Looking for Sam to start quest at various inns and taverns. Am I better off staying at one place such as "Battered Mane" and wait or better off going from city to city?

Sam should appear in the nearest tavern to where you are when you hit level 14. I've done it three times immediately after hitting 14 and he's always been in the first tavern I've entered after. In one game when I started looking for him at a high level, I've never found him so I'm not sure what conditions are required there.

I'm level 19

It's the 'Bannered Mare'

If you're on PC you could try the command

player.moveto 000a96a0

am on x-box 360

I think your best bet is to go to all the taverns you can. I'm not sure if his location is fixed at level 14 or not but either way you won't find him if you stay in the same place.

thanks for suggestion

I'm pretty sure it is. He spawns when you hit level 14 (in the nearest tavern, as already stated), then he'll remain there until you have that drink with him.

Bahaha. The Battered Mare could give one of many different, much darker connotations.

after thinking about where I was when I hit level 14, which was on my way to see the Greybeards. Sure enough he was in Ivarstar. Thanks all