One of the pleasures of travelling is experiencing different cuisines. The joy of food is universal, but less universal are the rules of eating. This can lead to discomfort if we don’t understand that other cultures simply observe different table customs to us.
Here are some tips on how to observe table manners in 6 cities around the world.
Examples of Table Manners from Around The World
1. Happy Eating in Addis Ababa
In Ethiopia, individual plates are deemed needless, so folks share from one big communal plate. Hand-feeding each other is commonplace too. Mealtimes are joyous occasions in Addis Ababa, so you will be expected to relax and join in the joyous, noisy cacophony.
2. Catering Customs in Copenhagen
In Denmark, it is customary not to wolf down the last piece of food. Instead, half it and nibble on it until there are only crumbs left to demonstrate enjoyment until the very end. And the Danes don’t ‘do’ milk in their tea. So don’t even bother asking in Copenhagen.
3. Social Graces in Seoul
Respect for one’s elders is extremely important in many countries but especially so in Seoul. In South Korea, the oldest person at the table will be encouraged to begin eating first as a sign of respect and children shouldn’t touch the kalbi or fish dishes until the parents have taken the first bite.
4. Dining Culture in Bucharest
In Romania, the oldest woman at the table will usually be served first and in Greece, the elderly members of the family receive their food before everyone else. So, politely await your turn – unless you actually are the oldest woman at the table.
5. Old Habits in New Delhi
If you were to be invited for a meal in a traditional home in New Delhi, the male of the house would be served first. Indeed, his wife may not sit down to eat until everyone else is either well underway or finished.
It is also customary in some parts of India for the head of the household to make offerings. No one will begin until the food is first offered topitru devathas (forefathers) and a ball of rice may be left for ancestors.
6. Attending a Meal in Moscow
In Moscow, you would be expected to present your host with a gift. But make sure it isn’t an expensive one. Gifts will not be accepted if they cannot be reciprocated. And heaven forbid a delighted diner displays their pleasure by licking the knife or fork in Russia. Muscovites consider this a must-not.
Previous postYou might also like to read
20 best hotels in Ikeja near the airport (MM1 & MM2)
Reading Time: 12 minutesIf you’re looking for hotels in Ikeja near airport, it’s usually because you have a flight to catch or arriving late at MM1 (international), MM2 (domestic), and you don’t want Lagos to humble you with traffic on Airport Road. This article rounds up the 20 best hotels around the Murtala Muhammed Airport axis and breaks […]
10 Global Family-Friendly Vacation Destinations in 2026
Reading Time: 12 minutesLet’s be honest: planning a family holiday from Lagos can feel like a second job. Between school calendar, visa issues, and making sure your toddler won’t lose it on a 10-hour flight out of MMIA, you need Family-Friendly Vacation Destinations that are worth the stress. This guide breaks down the best family-friendly vacation Destinations in […]
African Countries with the Best Jollof
Reading Time: 5 minutesMost likely, if you’re Nigerian, you already have an opinion on the great Jollof Rice debate, and you’re sure that your country cooks the best. But travel has a way of softening our culinary pride. Stepping beyond borders, tasting Jollof in different African kitchens, you begin to see that this dish is more than just rice […]