One of the best ways to experience a place is through the local cuisine – and, with historic recipes to try and knowledgeable chefs, vendors and artisans to meet, you're sure to make some incredible memories along the way, too. Always planning your next gastronomic adventure? We’ve ranked the most famous (and popular) foodie destinations the world has to offer, from Singapore to Spain, to help satisfy your appetite for globe-trotting.
Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the world's best holiday experiences for food and drink lovers. Bon appétit!
We've based our ranking on the popularity of the food experience, and on the opinions of our well-travelled (and well-fed) team. The list is unavoidably subjective.
Singapore is a destination that punches well above its weight when it comes to mouth-watering street-food dishes. For starters, there’s tasty mud crab (chilli or pepper? That part's up to you); Hainanese chicken rice (the country’s unofficial national dish); creamy, coconutty curry laksa; and the ever-controversial durian fruit, which is so pungent that eating it is forbidden in enclosed public spaces. Got room for more? Try peanutty satay, char kway teow noodles and ice kachang (sweet iced beans) – perhaps followed by a Singapore Sling at the iconic Raffles Hotel.
If you like your fish served Scandi-style – complete with stunning sea views and a snow-capped mountain backdrop – we recommend adding Reykjavík to your foodie travel bucket list. Ease your way in with plokkfiskur (traditional fish stew made with cod or haddock), then get more adventurous with hardfiskur (dried fish jerky) and a world-famous Icelandic staple: fermented shark. This local delicacy is stored in boxes for six to nine weeks before being hung up to dry for several months, resulting in a pungent, almost cheese-like aroma (and an admittedly acquired taste).
Influenced by both Western and Eastern cultures, Greece’s cuisine is a melting pot of delicious, freshly caught fish, abundant seafood and seasonal vegetables. Spend some time in this sun-soaked corner of the Mediterranean and you’ll soon fall for its gastronomy, whether you’re enjoying a post-beach gyro stuffed with pork, salad and fries, tucking into aubergine and béchamel-topped moussaka at a family-run restaurant, or tasting the fishermen’s local catch of sea bass, octopus and lobster.
Bali and wellness holidays often go hand in hand, but this isn’t a destination where eating healthily is done solely for detox purposes – in fact, it’s an absolute pleasure. Wholesome, fresh, and very often grown using organic farming methods, the food at Bali’s hippest eateries is also hugely Instagrammable; think pretty smoothie bowls, colourful matcha green tea beverages, cleansing juices, and plenty of raw and vegan menu options. What better way to commune with nature amidst some of the most stunning scenery in the world?
Start your day right in Jamaica with a hearty portion of ackee and saltfish – the country’s national dish. It’s a simple-but-satisfying recipe: ackee, a pear-shaped fruit brought to Jamaica from West Africa in the mid-1700s, is boiled up with saltfish, a type of dried, salted whitefish. Add vegetables and seasonings (scotch bonnet peppers, onions and tomatoes are the classics), and you’ve got a nutritious breakfast packed with Caribbean flavour.
There’s a reason why New Zealand lamb is so popular around the globe. Grass-fed and raised free-range on farms with clean air and water, it’s lean, tender and full of nutrients – and, most importantly, it’s incredibly tasty. You can find it on restaurant menus up and down the country but, for something a little different, why not try this delicacy Maori-style: cooked in a traditional hangi oven? The technique involves filling a pit with heated stones, placing leaf-wrapped lamb and vegetables on top, covering it with earth, and cooking to smoky perfection.
Backed by the Andes and filled with pretty, leafy avenues, Mendoza can be found deep in the heart of Argentinian wine country – and travellers say that, in harvest season (December-March), there’s nowhere quite like it. The vineyards in the surrounding countryside are the home of the Malbec grape: a deep-purple marvel of a berry whose flavour is best sampled on a winery tour. Whether you choose to go tasting in the Maipú Valley or wet your whistle in Luján de Cuyo is up to you; just don’t miss out on a grilled meat asado lunch while you’re at it.
