These are the most delicious cities in the world, as voted for by you in this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards
There are many reasons to visit a new city, but diving into the local food scene has to be one of the highlights. Whether it’s authentic street food, innovative experimentation, Michelin stars, classic cookery or regional specialities, these cities are renowned worldwide for their culinary prowess. Perfect pizzas, smokey barbecue, succulent tacos and a memorable cheesecake – here are the top 10 cities for eating your way around.
Mapo
10. Sydney, Australia. Score 92.50
Sydney’s food scene has gone from strength to strength in recent years. Aussies are well-known for their love of brunch, but there’s a more serious side to the sunny city as more and more Michelin-recognised chefs take note. Aesthetes are well catered for with arrivals such as BTWN at W Sydney, while locals queue to be the first to dine in neighbourhood bistros and chatter-filled hideouts such as 20 Chapel and Postino Osteria. It also appears that cocktails are serious business once again – Cantina OK! leads the charge following a triumphant return to The World’s 100 Best Bars in 2024.
Singapore
9. Singapore. Score 92.90
Fancy indulging in exquisite Singaporean flavours without the high-rise hotel dress code? Look no further than the Michelin Guide’s selection of street food spots. Of the 141 recommended streetside kitchens, 61 are Bib Gourmand – and we expect it’s only a matter of time before others join one-starred Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle. Finger-licking mania isn’t just on the ground, either, following the announcement of Monica Galetti’s gourmet dining partnership with Singapore Airlines.
Rome
8. Rome, Italy. Score 93.33
It’s easy to eat very well in the Eternal City, especially if you like pasta: exemplary steaming plates of satisfying cacio e pepe, carbonara and piquant bucatini all’Amatriciana are served up all over the city. Look out for other regional classics like hearty gnocchi alla Romana, supplì (similar to arancini), carciofi alla giudìa (Jewish fried artichokes), saltimbocca (a veal dish that translates as ‘jumps in your mouth’) and cracker-thin pizza alla Romana.
Bangkok
7. Bangkok, Thailand. Score 93.71
Any backpacker or adventurous foodie will advocate for Bangkok’s food scene. Among the scorpion-on-a-stick sellers, you’ll be amazed at what flavours await at the city’s food markets. Dedicate an evening to exploring Mahadthai Night Market and the second incarnation of Rod Fai Market, and you’ll never look at a takeaway pad Thai the same way again. According to 50 Best, “India’s rebel chef serves all-out creativity” at Gaggan, ranking it night worldwide in the most recent awards, while there’s a thriving Michelin-star scene too.
Hong Kong
6. Hong Kong, China. Score 93.94
Pineapple tarts, dim sum, milk tea – the list goes on, but Hong Kong is surprisingly great for hopping about, sampling delicacy after delicacy as your stomach roars for the next indulgence. We recommend visiting Din Tai Fung for unforgettable dumplings before nightcaps in one of the chic rooftop bars dotted across the city.
Antiquum
5. Porto, Portugal. Score 94.48
Porto’s food scene is hot on the heels of its neighbour (and some may say, rival), Lisbon. Not only is Portugal’s second city home to high-end restaurants – Euskalduna Studio, Gruta, and Cantinho do Avillez, to name a few – but Porto’s cafe culture is hard to beat. Seafood, meat and rice dishes all sing here, but no visitor should leave without the city’s ultimate indulgence; the francesinha. A sandwich made with layers of steak, sausage and other meats, between thick slices of white bread, topped with cheese, a fried egg and a special sauce made from tomatoes and beer, it’s sure to leave you truly stuffed (but we promise you’ll go back for more).
Tokyo
4. Tokyo, Japan. Score 94.78
Being the largest city on our list, both in size and population, and one of the most populated cities in the world, it’s little surprise that you’ll find whatever your heart desires among the streets of Japan’s neon metropolis. Fall in love with the art of sashimi at Tsukiji Outer Market, escape the crowds and splurge in one of the city’s dazzling Michelin-starred restaurants such as Harutaka or Kanda, or feast like the busy Japanese and build a ramen bowl for heavenly slurping.
Mercado Central in Valencia
3. Valencia, Spain. Score 95.00
San Sebastián may have lost its crown in this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards, but Spain has a new culinary hotspot in Valencia. While gastronomic arguments roar on about the origins of many dishes, Valencia is the undisputed home of paella – dive in at Restaurante Levante or Casa Carmela to taste the dish as it should be. Supper is a rice-fuelled affair in this coastal town, mixed with fresh-as-it-comes seafood or ingredients such as sausage, chickpeas and potato, as in arròs al forn.
Milan
2. Milan, Italy. Score 95.20
Milan is all too often used as a launchpad towards more serene corners of northern Italy thanks to low-cost flights and speedy transport links. However, those who do stay often stick around for the food. The Milanese like to make it clear what Italian delicacies they stake a claim to – usually by titling them very clearly. Think minestrone Milanese, a herby soup packed with vegetables, beans and rice, and veal Milanese, locally known as cotoletta alla milanese, tender veal escalopes coated in breadcrumbs and fried golden.
la colombe
1. Cape Town, South Africa. Score 95.65
Despite its name, South Africa’s capital is no town; rather, it is a sprawling city consisting of distinct corners and crevices where various tastes rule what’s devoured. African, Dutch, Malay, and Indian cuisines influence South African cuisine, so it’s a veritable melting pot of exceptional food. Amble along the waterfront and nurse a crisp glass of wine while steaks and fresh seafood sizzle in the kitchen, or get in on the viniculture at Babylonstoren, the celebrated vineyard in the Cape Winelands.
Condé Nast Travellers, By Conde Nast Traveller Editorial – “The best cities for food in the world: Readers’ Choice Awards 2024“. Blog post. 16 October 2024