Antoni Porowski's Global Travel Philosophy: How to Explore Paris, London, and Mexico City Like a Local in 2026

Antoni Porowski just wrapped the 10th and final season of Queer Eye, but his appetite for global exploration is far from satisfied. The self-taught chef and television personality is now steering a new voyage through National Geographic's Best of the World with Antoni Porowski, which premiered on June 7, 2026 and streams on Disney+ and Hulu. Instead of makeovers, he's hunting for the human stories that make cities breathe—and the travel philosophy that transforms vacation from Instagram checklist into genuine discovery.

I caught up with Porowski to unpack what drives his travels, the unforgettable encounters that shaped him, and why the best itinerary is the one you're willing to discard.

From Cape Hatteras to the World Stage

Porowski's first adventure wasn't some exotic locale. It was a North Carolina road trip to Cape Hatteras, where his father—a windsurfing enthusiast—would rent hurricane-resistant stilted houses in fishing villages. He remembers staying in motels designed for anglers, watching fishermen gut their catch, surrounded by retro Americana.

"That's where it started," he reflects. "Not in some destination resort, but in the unglamorous, authentic spaces where people actually live their lives."

That origin story explains everything about how he approaches travel today.

The Woman Who Changed Him: An Unexpected Polish Encounter

The most defining moment of Porowski's travels came during a father-son trip to Poland—his ancestral homeland. In the foothill town of Zakopane, nestled in the Tatras Mountains, he met an elderly woman selling oscypek, a pungent smoked cheese traditional to the region.

Reddit: "The best travel memories are the ones where you meet someone who completely humbles you with their directness and warmth." — r/travel

This grandmother wasn't just selling cheese. She was direct, commanding, charismatic. She negotiated with his father until he walked away with five times more cheese than intended. "She really left a mark on us," Porowski says. That one encounter—unplanned, unscripted—became more meaningful than a dozen scheduled tours.

Montreal's Nostalgic Anchor: Stash Café

When Porowski returns home to Montreal, he doesn't seek trendy new openings. He gravitates toward Stash Café, a Polish restaurant where he, his father, and his aunt all once worked. The walls feature vintage Tamara de Lempicka posters—the legendary Polish Art Deco painter. Hanging red pendant lights dangle above old church pews salvaged from a local monastery.

"Their cabbage rolls and meat pierogi were what I craved growing up because we never made them at home," he explains. "They took hours. That restaurant is pure nostalgia."

Filming Best of the World: The Human Element

Across four cities—Paris, London, Mexico City, and New York—Porowski discovered that travel television thrives when it stops obsessing over destinations and starts listening to people. Whether filming with a volunteer at the New York City Marathon or chef Elena Reygadas in Mexico City, every meaningful moment centered on the humans keeping these cities alive.

"There's no shortage of travel shows," Porowski reflects. "But given the state of the world, this series offers something people need—whether it's escapism or permission to dream."

London's Wellness Antidote: Kew Gardens

In London, a city of relentless energy and infinite options, Porowski discovered his instinct to "touch grass"—literally. Kew Gardens, one of the world's most biodiverse botanical institutions, became his sanctuary. He tended lily pads, practiced yoga inside the historic Temperate House conservatory, and participated in the garden's conservation efforts.

"When you're overwhelmed by options, sometimes the answer isn't more activity," he says. "It's rewilding yourself."

Paris: The Destination That Never Fails

Ask Porowski which city he could visit indefinitely, and the answer is immediate: Paris. Not because it's exotic—it's thoroughly cosmopolitan. But there's something about the French temperament that resists American hustle culture.

"As a New Yorker, I speed-walk everywhere," he admits. "But Paris forced me to slow down."

His most recent Parisian memory captures this perfectly: He and his partner couldn't decide on dinner, so they bought an "shocking amount" of gruyère cheese, baguettes, and jam. They ate in their hotel room watching French television, felt slightly ill the next morning, but experienced pure, uncomplicated joy.

Altitude and Humility: The Cusco Reality Check

Travel isn't always magical. Porowski learned this in Cusco, Peru, where altitude sickness hits fast and unforgiving. Airport staff were so depleted of oxygen they could barely assist with luggage. His hotel reception warned him not to leave the property for 12 hours. He ignored the advice and was winded within seconds.

"Sometimes your body teaches you lessons your ego won't accept," he reflects.

The Travel Philosophy That Changes Everything

Porowski's approach mirrors his cooking philosophy: research thoroughly, then discard it all upon arrival.

"Make the plan but give yourself the freedom to walk down that street that feels interesting," he advises. "Don't worry about the perfect Instagram carousel. All my best memories were unplanned things."

This isn't anti-planning. It's pro-presence. Read the guidebooks. Check the reviews. Then abandon your itinerary the moment something pulls your attention sideways.

Why This Matters Now

In 2026, as travel becomes more algorithmically curated and socially performative, Porowski's philosophy offers radical permission: be bored by the famous spots if you want. Talk to strangers. Buy too much cheese. Miss your reservation for a conversation that matters.

National Geographic's decision to center his series on "what makes a city tick"—rather than what makes a city Instagrammable—reflects a growing hunger for authentic travel narratives.

The best travel plan is the one you're willing to abandon.

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