Publication: The Infatuation
Topics: Restaurants, food, dining guides, travel, bars, local culture
Rate (USD): $1.00 per word
Deadline: Ongoing
The Infatuation is looking for freelance writers to contribute restaurant and dining guides covering cities across the United States and around the world.
The publication describes itself as a platform focused on creating trustworthy and useful restaurant recommendations. Although it has full-time writers in more than a dozen cities in the U.S. and London, it works with freelancers to expand its coverage.
At $1 per word, this is a particularly relevant opportunity for experienced food, restaurant, travel, and city-guide writers.
What The Infatuation Wants
Most assignments are restaurant roundups featuring the best places to eat or drink in a particular city. The publication also commissions more focused guides covering specific cuisines, types of establishments, neighborhoods, or dining experiences.
The publication is particularly interested in major U.S. cities and popular domestic and international travel destinations.
Current freelance coverage needs include Boston, Houston, New Orleans, Washington DC, Cape Town, Cebu, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Las Vegas, Manila, Mexico City, San Diego, San Juan, Singapore, and Toronto.
What Writers Need to Know
The Infatuation has specific standards for its restaurant coverage.
Writers must currently live in the destination they are pitching and have an in-depth understanding of its culture, geography, restaurants, bars, and broader dining scene.
The publication also requires writers to follow its editorial ethics. Restaurant research is conducted anonymously, writers do not accept compensated meals or media invitations, and the publication only writes about restaurants its writers have actually visited.
If a pitch is approved, The Infatuation will discuss an appropriate dining budget with the writer.
Strong applicants should also be familiar with The Infatuation’s voice. Read its reviews and guides before pitching. The desired style is conversational, authoritative, entertaining, and natural—essentially writing about restaurants the way you would talk to a knowledgeable friend.
The publication is looking for freelancers who can offer an informed perspective on both established restaurants and exciting new openings.
How The Assignments Work
The Infatuation’s larger “Best” guides generally contain 15–20 restaurants, while smaller cuisine- or neighborhood-focused guides usually feature 8–12 places.
Before writing the article, freelancers submit a proposed list of restaurants along with short explanations for each selection. The editorial team then provides feedback and works with the writer to refine the list.
If your proposed list contains restaurants you have not yet visited, you will need to eat there before submitting the first draft. The appropriate dining budget will be discussed before the pitch is officially approved.
All assignments are paid. While the listed freelance rate for this opportunity is $1 per word, final compensation can depend on the length of the guide, the amount of additional research required, and the writer’s experience.
Articles generally go through two to three rounds of editing, and editors may arrange a phone call to discuss revisions.
How to Pitch The Infatuation
Pitches should be sent by email to .
Use “PITCH:” followed by your proposed headline as the subject line. For example:
PITCH: The Best Restaurants in Pittsburgh
Your pitch should include:
- A brief introduction: One or two sentences explaining who you are and your relevant expertise.
- Your proposed guide: Explain what guide you want to write and why your city is an exciting dining destination right now.
- Three proposed restaurants: Provide three restaurants you would include, with a sentence explaining why each deserves a place on the list. Be specific and nuanced. Don’t simply say that a steakhouse has great steaks. Explain what makes the overall dining experience distinctive.
- Recent clips: Include recent food- or travel-related writing samples. The publication says it is less concerned about where you’ve been published and more interested in seeing evidence of your voice and writing ability.
Pitching Tips
The strongest pitch will demonstrate that you actually know the local dining scene rather than simply repeating popular recommendations.
Before pitching, read several existing Infatuation guides and reviews. Pay attention to their structure, conversational voice, specificity, and approach to explaining why a restaurant is worth visiting.
Your three sample restaurants should also demonstrate that you understand what makes a dining experience interesting. Avoid generic descriptions and focus on distinctive details that another restaurant guide might overlook.
Finally, make sure your pitch is specific to the destination and editorial needs described above. The Infatuation notes that it cannot respond to every submission, so pitches need to make a clear case for why the proposed guide belongs on the site.
