The Best Food Cities in the World Right Now
Courtesy Heston BlumenthalLondon
London is a city obsessed with its own history, but of late, it's also been aggressively forward-thinking and cosmopolitan. No place captures this fascinating contradiction quite like Dinner by Heston Blumenthal (pictured). The kitchen has helped make London one of Europe's most exciting food cities by marrying British culinary traditions with experimental techniques (just ask about their meat fruit). To sample the city’s famed Indian food, order lamb shank rogan josh at Gymkhana, or hit Gunpowder, a 28-seat, brick-lined boite offering steamed fish in banana leaf and vegetarian-friendly stews. Honey & Co. is one of the hot tables in town—given that there a barely a dozen in this Warren Street hole-in-the-wall—so call ahead for the beautifully plated, extra-fresh mezze lunch. Finally, stop by the Mondrian at Sea Containers for a London mule by the world's best bartender.
Related: Top Things to Do in London
Courtesy Farmer’s ApprenticeVancouver, B.C.
An Eastern influence imbues this West Coast waterfront city, home to a vibrant expat community that's relocated from all over Asia. Gathering beneath crystal chandeliers, local families dig into the area’s best dim sum at Chef Tony Seafood in the Richmond suburb, or head to nearby Shanghai River for steaming soup dumplings. The cool crowd at farm-to-fork Farmer’s Apprentice (pictured) dine elbow to elbow at communal tables, while recently relocated Indian institution Vij’s still draws a queue for lamb popsicles and spicy goat curry. Ask for pastas and panna cotta at Italian hotspot Ask for Luigi, then head to lair-like The Keefer Bar for drinks among the beautiful people.
Courtesy Roberta SudbrackRio de Janeiro
Hosting the World Cup and the Summer Olympics—and in the space of two years, no less—can do wonders for a city’s restaurant scene. There’s never been a tastier time to eat in Rio, where you’ll find a groan-inducing beefwich at TT Burger in Copacabana, and refined fish dishes served in a bright, two-story Zona Sul space at Roberta Sudbrack (pictured). Snack on Portuguese-style bar bites at Adega Pérola, then tuck into a hillside meal of Lobster Moqueca and suckling pig at Térèze in the Santa Teresa Hotel.
Related: Rio’s New Food Scene: Why Burgers and Foie Gras Taste Better in Brazil
Courtesy SepiaSydney
Sydney seduces travelers with its glittering beaches, then steals their hearts with impossibly cool coffee bars and restaurants you would travel halfway around the world just to try. Artfully arranged Japanese-inspired plates await at Sepia (pictured); Mr. Wong is the place for modern Cantonese; and Bennelong offers food and views inside an elegant space at the Opera House. Be sure to caffeinate properly at Reuben Hills or Edition Coffee Roasters before braving the bracing cocktails at moody Eau-de-Vie or drinks served in jam jars at Grasshopper.
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Photo by Dekkerd Miyahara/Courtesy Bar RavalToronto
Toronto emits a magnetic, multicultural vibe that extends to the exciting restaurant scene. In a narrow white row house near the University of Toronto, the Harbord Room offers globally inspired gastropub fare; students also know that they should skip the dining hall on Monday nights and opt for nearby Rasa's $35 tasting menu. Bartenders at Gaudi-esque Bar Raval (pictured) serve up Spanish-style “pinxtos”—snacks—from behind an oiled-mahogany bar. Best bets for upscale Italian include Scaramouche downtown and the perennially packed Buca in the Fashion District. Due east in Little India, Udupi Palace is the place for chutney- and vegetable-stuffed dosa; for dim sum, there’s Chinatown’s Asian Legend, where steaming, purse-shaped soup dumplings are the stuff of, well, legend.
Related: A Food Lover's Guide to Toronto
AlamyTokyo
Japan’s capital city overwhelms with extraordinary dining, so a strategic approach is in order. Before you go, book a table at the French-influenced Narisawa to taste your way through the dazzling, nature-inspired dishes of visionary chef Yoshihiro Narisawa. Once in town, head straight to Mentsudan for sanuki udon, or line up early (like, 3 a.m. early) at Sushi Dai (pictured) for life-changing lobes of the world’s freshest raw fish. Bars abound, but sake seekers should beeline it to Sasagin Izakaya for the best brewed rice beverages, plus grilled gingko nuts and crispy tempura.
Related: Top Things to Do in Tokyo
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Courtesy Commune SocialShanghai
Is Shanghai the world’s best city for street eats? The sizzling, pork-stuffed dough purses at Yang's Fry-Dumpling may be worth the trip alone, while fragrant, deep-fried scallion pancakes at A Da are a local favorite for breakfast. Soup dumplings show up everywhere, but you’ll find the best at Jia Jia Tang Bao. On the other side of the spectrum is the multisensory experience at chef Paul Pairet’s Ultraviolet, a sort of modernist dinner theater where evocative flash along the walls as you eat. Guests at Jason Atherton’s casual-cool Commune Social (pictured), meanwhile, snack on tapas while sipping the Mid-East Manhattan cocktail, garnished with a fig.
