Smartphones became our daily companions a long time ago. The shift happened gradually, then all at once, and now reaching for your phone is the automatic response to almost any need.
Want to check the weather, message a friend, or pay a bill? Your phone handles it before you've even thought about an alternative.
They've opened the door to other activities in ways that keep growing. Casino gaming is a strong example. MrQ slots and other types of games have become hugely popular with fans of this activity, offering far more convenience than any land-based casino ever could. (You play when you want, where you want, without planning a trip or dressing for the occasion.)
Yet some things are better enjoyed IRL. Now, we appreciate the irony of telling you this in an online article, but nothing beats the feel of a real print magazine in your hands – the smell of the fresh ink and the texture of the paper stock.
Whether you're browsing during a lunch break, planning a dinner party, or simply curious about what's happening in the culinary world, these publications deliver ideas, recipes, and knowledge that make you a better cook and a more curious eater. The best ones are genuinely worth your time. Here are the titles that stand out right now…
Bon Appétit
Bon Appétit has been one of the most recognisable names in food media for decades, and it still earns that reputation today. The magazine manages to be both aspirational and practical. It shows you food that excites you while also giving you recipes you can realistically attempt at home. The balance is rare, and they get it right consistently.
What sets Bon Appétit apart from competitors is the voice. The writing feels like it comes from people who genuinely love eating, not just professionals hitting deadlines.
Restaurant coverage, ingredient deep-dives, and cultural food stories all get equal attention, which means every issue has something worth reading regardless of your specific interests. The digital edition works beautifully on mobile, making it easy to save recipes and return to them later.
Saveur
Saveur takes a different approach from most food magazines; it treats food as a window into culture, history, and place, a true global guide to cooking. Where other titles focus heavily on technique or trend-chasing, Saveur sends writers and photographers into the world to document how people actually eat. The results are some of the most compelling food journalism published anywhere.
A single issue might take you through a traditional market in Oaxaca, a family-run trattoria in Bologna, and a fishing community on the coast of Portugal. Each story is rooted in real food made by real people, which gives the magazine a depth that purely recipe-focused publications rarely achieve. For anyone who sees cooking as connected to travel and culture rather than just performance, Saveur is essential reading.
The photography is outstanding. Every image feels intentional and honest, which makes browsing the magazine a pleasure even before you've read a single word.
Decanter
Wine can feel intimidating to newcomers and endlessly fascinating to enthusiasts, and Decanter serves both groups well. It's the UK's leading wine magazine, and the quality of its tasting notes, producer profiles, and regional guides reflects decades of serious expertise.
The magazine covers every major wine region in the world, from Bordeaux and Burgundy to emerging areas in South America, South Africa, and Eastern Europe. Expert contributors write with authority but without arrogance, which keeps the content accessible. Decanter also runs one of the most respected wine competitions globally, and its results coverage helps readers find quality at different price points.
Beyond wine, Decanter makes room for spirits, food pairing, and the business side of the drinks industry. It's a complete resource for anyone who takes what's in their glass seriously.
Food & Wine
Food & Wine consistently hits the intersection of great cooking and good living. The magazine covers restaurants, travel, wine, cocktails, and home cooking with genuine enthusiasm and strong editorial judgment.
The annual Best New Chefs feature is one of the industry's most anticipated, spotlighting talent before it becomes mainstream. For home cooks, the recipe development is rigorous; dishes are tested properly, written clearly, and photographed in ways that motivate rather than intimidate. The cocktail content is also a genuine strength, covering everything from classic bartending techniques to seasonal drinks that actually make sense to attempt at home.
Olive Magazine
Olive Magazine occupies a particular space in the UK food media landscape. It's enthusiastic, accessible, and seriously focused on making good food at home. The recipes are reliable, the ingredient lists are realistic, and the writing never talks down to the reader. For everyday cooking rather than aspirational fantasy, it's one of the most practical titles available.
Each issue is built around seasons and occasions, which gives the content a natural rhythm. You'll find weeknight dinners alongside weekend projects, quick bakes alongside more ambitious desserts. The magazine also covers restaurants, food travel, and producer stories, giving it enough range to stay interesting beyond the recipe pages. The budget-conscious content is particularly well done. Olive proves consistently that good food doesn't require expensive ingredients or specialist equipment.
Whisky Advocate
For anyone serious about whisky (whether Scotch, American bourbon, Irish, or Japanese), Whisky Advocate is the publication of record. It covers distilleries, production methods, tasting notes, and market trends with a depth no general drinks magazine can match. The reviews are thorough and honest, which makes them genuinely useful when you're deciding where to spend your money.
The magazine also tracks industry news, new releases, and the growing collector market with impressive consistency.
Long-form features on distillery heritage and the people behind the labels add context that turns a bottle of whisky into something more than just a drink. If you're building your knowledge and your collection at the same time, this is the right companion for both.
Foodism
Naturally, this list wouldn’t be complete without Foodism (not that we're biased or anything). For the last 12 years, our print magazine has carved out a distinctive place in British food media by looking beyond the recipe book and concentrating on the people, places and stories that make eating and drinking interesting.
Based in London but with an appetite that stretches considerably further, the magazine covers restaurants, chefs, travel, drinks and producers with a strong emphasis on discovering what’s worth seeking out.
London’s restaurant scene naturally features heavily, from major openings and established names to the smaller neighbourhood spots generating serious buzz. But Foodism is equally comfortable travelling further afield, exploring destinations through their food and drink and meeting the people shaping local culinary culture.
The result is a magazine aimed as much at enthusiastic diners as home cooks. Strong photography and accessible writing make it easy to dip into, while interviews, restaurant features and destination guides offer plenty for readers who want to understand the story behind what’s on their plate. For anyone who plans holidays around restaurants and weekends around reservations, Foodism is an excellent place to start.
