Former ‘Bachelor’ Star Matt James Has a Knack for Discovering the Best Foodie Spots Around the World — Here’s How He Finds Them

While TV viewers may recognize Matt James from his days on The Bachelor, the television personality has since successfully pivoted to food content creation, serving up regular posts that make us add new restaurants to our travel itineraries.

It all started when James and his girlfriend Rachael Kirkconnell realized they could use his Instagram to bring publicity to small businesses, mainly their favorite restaurants.

“There was this restaurant, Forcella’s, that Rachael and I loved in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and we gatekept it [and] the restaurant ended up closing down,” he told Travel + Leisure in an interview this summer. “It was terrible and I felt guilty thinking ‘I have so much reach. If I shared how much joy this restaurant brought me, then maybe it wouldn’t have closed down. That was when I flipped the script. ‘I said anytime I enjoy something, whether it’s food, an experience, or travel, I want to share it.’”

As to how he finds eligible spots to share with his nearly one million followers? He does his research, which includes scouring Instagram tags and more.

“It’s a deep dive that consists of looking at pictures,” he said noting that it’s a good sign when he comes across a post of delicious food that’s not by a pro photographer. “From there, I’ll put dots on a map for the city we’re visiting and then throughout the day, if we’re near a spot, we’ll go.” 

The most recent food city that’s blown the reality star away though, is London. 

“The city is just so diverse. The Indian cuisine in London was some of the best food I’ve ever had,” he said. “The introduction to different cultures through my eating has been one of the most pleasant surprises of my travels.” 

Speaking of London, James, a former college football player, also ran the marathon there in April proving how he finds balance in his love of both fitness and food.

“When I finished playing football, I wanted to find a new way to push myself, and running was that outlet for me,” he said. “​​It’s a sport you don’t need a membership to. All you need is a pair of running shoes and you can do it anywhere.”

It’s that love for running and overall healthy mindset that lead his latest partnership role with low-calorie beer Corona Premier as their first-ever director of lifestyle — showing how its possible to be healthy and still enjoy yourself.

“When people think about diet, they think about it in a binary way: what they can and cannot do. But I think living a balanced, fun life means not taking the things out that bring you joy,” he said. “For me, it’s hanging out with friends, family, and my girlfriend, Rachael, while having a drink together.”

And that same rule of balance applies to his travel routine as he always makes sure to get a workout in wherever he is.

“Once you prioritize fitness in the same way that you prioritize reading your book or scrolling on TikTok, that’s when you will start to see a breakthrough. It’s given me the balance to travel across the country, eat everything I’d like to eat, and still be competitive in things, like running marathons,” he said. “That allows me to be my best self for everyone in my life.”