Related: Top Things to Do in Shanghai
Photo by Marina Bay Sands/Courtesy Osteria MozzaSingapore
Singapore is a top destination for food-obsessed travelers, drawn by big-name spots—Mario Batali’s Osteria Mozza (pictured), Daniel Boulud’s DB Bistro Moderne—and modernist madness at André Chiang’s artful Restaurant André. They queue up for a caramel cashew confection at Tarte by Cheryl Koh, and feast on surf and turf at the Market Grill. And they come for the street food. Oh, the street food. Mee goreng. Pepper crab. Indian-spiced fish head curry. Roti prata and chicken satay. It's all on offer at the city’s bustling hawker centers; head to Newton, Maxwell, and Jurong West to sample the goods.
Related: Top Things to Do in Singapore
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AlamyTaipei
From tongue-searing Szechuan dishes to Cantonese dim sum, Taipei’s food scene highlights the diverse cuisines of the Mainland Chinese who’ve settled there. Small-bites chain Kao Chi has superlative soup dumplings and veggie-studded fried rice at its three-story flagship, and you can order what may be the world’s best bowl of Taiwan’s ubiquitous beef noodle soup at Yong Kang. With more than 90 vendors, Shilin Night Market (pictured) is the place to sample made-to-order oyster omelettes, stinky tofu, and sweet pork sausage.
Courtesy Tom's Juice BarGustavia, St. Barts
The Caribbean celeb magnet St. Barts was first colonized by the French in 1648, and the love of cuisine lives on in its capital city. Pair codfish fritters with homemade coconut rum at beachfront La Gloriette, or hit Latin-themed Bonito for breathtaking harbor views in a serene white-on-white setting. Then it’s off to the Pink Parrot Beach Bar for live music and endless glasses of rosé—go ahead and party fearlessly, you can refresh in the morning with an acai bowl or raw-greens concoction from Tom’s Juice Bar (pictured).
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Courtesy Manta RayTel Aviv
Tel Aviv's food scene has gotten hipper recently, with a revived cocktail scene fueling the party-round-the-clock locals. Join them for snacks and cocktails at sidewalk cafe Rothschild 12 or try rum-soaked tiki drinks at Imperial Craft Cocktail Bar. Hummus is a delicacy here—sample the oil-soaked offerings at renowned Ali Karavan. Come sunset, head to Alma Beach for Mediterranean-style mezze on the airy porch at Manta Ray (pictured), or hit rollicking Mizlala for steak tartare accented with tahini and a croissant sandwich stuffed with calf’s brain.
Courtesy OviedoBuenos Aires
Steakhouses—parrillas—are the staple in beautiful Buenos Aires, and the thick-cut beef at Don Julio is a reliable favorite among porteños (that’s what locals call themselves). La Carnicería takes a more modern approach with honey-glazed sweetbreads and house-smoked cuts. If you bore of beef, book a table at Germán Martitegui’s Tegui, where deconstructed desserts with intense flavors liven up the palate. For a city whose people so celebrate their proximity to the port, there’s surprisingly little seafood in Buenos Aires. But the ocean-plucked offerings at Oviedo (pictured) are always on point.
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Courtesy RōninHong Kong
In Hong Kong, a once-binary dining scene—stuffy white-tablecloth spots, gritty dim sum joints—has given way to an array of high-low mash-ups. Gleaming subway tile lines the bar at casual tapas spot 22 Ships, while visionary duo Matt Abergel and Lindsay Jang have garnered a cult following at yakitori spot Yardbird and Ronin (pictured), their rollicking izakaya. If you love those Momofuku Pork Buns, be sure to pop into May Chow’s Little Bao, serving up deep-fried steamed buns—stuffed with ice cream—for dessert.
Related: Top Things to Do in Hong Kong
Courtesy Baker & SpiceDubai
Dubai as one of the world's top food cities? Believe it. The spare-no-expense scene draws discerning travelers from around the world, who are quick to sample from its deep well. Perched at the end of a wooden pier, Pierchic—yup, that’s its name—is the ultimate spot to revel in the exquisite excess over first-rate fish dishes. In the Park Hyatt, Traiteur gets high marks for crispy rotisserie duck and a 4,000-bottle wine collection. For breakfast, Baker & Spice (pictured) serves up a mean shakshuka, a hearty tomato-and-egg dish, and tasty Berber pancakes are on offer at Moroccan spot Almaz by Momo in the Mall of the Emirates. (Psst: Shake Shack obsessives. You’ll find an outpost of Danny Meyer’s beloved burger chain on the first floor.)
Related: The Perfect Weekend in Dubai
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Courtesy The Test KitchenCape Town
From sipping regional rosé on Table Mountain to scarfing hake and fries at Kalky’s, there’s a breezy simplicity to Cape Town’s iconic eating experiences. To taste the Mother City’s more refined side, book a table at modern food lab the Test Kitchen (pictured)—yoghurt snowballs, anyone? If you can't get a table, the Pot Luck Club across the way at the Old Biscuit Mill serves a fairly amazing tapas-style menu that does something for every taste bud (sweet, salty, even umami); come on the weekend to try some of the best small bites from around the city at the Neighbourgoods Market. End the evening on the cool courtyard at the Gin Bar, where bartenders mix drinks using small-batch spirits flavored with local flora.