Discovering a city without tasting its culinary specialties is heresy for many tourists. They salivate at the thought of tasting the delights that await them, from markets brimming with local specialties to street food and restaurants offering unique dishes. In order to guide them in their choice, Time Out has just published the top 20 cities on the planet where we eat the best.
The magazine surveyed thousands of residents to rank the world’s culinary capitals in 2024. Only the city with the highest score was selected in each country. The notion of value for money was taken into account.
Pizza from Naples and Kota Sandwich from Johannesburg
At the top of this ranking is Naples (Italy), famous for its margherita pizza, but also for its pasta dishes and local pastries. Time Out particularly recommends the Santa Maradona pizzeria. Owner Andrea Viviani sees his restaurant as a celebration of the city, its culture and its history, particularly through football.
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In second place is Johannesburg, South Africa, where visitors are encouraged to discover the central district of Braamfontein, via addresses like the wine bar Mamakashaka & friends or Artivist, which doubles as a restaurant and gallery. The capital’s must-try dish is the kota sandwich, a street food dish made with fries, sausage, eggs and cheese.
The first French city only 16e
In third position, Lima (Peru), is famous for its ceviche, its lomo saltado or his chicken rice. The Central restaurant, recently voted the best restaurant in the world, is also mentioned. Cocktail lovers will be sure to try the pisco sour, a cocktail made with pisco (a wine brandy), egg white, cane syrup and lemon juice.
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Time Out also highlights cities booming on the culinary level, where the quality of meals is accessible for all budgets. Portland, Oregon is the first US city mentioned, while Liverpool, UK is praised for its rich culinary heritage and emerging food scene. Finally, Lyon, the only French city in the ranking, is at 16e place. The town of Paul Bocuse stands out thanks to its famous corks, its brioche sausage, but also its tacos.
The top 20:
1. Naples, Italy 2. Johannesburg, South Africa 3. Lima, Peru 4. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 5. Beijing, China 6. Bangkok, Thailand 7. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 8. Mumbai, India 9. Dubai , United Arab Emirates 10. Portland, United States 11. Liverpool, United Kingdom 12. Medellín, Colombia 13. Seville, Spain 14. Porto, Portugal 15. Marrakech, Morocco 16. Lyon, France 17. Sydney, Australia 18. Montreal, Canada 19. Osaka, Japan 20. Copenhagen, Denmark