If there’s one food mantra the Bhutanese live by, it’s that spice is king. Influenced by Tibetan, Chinese, Nepalese and Indian cooking, the food in Bhutan is richly flavourful, but it can also be very spicy due to a nationwide love of chilli peppers. We recommend sampling an authentic (and super-hot) taste of local favourites like jasha maru chicken stew or the nation's signature dish, ema datshi – a chilli cheese that’s so beloved, it comes with almost every meal.
Not content simply with having a fantastic, thriving food and drink scene every day of the year, since 1992 Melbourne has hosted an annual two-week foodie extravaganza. In March and April, Melbourne Food & Wine Festival has star-studded line-ups and culinary events happening all over the city. The festival’s signature event? The World’s Longest Lunch – an XXL three-course affair that serves around 2,000 people the finest local foods and wines. It’s so big that the nearby bars even host their own afterparties.
After a long, fun-filled day on the slopes, there's nothing like warming up around a pot of oozy, cheesy fondue with your ski buddies. The ultimate après-ski sharing dish, Swiss fondue is made by mixing up an irresistible blend of cheeses (usually Gruyère and Emmental), wine, garlic and nutmeg, and traditionally comes served with cubes of crusty bread for dipping – though you'll sometimes find vegetables, potatoes and meaty morsels on offer, too. Simply skewer your chosen nibbles onto the end of a long-stemmed fork and get dipping.
There are so many reasons why Istanbul makes a wonderful holiday destination – amazing Bosphorus views, Byzantine-era palaces, a captivating blend of Eastern and Western cultures – but it’s the Turkish capital’s never-ending array of fabulous food that really excites us. Take a wander around the city and you’re sure to encounter the likes of deep-fried halka tatlisi dough rings; garlicky, tomato-y steamed burgers; sesame-studded simit (Turkish bagels); kofte meatballs; and fan favourite doner kebab, which you can find on every street corner in town.
Cajun and Creole food is hearty, spicy and all-round scrumptious, and the best place to eat both cuisines is New Orleans. So, prepare for a party on the streets and a party in your mouth as you taste your way through delights like gumbo, jambalaya and crawfish pie on a foodie crawl of the city – then quench your thirst with a rum-based Hurricane cocktail (or, if you’re feeling brave, a fluorescent green Hand Grenade). Got room for a hefty, overstuffed po’boy sandwich afterwards? No? Trust us, you’ll want one anyway.
What’s better than Goa’s glorious palm-lined beaches, warm winter temperatures and beautiful architecture? Three words: Goan fish curry. Goa’s most famous dish is also (arguably) its most delicious, thanks to its rich, flavourful blend of spices, ginger, garlic and coconut – plus, the fish (usually prawns, kingfish or mackerel) is marinated in lime to give it an extra-tangy kick. There’s nothing like tucking into a bowlful at a family-run restaurant or a dhaba – a roadside food stall – for a true only-in-Goa experience.
Welcome to the city that has absolutely everything – food-wise, that is. In London, classic British dishes like pie and mash, Scotch eggs and teeming Sunday roasts exist in harmony with tasty fare plucked from every corner of the globe. Just visit one of the city's bustling food markets for proof. At Borough Market you’ll find a touch of Spain at Tapas Brindisa; at Seven Dials Market you’ll stumble upon fluffy, cloud-like bao buns (Yum Bun); and at Mercato Metropolitano you’ll encounter the capital’s best gelato (Badiani).
You simply can’t go to Bangkok without sampling its street food. Firstly, it's ubiquitous – and it’s a great way to get under the skin of the local culture. For the finest street eats of all, make your way to Chinatown, where you’ll find all manner of dumplings, pancakes, soups and curries prepared hot and fresh from stalls billowing with aromatic steam. And who could forget pad Thai? Grab it and go, or opt for a sit-down serving at Pad Thai Thip Samai restaurant – it’s the locals’ favourite for a reason.
Rød pølse (red sausages served hot dog-style), Smørrebrød (open sandwiches with every topping imaginable) and Flæskesteg (roast pork baked with spices and cloves) – the pronunciation of Copenhagen’s big-hitting dishes may be a little tricky to get your tongue around, but the flavours sure aren’t. In fact, to add to its flourishing street food scene, the city has no fewer than 13 Michelin-starred restaurants, making it Scandinavia’s undisputed gastronomic capital. Whether you choose to go high-end or quick and easy is your call.
