For many travellers, today, choosing a destination means above all choosing what to eat. It is starting from this idea that the British magazine Time Out has published the new ranking of the best cities in the world for gastronomic tourism in 2026.
The ranking was born from a survey that involved over 24 thousand residents in various cities around the world, who were asked to evaluate the quality of the local gastronomic offer, the quality-price ratio of the restaurants and the specialties that best represent their city. The results of the survey were added to the opinions of food critics, editors and experts within the Time Out international network. To ensure the widest possible representation of global culinary cultures, only one city was selected for each country.
Lima takes first place
At the top of the ranking is Lima, the capital of Peru and now a point of reference for world gastronomy. The city continues to churn out new high-level restaurants and can count on a cuisine that combines Andean, Amazonian and coastal ingredients in a unique mix. The residents above all rewarded the quality and economic accessibility of the culinary offer, while the experts confirmed its central role on the international scene.
Bangkok and Mexico City on the podium
In second place is Bangkok, where traditional street food continues to coexist with a new generation of chefs committed to reinterpreting contemporary Thai cuisine. The Thai capital has been awarded for the variety of its offerings and the liveliness of its gastronomic scene.
Third position for Mexico City, increasingly cosmopolitan thanks to the meeting between local traditions and international influences. Alongside the famous tacos, today there is space for innovative proposals that mix Mexican ingredients and techniques from all over the world.
London and Barcelona lead Europe
Among European cities, London stands out, fourth in the ranking. The British capital gets the highest score for the overall quality of its gastronomic offer, thanks to a multicultural and ever-evolving culinary scene. However, it remains one of the least economical destinations for eating out.
Immediately behind is Barcelona, where haute cuisine coexists with Catalan traditions and with a growing presence of Latin American restaurants. The Catalan city confirms itself as one of the most interesting gastronomic destinations on the continent.
Asia dominates the ranking
Asia is the most represented continent in the top 20. In addition to Bangkok, there are Ho Chi Minh City, Beijing, Osaka and Hong Kong, cities that are experiencing a phase of great culinary ferment.
In Osaka, historically considered the “cuisine of Japan”, tradition is reinterpreted by a new generation of chefs. In Hong Kong, however, the growing influence of Korean cuisine complements the city’s consolidated reputation as an international gastronomic capital.
Italian cities? There is Naples
The only Italian representative in the ranking is Naples, which ranks in fourteenth place. While remaining closely linked to its traditions, the Neapolitan city is experiencing a phase of renewal thanks to young chefs and entrepreneurs who reinterpret the great classics without betraying their identity.
Curiously, according to the inhabitants, the city’s strong point is not only pizza, but also the offer of cafés, pastry shops and historic venues.
The 20 cities where you can eat better in 2026
- Lima (Peru)
- Bangkok (Thailand)
- Mexico City (Mexico)
- London (UK)
- Barcelona (Spain)
- Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)
- Melbourne (Australia)
- Beijing (China)
- Athens (Greece)
- Lisbon (Portugal)
- Cape Town (South Africa)
- Osaka (Japan)
- Bengaluru (India)
- Naples (Italy)
- New York (United States)
- Hong Kong
- Buenos Aires (Argentina)
- Marseille (France)
- Copenhagen (Denmark)
- Medellín (Colombia)
Beyond the rankings, the Time Out ranking confirms an increasingly evident trend: today food has become one of the main reasons for choosing a travel destination. From popular markets to starred restaurants, passing through bistros, taverns and street food kiosks, the awarded cities tell of identities, traditions and innovations through flavours. And if once upon a time people left to visit monuments and museums, today more and more travelers book a flight also to taste a local specialty, discover a new cuisine or sit at the table where the gastronomic trends of the moment are born. Ultimately, there is no better way to get to know a place than through what it brings to your plate.
