The best cities for food have been revealed and they are not all in Italy
When it comes to culinary delights, most people’s minds wander to Italy’s pasta, Japan’s sushi or Mexico’s tacos. However, a study by TasteAtlas has revealed the top foodie destinations around the globe.
The team analysed nearly half a million ratings from 17,073 cities in their database. Interestingly, many of the top-rated locations are just a short hop from the UK, with the majority of the top 10 nestled within Europe.
Naples clinched the top spot, thanks to its status as the birthplace of pizza, lasagna and macaroni.
But this stunning city wasn’t the only Italian gem to make the list, reports the Express.
Milan bagged second place, with its famous dishes such as risotto and panettone earning it high marks.
And let’s not forget that Milan is also the home of Campari, perfect for washing down those delicious meals.
Italy dominated the top three, with Bologna securing third place.
This city is renowned for its spaghetti bolognese, ragu and tortellini.
Despite the Italian dominance, other popular cities like Paris, Vienna and Mumbai also made the cut in the top 10.
Sadly, the UK didn’t manage to crack the top 30, with other notable absences including Hong Kong, Barcelona, Ho Chi Minh, Bangkok, and Amsterdam.
The top 30 best cities for food:
- Naples
- Milan
- Bologna
- Florence
- Mumbai
- Rome
- Paris
- Vienna
- Turin
- Osaka
- Madrid
- New York
- Genoa
- Nice
- Lima
- Jakarta
- Kyoto
- Gaziantep
- Ferrara
- New Orleans
- Catania
- Singapore
- Venice
- Istanbul
- Tokyo
- San Francisco
- Lisbon
- Guadalajara
- Chicago
- Philadelphia
This comes as Booking.com has unveiled its 2026 Travel Predictions, declaring the year ahead as the era of YOU – where individuality takes the spotlight.
One of the trends they found was Shelf-ie Souvenirs. This is where Brits will look to turn kitchen shelves into cultural showcases.
These shelf-ie souvenirs are moving from fridge magnets to pantry shelves, with travellers increasingly seeking edible and design-led treasures that turn everyday kitchens into showcases of global culture.
This shift is as much about meaning as aesthetics.
More than a quarter (25%) say edible souvenirs help them relive a destination each time they cook, while 24% value how these items showcase local craft, sustainability, and traditional methods.
For others, exclusivity and style play a role, with nearly one in five (16%) choosing destinations for rare souvenirs, limited-edition cookware, or packaging that looks as good on a shelf as it does on social media.