Whether you’re a wine expert or an absolute novice, there’s no doubt that the South African region of Stellenbosch is a picturesque, sun-soaked spot to spend a holiday. But for the oenophiles among us, it’s got the added benefit of being the birthplace of some of South Africa’s most amazing wines – and there are vineyards galore to explore, thanks to the country’s hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. From the Meerlust Estate to Spier Wine Farm and Boschendal, there are plenty of famous places to indulge in a tasting or two.
If you love trying new and exciting food while on your travels, Colombia’s Caribbean port town of Cartagena could be perfect for your next adventure. Street food here is cheap and plentiful, and it comes in all shapes and sizes. For breakfast on the go, try an arepa de huevo (a cornmeal cake packed with egg and ground beef); for lunch, indulge in a perrito caliente hot dog topped with cheese, crunchy potato sticks and plenty of sauces; and for dinner, go all-out with a patacón con todo – a plantain sandwich bursting with chicken, chorizo, butifarra sausage and cheese.
In Hong Kong, dim sum is more than just food – it's a huge part of the region's unique cultural heritage, having been served up at teahouses along the ancient Silk Road up to 2,500 years ago. Meaning 'touch the heart', it was originally intended to be eaten as a light snack. Today, there are plenty of exceptional eateries where you can tuck in to your heart's (and stomach's) content. Don't miss the so-called 'four heavenly kings': siu mai (pork, prawn and mushroom dumplings), char siu bao (barbecued pork buns), har gow (prawn dumplings) and dan taat (egg tarts).
In a city as large as New York, it would be impossible to discover all the best restaurants, cafés and hole-in-the-wall eateries by yourself, which is why we like to leave it to the experts. There are as many food tours in New York as there are bagel vendors, so it all depends on what interests you the most – whether it’s exploring the city’s wine and nightlife, sampling Greenwich Village’s Italian cuisine, taking to the streets of Chinatown or visiting a selection of the finest food carts around.
While Oktoberfest might be most famous for its wide selection of beer tents and a proliferation of dirndls and lederhosen, there’s a lot more to this quintessentially German festival than sitting around sipping on steins. In between the oompah bands and chicken-dancing revellers, you’ll find a whole host of fantastic Bavarian cuisine: hefty pork knuckle, stodgy potato pancakes and dumplings, and an array of sumptuous sausages.
Fresh, colourful and packed with flavour, Vietnam’s street food is a must-try for travelling foodies. And it’s not just the pho that’ll have you coming back for more. There's the bun cha pork patties, banh mi baguettes and the banh xeo: Vietnam’s crispy, beansprout-stuffed take on the savoury crêpe. You can find cheap on-the-go snacks pretty much everywhere you go, whether you’re wandering Hanoi’s Old Quarter, sauntering along the lantern-strung streets of Hoi An, or visiting Ben Thanh Street Food Market in Ho Chi Minh City.
Sure, you might be able to find good pizza pretty much everywhere in Italy these days, but Naples is an absolute must-visit if you want to try the real deal. The birthplace of the classic tomato, mozzarella and basil margherita that we know and love today, Campania’s capital is positively brimming with pizzerias: Pizzeria Oliva da Carla e Salvatore, Sorbillo and L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele (which you may recognise from Eat, Pray, Love) being a few our favourites. Get speaking to the locals though, and you’re likely to get tons more ideas.
If you want to try treats that were born and bred in Canada, then you simply must make a stop in Québec City. Here, you can indulge your sweet tooth with gooey butter tarts, Tim Horton’s famous Timbits donut holes, and maple syrup-infused favourites like tire d’erable taffy lollipops. More of a savoury person? Combine all your favourite food groups in one meal with a serving of poutine (fries covered in gravy and cheese curds), or try a hearty portion of Québécois meat pie – then wash it all down with a Caesar cocktail (a Bloody Mary-like cocktail made with Clamato).
