3 underrated foodie escapes just beyond Czechia’s borders

Sure, poolside cocktails and city sightseeing all have their appeal. But when you get right down to it, the heart of any great getaway lies in what you eat and where you eat it.   

Pasta laced with Alpine herbs in cozy wellness kitchens. Freshly caught seafood from the glittering Adriatic coast. Farm-to-table bites served alongside panoramic views of Northern Italy. Drooling yet? From a long weekend just across the Czech border to a proper holiday along the seaside, here are a few of the not-so-obvious-but-very-tasty destinations expat foodies are exploring.

Upper Austria’s Mühlviertel region is a culinary haven, where fresh ingredients and active living are part of everyday life. Just a short trip from the Czech border, the Alpine wellness town of Bad Leonfelden blends fresh mountain air with an understated culinary scene.

Falkensteiner Hotel Bad Leonfelden offers direct access to this unique side of Austrian culture, one bite at a time. The adults-only, four-star hotel can help you arrange herb hikes, where you’ll learn about the town’s wild mint, yarrow, and thyme before tasting them in your salad or tea, or a guided culinary bike tour that will have you pedaling between local food producers, munching regional specialties like aged cheeses or sipping schnapps along the way.  

These local tastes are integral to the all-inclusive resort’s culinary footprint. Breakfast, lunch, and dinners are built on vital cuisine, a health-focused approach championing clean, locally sourced ingredients packed with flavor. Restaurants throughout the property feature locally inspired cuisine, such as mountain trout, herbal broths, house-made syrups, and sourdough breads made using centuries-old techniques. 

The property's newly-opened event sauna, the largest in the area, offers an additional sensory escape for guests. Its wellness stage combines entertainment, health, design and dining, with Hollywood-style features (think: interactive performances, movie-themed treatments, culinary infusions and calming aromas) which will change seasonally.

Trout fresh from glacier-fed streams, mountain-game stews with local mushrooms, speck, aged cheeses, earthy knödeln and spaetzle, and hearty polenta—a few more hours' journey into South Tyrol offers a delicious mix of Italian, Austrian, and Central European culinary traditions, flavors you won’t easily find anywhere else. 

The area is known for its high-quality, locally sourced ingredients and embraces sustainable, farm-to-table dining. This tradition is on full display at Falkensteiner Family Resort Lido, with its unique 12 Höfe sustainable gourmet concept. Dairy, speck, fruit, and grains come from regional producers, and the food is prepared right before your eyes: handmade pastas, crispy potato rösti, herb-roasted meats, and grilled seasonal veggies. 

This family-centric property strikes a rare balance, delivering top-tier regional dishes in a relaxed setting where no one will judge if your kid drops a fork or spills their juice. Young guests will also delight in on-site activities like the resort’s rooftop adventure park and tailored cooking classes.         

For adventure-hungry foodies with time to spare, Croatia's sun-drenched coastlines are not so far out of reach. Here, the sea typically dictates what lands on the table. Morning markets brim with gleaming sardines, anchovies, and sea bream destined for the grill with nothing more than olive oil, garlic, and a squeeze of lemon. Locals cherish crni rižot, a silky black risotto enriched with squid ink, and tender octopus salad tossed with parsley and onions keeps diners filled and refreshed on warm days.

Dive into Dalmatian coastal cuisine with a food tour that proves Croatia is a culinary landmark in the Balkans. Expect savory bites like soparnik (a local specialty), the chance to sample regional olive oil, excellent prosciutto and local cheeses, and a glass (or two) of Croatian wine, all while wandering through markets, Roman ruins, and hidden city gems. Come hungry.       

Staying at Punta Skala, Falkensteiner’s sprawling resort along the Adriatic, offers a getaway that is more than a traditional seaside holiday. Any time of year at this family-friendly resort, nestled on a scenic peninsula just 12 km from Zadar, budding foodies can explore MasterChef-themed cooking classes while embracing the brand’s zero-waste philosophy. On-site restaurants offer fresh catch-of-the-day options, grilled meats, and local delicacies, with stunning sea views.