White truffles in St. Moritz in December, stone crabs in Miami from October, red prawns in Sóller in spring, Sylt oysters in autumn. A year of dinners, month by month.
January and February
St. Moritz at full season: Ecco, IGNIV and truffle pasta on Corviglia. Dubai and Miami at their most pleasant, with stone crab claws at Joe’s. Vienna’s ball season fills the first district.
March and April
Easter opens the coasts: Marbella, Mallorca and Ibiza wake up, the Sóller red prawn season begins and Paris has its best light. Asparagus arrives in Germany and Austria, and every menu from Villa Merton to Steirereck celebrates it.
May and June
The Monaco Grand Prix in May triples prices; June is the month for the Riviera. Munich’s beer gardens open, Hamburg’s Elbchaussee terraces fill, Sylt starts its summer and Ibiza has its best weeks before the August crowds.
July and August
Beach season everywhere, from Es Cavallet to the Rantum dunes. Paris half closes in August and the palaces stay open; Frankfurt’s starred kitchens take their holidays; New York is hot and its restaurants are easy to book.
September and October
The finest months in most of this guide: New York’s season starts, Sylt oysters return, the Munich Oktoberfest fills every table, Málaga and Marbella have empty terraces and warm water, and the white truffle appears in Piedmont, Zurich and St. Moritz.
November and December
Game season in Germany, Austria and London, with The Ledbury at its best; Miami and Dubai open their terraces; St. Moritz and the Alps begin the winter season in mid-December, and the grand hotels of Paris, Vienna and Zurich dress for Christmas.
Try it
Gourmet Weekend PlannerPick a city, one to three days, your pace and your budget.City DuelParis against New York, Marbella against Ibiza, Munich against Vienna: compare two dining cities on fine dining, scene, seafood, steak, views, value and wine..Frequently asked questions
Which month is best overall?
September: warm coasts, open kitchens, the start of the truffle and oyster seasons and the return of the city crowds.
Which weeks should I avoid?
Grand Prix week in Monaco, Oktoberfest in Munich unless it is the point, August in Paris and the big trade fairs in Frankfurt and Düsseldorf.
When do the seasonal restaurants open?
Coastal restaurants from Easter to October; St. Moritz from mid-December to March and again in summer.
