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When it comes to planning the perfect trip, it all comes down to what a city can offer. Some tourists are willing to designate an entire day to exploring historical ruins or hiking up a mountain for hours just for a stunning overlook.

But for others, the focus is always on one thing: the local menus. Exploring a city through its food allows you to literally experience that place through taste. And this year, deciding where to go for a culinary pilgrimage just got a lot easier. Time Out has released its annual ranked list of the world’s best food cities.

Gold Goes to South America: The Triumph of Lima

The Peruvian city of Lima came out on top of the list. Widely and deservedly considered the culinary capital of Latin America, this coastal metropolis is famous for its seafood delicacies—most notably ceviche and causa Limeña, an elegant cold layered potato dish.

For those who want to eat luxuriously without burning a hole in their wallets, Lima offered another pleasant surprise: out of all 20 cities on the index, it was rated the most affordable for dining out.

Virginia Gil, USA Editor at Time Out, emphasizes that a true food city is more than just a great place to get a good meal: “The cities on this list are known for their ingredients, iconic cuisines and deep-rooted food histories that have influenced how people eat around the world,” Gil said in an official comment to CNN Travel. “They’re not just where food lovers are flocking today; they’re places that have drawn travelers in search of great meals for decades.”

Methodology: How the Cities Were Ranked

To get the most accurate picture of consumer preferences, Time Out experts surveyed 24,000 local residents across 150 cities worldwide. Locals were asked to rate the quality of restaurants and street food, affordability at eateries, and the overall food culture of their region. Time Out editors and independent food experts then analyzed the findings, ultimately including only the highest-ranked city from each country in the final top 20.

The Top 5 Global Food Capitals

• 2. Bangkok (Thailand) Bangkok holds onto its honorable second-place spot for the second year in a row. According to experts, the Thai capital offers an “unmatched street food culture.” Local culinary masterpieces deliver an incredible balance of sweet, spicy, sour, and salty flavors, with portions of world-famous dishes often costing less than $5.

• 3. Mexico City (Mexico) Mexico City rounds out the top three thanks to its incredibly diverse food scene, ranging from Michelin-starred restaurants to authentic street markets. The iconic local favorite, the taco al pastor (pork with pineapple), is held in such high regard that a 12-block stretch in the eastern part of the city along Lorenzo Boturini has been dubbed a dedicated "taco corridor."

• 4. London (United Kingdom) The British capital is recognized as one of the most multicultural culinary stages in the world, bringing together cuisines from virtually every corner of the globe in one place. Local residents gave London the highest score on the index for overall restaurant quality. Meanwhile, Borough Market, the city's oldest food market dating back to the 12th century, remains a must-visit spot for any tourist.

• 5. Barcelona (Spain) Closing out the top five is the Catalan capital, whose food scene is deeply intertwined with Mediterranean traditions. The Time Out editorial team gave special nods to the vibrant neighborhood markets. Some of the essential local staples to sample include the classic Pa amb tomàquet (tomato bread) and the spicy patatas bravas.

The Immigrant Legacy and American Classics

After combing through the vast amount of data, Virginia Gil noticed a common thread among all the frontrunners: a genuine, almost cult-like love of food. “Each place has its own dynamic history — migration patterns that gave rise to new dishes, native ingredients that shape its gastronomic identity, and culinary traditions that continue to influence how people eat today,” Gil added.

The primary representative for the United States sits at No. 15 on the list: New York City. The report's authors highlight the direct link between the Big Apple's restaurant culture and its rich immigrant history. Thanks to the blending of culinary traditions brought by overseas newcomers, New York boasts some of the absolute best pizza, bagels, pastrami, and iconic delicacies on the planet.

The Full List of Time Out’s Best Cities for Food in 2026:

1. Lima (Peru)

2. Bangkok (Thailand)

3. Mexico City (Mexico)

4. London (United Kingdom)

5. Barcelona (Spain)

6. Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)

7. Melbourne (Australia)

8. Beijing (China)

9. Athens (Greece)

10. Lisbon (Portugal)

11. Cape Town (South Africa)

12. Osaka (Japan)

13. Bangalore (India)

14. Naples (Italy)

15. New York City (USA)

16. Hong Kong

17. Buenos Aires (Argentina)

18. Marseille (France)

19. Copenhagen (Denmark)

20. Medellin (Colombia)

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