The 20 top cities worldwide for food enthusiasts, as ranked by Time Out.
For many travelers, the most exciting part of any journey is the food. These are the individuals who wake up on their first day of a trip looking forward to all the delightful culinary experiences that await them: from huge markets offering local flavors, to late-night street food, to independent restaurants serving unique dishes that will be unforgettable.
This was the mindset behind Time Out's latest ranking of the world's top foodie cities.
"Food is everything when traveling," Time Out's travel editor, Grace Beard, informed CNN Travel. "A good (or bad) meal can make or break a trip – it's typically one of the things we remember the most."
Leading the list is Naples, Italy, often thought to be the birthplace of pizza. Naturally, pizza margherita made it onto Time Out's list as a must-try dish in the city. But there's more to Naples than just pizza. Neapolitan ragu and sfogliatella are also worth sampling.
To create this round-up, Time Out surveyed thousands of people around the world, asking them about the food options in their city with a focus on quality and affordability. Time Out editors reviewed the results, selecting the highest-scoring city for each country.
Pizza and beyond
For those excited to try authentic pizza in Naples, Time Out recommends the pizzeria Santa Maradona, situated in the city's Spanish quarter.
Andrea Viviani, the owner of Santa Maradona, expressed how honored he was to be mentioned by Time Out, but notes that "considering Naples only as a food destination is truly a waste."
"Food is definitely an important part of our culture, but Naples is so much more than that," Viviani explained. His restaurant isn't simply about pizza; it's about football as well. Named after Argentinian soccer player Diego Armando Maradona, who played for the Naples team in the 1980s, Santa Maradona is a celebration of both food and sports.
Travelers visiting Naples will no doubt appreciate pizza, but Viviani hopes they'll experience more than just the food. "It's thrilling to see travelers come to Naples with such a strong desire to learn about our traditions and taste our wonderful pizzas," he said.
At number two on the list is Johannesburg, South Africa. Time Out quoted Johannesburg food writer Thando Moleketi-Williams, who recommends the Braamfontein neighborhood and suggests popular spots such as wine bar Mamakashaka and Friends on De Beer Street, and restaurant and gallery space Artivist. Time Out highlights the city's must-eat dishes kota sandwich and bunny chow.
Rounding out Time Out's top three is Lima, Peru, where visitors are urged to try the signature dishes ceviche and arroz con pollo (chicken and rice). The city's Central restaurant, which recently earned the number one spot in the 2023 World's 50 Best Restaurants awards, is also spotlighted.
Valuing affordability
Other cities featured on the list include Ho Chi Minh City (number four), Beijing (number five), and Bangkok (number six).
Beard noted that "affordability played just as much a role as quality in creating this ranking" and the editors were searching for cities "where good-quality meals are accessible to travelers on every budget."
The top US city on Time Out's ranking was Portland, Oregon, coming in at number 10. Time Out identified Portland as a must-see city for pizza lovers, with Mexican pizza (topped with taco ingredients) named by locals as the city's best-value dish.
In the UK, Liverpool just missed out on being included in the top 10, landing in the 11th position. Time Out brought up the city's signature dish, Scouse (a rich stew usually made with beef or lamb), and celebrated "a clutch of brand new foodie ventures," such as Manifest, a restaurant that made it into the Michelin Guide.
Time Out's 2024 Cities with the Best Food
- Naples, Italy
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- Lima, Peru
- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Beijing, China
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Mumbai, India
- Dubai, UAE
- Portland, USA
- Liverpool, UK
- Medellín, Colombia
- Seville, Spain
- Porto, Portugal
- Marrakech, Morocco
- Lyon, France
- Sydney, Australia
- Montreal, Canada
- Osaka, Japan
- Copenhagen, Denmark
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- For travelers with a passion for both food and exploration, Naples, Italy, at the top of Time Out's list, offers more than just world-class pizza.
- Embarking on a food and travel adventure, one should consider visiting Johannesburg, South Africa, where the Braamfontein neighborhood and eateries like Mamakashaka and Artivist highlight the city's rich culinary scene.
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