Traveling the world in search of the best food is an unending quest. You may think you’ve been everywhere and experienced the best food the world has to offer and perhaps you have, but it’s time to circle the globe again for another round. These are our top five cities in the world for food. While it’s not an exhaustive list, it does reflect our current favorites – though, as fast as the food industry changes, we reserve the right to have new favorites next week, next month, or next year!
London, England
England is a country that receives a lot of flack for having a lack of good food, however, this reputation is unfounded. London has some of the best restaurants and some of the best food in the world. From Chef Brett Graham’s innovative French cuisine at The Ledbury to the British dry-aged T-bone, D-rump, and porterhouse in Covent Garden at Hawksmoor Seven Dials, there’s something for every palette when you visit London.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen, as well as most of Denmark, is a dichotomy of tradition and innovation of style and substance. Nowhere is this more apparent than in their restaurants. Whether you opt for a more traditional meal while you stroll down the Nyhavn or a restaurant that is steeped in local tradition while putting its own modern spin, like Restaurant Koefoed, Copenhagen is a foodie’s adventureland. Try sushi with a Danish take or have some ice cream while you’re roaming the city at 10:00 a.m.
Jaipur, India
Anyone who lives in a city may feel like they are familiar with Indian food, but a visit to Jaipur will change that. This is one of the few places where you’ll find Indian food that is representative of the cooking of the warrior princes who ruled the region until the 1960s, the Rajputs. While the elements may seem the same, the Rajput style is definitely unique. Our pick in Jaipur is Kalyan Rooftop & Indoor Restaurant atop the Hotel Kalyan. The restaurant is simple yet its offering of Rajasthani cuisine is outstanding.
Tokyo, Japan
With more than 200 Michelin Star-rated restaurants, Tokyo is an easy addition to our list, but a necessary one as well. There’s so much more to Tokyo than sushi. Of course, you’ll find the world’s greatest sushi here, but beyond that, you’ll find some amazing French, Italian, and even American options. Visit Azure 45 with its sweeping views at The Ritz-Carlton and opt for a wine pairing with a tasting menu, enjoy a quiet and romantic evening of Italian food and wine at Bulgari Tokyo Restaurant, or you may want to keep it simple and casual with an amazing street food vendor. Tokyo has earned its reputation of a true food city.
Los Angeles, California, USA
Never one to shy away from a trend or to start a new trend, Los Angeles has become more of a food city in recent years that it ever was before. It’s not all In & Out Burgers and great tacos, rather, it’s a mesh of every food culture imaginable. From the sophisticated and hip Broken Spanish with their modern take on traditional Mexican cuisine in a sleek setting to the innovative Italian home of downtown deal-making Drago Centro, Los Angeles has it all. Even if you go simple with an LA tradition – a hot dog at Pink’s.
As we’ve noted, this list is by no means exhaustive and is subject to change, but it’s also our current list of five of our best cities for food around the world. Which one appeals to you the most? For more amazing food, read about chefs who are leading the way with farm-to-table dining.
