hidden gem

Meaning

A 'hidden gem' is a place, restaurant, or attraction that is extremely beautiful, special, or high-quality but is not well-known by most tourists. It implies a sense of discovery and exclusivity, making it a favorite term for travel writers and locals alike. You can use it to describe anything from a secluded beach to a tiny, amazing alleyway cafe.

Examples

• This little seaside village is a real hidden gem that most tourists completely miss.

  This little seaside village is a real hidden gem that most tourists completely miss.

• Our tour guide showed us a hidden gem of a restaurant tucked away in the old town.

  Our tour guide showed us a hidden gem of a restaurant tucked away in the old town.

• If you want to escape the crowds, this quiet park is a wonderful hidden gem.

  If you want to escape the crowds, this quiet park is a wonderful hidden gem.

• The museum is a hidden gem, housing some incredible local art without the long lines.

  The museum is a hidden gem, housing some incredible local art without the long lines.

• We stumbled upon a hidden gem of a beach while exploring the northern coast.

  We stumbled upon a hidden gem of a beach while exploring the northern coast.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ This hotel is a hidden jewelry.

  ✓ This hotel is a hidden gem.

  While 'jewelry' is related to precious stones, the fixed idiomatic expression always uses the singular word 'gem'.

• ✗ The Eiffel Tower is a hidden gem in Paris.

  ✓ The Eiffel Tower is a famous landmark in Paris.

  A hidden gem must be relatively unknown. Extremely famous, crowded tourist spots cannot be called hidden gems.

Related Expressions

Practice

• That tiny noodle shop down the alley is a total ___.

  💡 A wonderful but lesser-known place.

  Show answer

  hidden gem

• We love finding places that are off the beaten path and discovering a ___ or two.

  💡 An idiom for a secret, wonderful spot.

  Show answer

  hidden gem