A world of flavour

There’s no question that Thai food is one of the world’s top cuisines. It’s got all the flavours: sweetness, sourness, saltiness, and that famous Thai heat. Then there’s the street food, which deserves an article all of its own. While you’ve probably heard of som tum (papaya salad) and pad Thai, you might not be familiar with Southern Thai cuisine: rich, coconut-milk curries, fresh seafood, and eye-watering levels of chilli. For your next foodie adventure, head to Thailand’s southern islands for fresh tiger prawns and blue swimmer crab served up on tropical shores.

• What to eat: grilled seafood on the beach; gaeng phuu bai chaan (ultra-spicy yellow curry with betel leaves and crabmeat); and (for a taste of Thailand’s Chinese heritage) slow-braised pork belly.
• Where to stay: for pool villa bliss, powdery sands, and stunning sunset views, head to Avani+ Samui Resort on the southwestern tip of the island. Head to Essence restaurant for a punchy taste of Thailand with sparkling beach views.

Colombia’s capital is shaping up to be a Latin American culinary hotspot. On Bogota’s vibrant streets, every bite tells a story of local culture and tradition, with plenty of unique ingredients on the menu, including chiguiro, or capybara meat. Here, you can embark on an epic flavour odyssey daily, starting with richly roasted Colombian coffee and ending with the exotic sweetness of local fruits like lulo, guanabana and grenadilla. Bogota’s also got a thriving street food culture, so you can chow down while you’re on the go.

• What to eat: buñuelos, a ubiquitous doughnut-like street snack; chicharrones, fried pork rinds; and a local fruit salad, to cleanse the palate.
• Where to stay: The new Avani Royal Zona T Bogota Hotel celebrates the authentic flavours of Colombia on a daily basis. Tickle your taste buds onsite, or find a wealth of upscale dining options within moments of the hotel.

What is Sri Lankan cuisine, exactly? In a word: spice. Cinnamon, cumin, fennel, cardamom and more, alongside coriander, ginger, garlic and lime. Coconut curries are a big component, as are different types of rice, various forms of tuna, lentils and yams. The local flavour profile is as bold as it gets, with plenty of chilli if you’re brave enough, plus pickles, sweet chutneys and fiery sambals. For drinks, there’s arrack, a local alcohol distilled from coconut flowers, that pairs with citrus, bitters and yes, coconut water.

• What to eat: Sri Lankan crab or fish curry with coconut rice; kottu roti, a street food dish with chopped up roti and a mix of herbs, spices and meat (or veg).
• Where to stay: At Avani Kalutara Resort you can wake up to the sight of the village coconut plucker climbing beachside palm trees for toddy tapping (for arrack). Then in the evenings, you can toast the sunset with signature arrack cocktails at Karadiya Arrack Bar, complete with rhythmic beats from local drummers.

Botswanan food is hearty and delicious, and most of its ingredients are locally sourced. Think: slow-cooked stews (called swesaa) with beef, lamb, or goat and vetkoek pastries stuffed with minced meat. The beef in Botswana is world-renowned, so it’s worth getting your beef on at least once during your stay. A good old-fashioned braai, or barbecue, is the way to go. If plant-based is more your style, not to worry; Botswana’s not all about meat dishes. You’ll dig pap, a kind of corn porridge and jugo beans, which are a local staple, and packed with nutrients and fibre.

• What to eat: swesaa, with your choice of protein (try local mutton or goat); watermelon (the fruit is said to have originated in Botswana); vetkoek pastries.
• Where to stay: Avani Gaborone Resort & Casino is your all-in-one business-leisure stay, with the wilds of Gaborone Nature Reserve only a five-minute drive away. Hit Savuti Grill for African cuisine and Mahogany Restaurant and Bar for local grass-fed, organically reared beef steaks, cooked to your specifications.

With international influences from all over the world, the food scene in Dubai is as diverse as its inhabitants. In the mood for fine dining? You’re in the right place—Dubai has 14 Michelin-starred restaurants. Got a yen for street food? Take a walk down the Dubai Marina and snack your way through its bustling street food market. Or head to Al Fahidi neighbourhood to a hidden hole-in-the-wall kebab joint for a legendary local kebab. It’s rumoured that kings and celebrities alike have frequented the unassuming Al Ustad Special Kabab for nearly half a century.

• What to eat: the abovementioned kebab; knafeh, a traditional Arabic dessert; a camel burger or camel’s milk.
• Where to stay: Avani+ Palm View Dubai not only gives you dazzling views of Palm Jumeirah, but also serves up proximity to the JBR neighbourhood, as well as direct access to award-winning Lebanese cuisine at La Sirene restaurant.