Discovering the culinary landscape of a city is one of the most rewarding ways to truly immerse yourself in its culture. While Michelin stars and accolades may be indicative of a great food city, it’s ultimately the diversity of dining options that sets a city apart as a must-visit destination for food and drink enthusiasts.
To determine which cities have the most outstanding food scenes, thousands of locals were surveyed about their favorite restaurants, must-try dishes, and the best value meals in their hometowns. By excluding cities with lower overall scores and only including the highest-scoring city from each country, a final list was created and ranked. Time Out’s global network of editors and writers then provided additional insights into what makes each city’s food scene unique in 2024, along with recommendations for the best places to dine.
Time Out has long been known for its expertise in exploring the world’s food scenes, providing reviews and rankings to ensure that its best-of lists are always up-to-date and fresh. This knowledge has led to the creation of Time Out Markets, where top restaurants, bars, cultural experiences, and more come together under one roof. For this feature, Time Out Market chefs were consulted to nominate three culinary capitals that deserve recognition for their vibrant food scenes.
The resulting list highlights cities across the globe that offer unparalleled dining experiences at all price points – from high-end fine dining establishments to affordable street food vendors. These cities represent some of the pinnacles of culinary culture worldwide and should be at the top of every food lover’s bucket list. Sign up for Time Out’s free Travel newsletter to stay informed about exciting events happening around the world and get ready to indulge in some of the best food and drinks these cities have to offer!