San Sebastián is considered by many to be Spain’s foodie capital, which is high praise indeed considering the staggering range of gastronomic delights the country has to offer. It’s all down to pintxos: tapas-like finger foods served at bars throughout the Basque Country. There are hundreds of places that offer up these tiny snacks, but we recommend heading to the Old Town and Gros districts for the best of the bunch. Expect everything from boquerones (fresh anchovies served in vinegar and olive oil) to grilled octopus and txangurro, the famous Basque crab.
Like South Korean TV shows, films and K-pop music, South Korean cuisine seems to be sweeping the globe right now – but if you want to try the best of the best, you should set your sights on Seoul. From fried egg–topped bibimbap (a rice dish) to grilled, marinated beef bulgogi (meaning 'fire meat') and spicy-and-sour side dish kimchi (salted fermented vegetables), the food here is fresh, tongue-tingling and riotously colourful. And then there’s the KFC (no, not that KFC). In Seoul, Korean-fried chicken is the crispy, crunchy fast food on everyone’s lips.
Stalls, souks, spices… Marrakech is a sensory overload, in the best possible way. Inquisitive tastebuds will love local delicacies like peppery snail soup, slow-steamed sheep’s head and tehal (stuffed camel’s spleen), while mint tea, tagine, chebakia cookies, and sweet-and-savoury chicken b’stilla pie are local treats pretty much everyone can enjoy. Then there’s the orange juice. Once you’ve tried it freshly squeezed, try it in delectable cake form at Nomad – a restaurant in the medina that overlooks the famous Rahba Lakdima (spice square).
Tacos, quesadillas, tamales, tortas… Mexico City is home to some mouth-wateringly flavourful (and often surprisingly cheap) street food. We’re not exaggerating when we say that there are thousands of food stalls to choose from among the markets of this must-visit foodie hotspot. Head over to Coyoacán Market for the best tostadas (tasty tortillas piled high with toppings), try tacos al pastor at historic restaurant El Huequito, and indulge in a crispy, rolled-up flauta or two at the excellent street food market outside the Chilpancingo Metro stop. Delicioso!
With historic towns and cities, beautiful countryside and some of the world’s most wonderful wine, Bordeaux is a traveller’s dream for so many reasons. But, if you ask us, the best way to soak it all up – including the region’s delectable cuisine – is by taking to the waters of the Garonne and Gironde rivers on a wine cruise, stopping off at vineyards, wineries and cellars to sample a taste of the local vin du pays (country wine). While you’re in the area, don’t miss steak frites (steak and duck fat fries); they’re the perfect complement to a bottle of Bordeaux red.
They say everything is bigger in Texas – and when you’ve seen a plate piled high with authentic Texas-style barbecue, you’ll understand why. Here, mighty slabs of brisket are slowly cooked to perfection in custom-built pits, the sausage (usually kielbasa) comes regular or spicy, but is always satisfyingly smoky, and the ribs are a triumph of melt-in-the-mouth goodness. Visit longstanding joints in Lockhart, officially the Barbecue Capital of Texas, or line up for hours at super-popular spots like Franklin Barbecue in Austin.
From its high-end restaurant show-stoppers to its on-the-go convenience store offerings (and all sorts of other fantastic creations in between), there’s nowhere better in the world to sample sushi than Tokyo. Don’t miss the Japanese capital’s signature sushi style: Edomae sushi, a delicacy that combines expertly compacted, wasabi-smeared rice balls with meticulously cut fish that holds onto its seasonings, resulting in maximum umami. You can find it among the other super-fresh fish and seafood at the famous Tsukiji Fish Market, as well as in the hip eateries and conveyor belt cafés of the nearby Ginza district.
We’ve covered pizza, so now it’s time to talk pasta – specifically the soul-nourishing, super-fresh Tuscan variety. This central Italian region is famous not only for its gorgeous countryside and Renaissance masterpieces, but also for its pappardelle al cinghiale (broad pasta ribbons with a wild boar ragù) and tordelli Lucchese (semi-circular pasta parcels filled with a meat sauce). Fancy a true taste of Tuscan tradition? Roll up your sleeves for a pasta-making 101 while you're here – several companies offer classes, and you can even learn with a real Italian nonna (grandma) via Tripadvisor and Airbnb.
Now discover our ranking of the world's most delicious dishes