Three terrific food cities to whet any appetite

Under $400 a Day

Where
Munich, Germany

Why
Forget the brash Bräuhaus and sauerkraut. A short jaunt from the beer halls and luxe shops of tourist-staple Altstadt (Old Town) is the Haidhausen district, brimming with chic nightclubs and a hip foodie scene strong on French influences and modern interiors. But don't leave Munich without sampling the vernacular Bavarian pretzel and Weissbier. Schneider Weisses Bräuhaus, in the City Center, has been brewing the local specialty since 1158 (7 Tal; 49-89-290-1380; tall beer, $5).

Room
A funky property in the trendy Altschwabing neighborhood, the Hotel la Maison has a solid restaurant with a California vibe (49-89-3303-5550; hotel-la-maison.com; doubles, $271–$302). The Cortiina, a stone's throw from the Viktualienmarkt, offers swank rooms with iPod docks (49-89-2422-490; cortiina.com; doubles, $350–$412).

Lunch & Dinner
In the Altstadt, L&I, a casual offshoot of the pricy Landersdorfer & Innerhofer, is French-inspired, from the cuisine to the small space that packs in business types (17 Ledererstrasse; 49-89-2323-7789; three-course lunch, $29). Makassar's menu is French with creole and tropical layers (25 Dreimühlenstrasse; 49-89-776-959; entrées, $25–$30).

Tip
Obligatory stops for epicures are the lively Viktualienmarkt food stalls, just beyond Marienplatz, and Dallmayr, Munich's 300-year-old gourmet grocer, famous for its coffees and caviar counter. Drop by the gourmet bar for a snack of champagne and rock oysters on ice (14 Dienerstrasse; 49-89-2136-0; dallmayr.de).

The Splurge
The Michelin three-star Residenz Heinz Winkler is in the bucolic Chiemgau region (49-8052-1799-0; residenz--heinz-winkler.de; doubles, $388–$450; prix fixes, $209–$233).

Under $300 a Day

Where
Portland, Oregon

Why
The Pearl District is the gastronomic center of a city that's serious about its food, from Northwestern cuisine, with its emphasis on local fish and produce, to more globally inspired dishes. Browse the famed Powell's City of Books during the day (1005 W. Burnside St.; 503-228-4651), and then grab a bite at Park Kitchen, known for its progressive comfort food (422 N.W. 8th Ave.; 503-223-7275; lunch entrées, $8–$14). Tip: Portlanders tend to dine on the early side.