The cities with the best food diversity and experience

Holidu, the holiday rental portal, commissioned this comprehensive study to explore the richness of culinary landscapes in 75 cities worldwide. These cities were selected based on their strong presence in multiple rating directories, acknowledging both renowned food hubs and emerging gastronomic destinations. 

The study paints a vivid picture of global culinary landscapes, where the Michelin-starred restaurants of Tokyo, the iconic pastries of Paris, and the fusion cuisines of New York can be compared and celebrated alongside the vibrant tapas culture of Barcelona. Every city is fundamentally different, so it’s no mean feat to compare a ceviche in Lima to a salt beef bagel in New York. However, with food tourism as one of the fastest-growing travel trends, cities all over the world are now vying for the accolade of the best food destination. 

“Whether you’ve always dreamed of trying monjayaki on a hidden street of Tokyo or dining on machboos at a Bedouin feast in the Dubai desert, this study is the ultimate foodie bucket list.” comments Sarah Siddle, Senior PR Manager at Holidu. “Every delicious destination in this index can offer inspiration to food industry professionals such as ourselves, as well as burgeoning chefs, gastronomes and globetrotters.”

The Top 5 Cities with the Best Food Diversity & Experience

• London, United Kingdom – 100/100

It’s official – the crown goes to London as the best city in the world for food diversity and experience! Whether you are looking for traditional British fare, exotic cuisines from faraway lands, or innovative dishes that challenge your taste buds, London has something for everyone. London draws in critically acclaimed chefs from every corner of the world, so it’s no surprise that its culinary offerings are top-class. Aside from being the best city for Anglosphere dishes, it is also the best city on the list when it comes to overall Cuisine Diversity. So, no matter what kind of food you are after, you are sure to find it during a trip to London.

• New York City, USA – 99.30/100

New York City secures its spot as the second-best foodie city in the world, scoring an impressive 99.30 out of 100. New York is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines, offering a variety of dishes from all over the world. You can find authentic and delicious food from almost any country or region you can think of, such as India, China, Turkey, Jamaica, France, Italy, Mexico, and more. While The Big Apple doesn’t top any of the sub-categories, it finds itself in the top five of six of them, emphasising how well-rounded this city is as an overall foodie destination. 

• Paris, France – 98.24/100

The City of Light is the third-best city for food diversity and experience. The French capital is famed for its plethora of incredible traditional boulangeries, bistros, and brasseries, but that’s not all. Whilst being the best for Western and South European cuisine, Paris scores high in many of the categories as well. It ranks in second place for Michelin Star restaurants, World-class restaurants, and MENA cuisine, third for Cuisine Diversity and South Eastern Asian cuisine, fourth for African cuisine and fifth for South Asian cuisine. Need we say more?

• Tokyo, Japan – 97.59/100

In fourth place, we have Tokyo. This a splendid city for foodies thanks to its vibrant and diverse food scene, offering a variety of dishes from traditional Japanese fare to global cuisine, cheap and quick meals to lavish haute cuisine. Tokyo comes out on top as the best city for Michelin Stars, World-class restaurants, Foodie Experiences and East Asian cuisine. 

• Dubai, UAE – 97.55/100

Rounding off the top five is Dubai. This city boasts a number of upscale and award-winning restaurants, making it the perfect destination for travellers seeking a touch of elegance and luxury in their foodie experiences. Dubai is home to a huge expat community, which has contributed to the boom in the culinary industry and its offerings. Dubai scored particularly well in the “Visiting” category, ranking in 5th place for Visitor Safety and 3rd place for Foodie Experience.