mushy peas are bright and fresh. Everything’s hot, crunchy, and properly done. Worth the ferry ride. — J. Kenji López-Alt

The Kaatskeller (Livingston Manor, New York): A weekend trip to Livingston Manor isn’t complete without pizza at Kaatskeller. Nestled under the trees, this wood-fired spot delivers thin, crisp pies in an idyllic backyard setting. Whether you’re road-tripping or just escaping the city heat, once you’re here, you’re on vacation. Grab a cold local beer, keep it classic with a margherita, or go for my vote: pepperoni with hot honey. Then settle into a long, lingering evening. — Shanika Hillocks