Eat Unexpectedly Fresh, Tasty Food At These Roadside Shops In Europe, Per Rick Steves

Finding fresh food while on the road is surely the stuff of dreams, although the U.S. does have some fantastic road trip gas stations. Finding quality eats on the road in Europe isn't impossible, at least according to Rick Steves, one of America's most prolific European travelers. Steves claims that European highways are home to some unexpectedly fresh and mouthwateringly tasty food stops, with the usual roadside culinary catastrophes nowhere in sight. When you need to refuel while on the road, you can do a lot worse than Europe's rest stops.

In a video posted on his blog, Steves shows one of his tour groups tucking into a pasta and salad buffet in a restaurant overlooking the Italian autostrada. It's a far cry from the chips and candy road trippers might begrudgingly expect. Steves and co were likely at an Autogrill, a brand that owns a large proportion of the rest stops in Italy, to the point where Autogrill is to Italian roadside restaurants as Kleenex is to tissues — a byword for them all.

While the food and its quality depend somewhat on where you stop, you can generally get excellent coffee, fresh, flaky pastries, richly flavored main meals, crunchy paninis, roasted meats, and crisp salads. The array of appetizing, healthy options is one of several things that might shock Americans at European gas stations.

Autogrills are generally excellent, but what if you're not in Italy? Luckily, tasty gas station food will be available wherever you explore in Europe. Spain is one of the best countries in Europe for an unforgettable road trip, and it is easy to understand why. The scenery is stunning, the prices are low, and the food on the highways can be pretty darn good. Now, we're not saying it's all gravy, but you can find some gems.

Record Go has put together a list of places where you can find good eats on Spain's major arteries. Options include Finca La Estacada on the road from Madrid to Valencia, where you can find a whole winery attached to the restaurant, while there is also a unique Harley-Davidson 40 miles outside of Badajoz in the southwest, where American specialties are served. Few have more experience finding good food on the road than truckers, and in Spain, they're sharing their knowledge. Wtransnet created a map of many recommended restaurants — just zoom in and find one where you're going.

Greece also has its fair share of great roadside shops, especially on the mainland. Rest stops on Greek motorways tend to be fairly modern, with several chain restaurants offering fresh food. Highlights include Flocafe, where you can get freshly brewed coffee, and Gregory's, which has baked goods, sandwiches, and salads ready to devour.

If you are traveling through France, Relais Routiers (a chain of truck stops) has made headlines for its excellent and reasonably priced food, with BBC singing its praises in 2023. You should be able to get a fixed menu with starter, main, and dessert for under $17, and the food will be prepared fresh and likely come from the region. There's also plenty of alcohol available, so don't be surprised to see drivers savoring a glass of wine over lunch and then getting back behind the wheel. Obviously, don't follow suit, but the stops are a great place to stock up on quality wine for the end of your journey.

Finally, motorway services (as they're called) in the U.K. may be a pleasant surprise. The food outlets are pretty consistent: M&S Simply Food is the way to go if you want something quick. Pre-packed sandwiches, salads, fruits, and vegetables are all available. However, many service stations offer much more. Which? rated the best stops in the U.K., and found stops serving home-cooked fish and chips, steak and ale pie, and local sausages. Many have "farm shops" attached, where fantastic local produce is available.