The Top 20 Foodie Cities Worldwide, According to Time Out

Travel

June 5, 2024

The Top 20 Foodie Cities Worldwide, According to Time Out

By Shaw

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Some travellers choose their city break based on cultural offerings, seeking out the best museums and galleries. Others are drawn to cities with vibrant nightlife or those hosting festivals and events. However, for many vacationers, the highlight of any trip is the food. These travellers wake up on the first day of their trip excited about the culinary delights awaiting them, from sprawling markets offering local delicacies to late-night street food and independent restaurants serving distinctive dishes.

Time Out had these gourmand travellers in mind when it compiled a new ranking of the world’s best foodie cities. Grace Beard, Time Out’s travel editor, emphasized the importance of food in travel, noting that a meal can make or break a trip. According to Beard, food is often one of the most memorable aspects of travel.

Topping Time Out’s list is Naples, Italy, the rumoured birthplace of pizza. The city’s must-eat dish, according to Time Out, is the pizza Margherita, but Neapolitan ragù and sfogliatella also get a mention. Time Out’s survey involved thousands of city dwellers across the globe, focusing on quality and affordability. The editors then sifted through the results to identify the highest-scoring city for each country.

For those eager to sample authentic pizza in Naples, Time Out recommends pizzeria Santa Maradona, located in the city’s Spanish quarter. Santa Maradona’s owner, Andrea Viviani, expressed pride in being spotlighted by Time Out but emphasized that Naples has much more to offer than just food. His restaurant, named in honour of Argentinian soccer player Diego Maradona, celebrates both pizza and football, reflecting the city’s rich culture.

At number two on Time Out’s list is Johannesburg, South Africa. Johannesburg food writer Thando Moleketi-Williams recommends the central neighbourhood of Braamfontein, highlighting spots like wine bar Mamakashaka and Friends on De Beer Street, and restaurant and gallery space Artivist. Time Out’s must-eat dish for Johannesburg is the kota sandwich, a stuffed bread with ingredients such as potato chips, sausage, egg, or cheese. Bunny chow, a street food featuring curry, meat, or beans stuffed inside bread, is also spotlighted.

Lima, Peru, rounds out Time Out’s top three. The city is known for its signature dishes ceviche and arroz con pollo (chicken and rice). Lima’s Central restaurant, recently named number one in the 2023 World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards, is also mentioned.

Other cities on the list include Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (number four), Beijing, China (number five), and Bangkok, Thailand (number six). All these cities are experiencing a culinary renaissance or are particularly buzzing right now, according to Time Out’s Grace Beard. Affordability was a key factor in the ranking, with editors seeking cities where good-quality meals are accessible to travellers on any budget.

The top US city on Time Out’s ranking is Portland, Oregon, at number 10. Portland is another must-visit spot for pizza lovers, with locals naming Mexican pizza – a pizza topped with taco ingredients – as the city’s best-value dish. In the UK, Liverpool came in at number 11, just missing out on the top 10. The city’s signature dish, Scouse – a rich stew usually made with beef or lamb – and new foodie ventures such as Manifest were highlighted.