Food and cultureAustria
Vienna’s coffee houses: why you can sit for hours
Vienna’s coffee houses are listed as living heritage in Austria. Why a table comes with water and a newspaper, and how to stay as long as you like.
Food and culture
What people eat, how they eat it and what that says about a place.
Articles on this topic
Food and cultureItaly
Coperto in Italy: what it is and when you can refuse it
The coperto is a per-person charge in Italian restaurants. See when it’s legal, why Rome bans it and what to do if it wasn’t on the menu.
Food and cultureIceland
Why Iceland has had no McDonald's since 2009
The 2008 crash sank the Icelandic króna and doubled McDonald's costs there. The chain left in 2009, and one of its last meals became an attraction.
Food and cultureItaly
Why coffee costs less at the counter in Italy
In Italy, the same coffee can cost double if you sit down. The difference between the counter and the table, what an espresso costs and how to order.
Food and cultureJapan
Why Japan eats KFC for Christmas
In Japan, Christmas dinner for many families is a bucket of KFC. How a 1974 ad campaign became a tradition, and what to expect if you’re there in December.
Food and cultureSpain
Why Spaniards eat dinner so late
A 1940 decree moved Spain’s clocks, but daily habits stayed on solar time. Here’s why dinner in Spain rarely starts before 9 p.m.
