Is NYC the best foodie city in the world? Well, it seems like it depends who you ask! Back in December 2024, Taste Atlas released their report of the best foodie cities in the world and ranked NYC as #12, but now a new report by Travelbag is ranking NYC a bit higher. So yeah, if you ask us, we’re going with Travelbag.
North American travel experts at Travelbag recently unveiled the top cities across the globe that tantalize taste buds everywhere. By considering metrics including social media buzz, the number of cuisine options, and the average cost of a meal, they were able to determine which cities are the best cities for foodies, and they ranked NYC #10.
Now, call us biased, but of course we think NYC should have scored higher, especially since it recently scored pretty high when ranking America’s culinary capitals. But hey, #10 is better than #12, right?
NYC’s stats are as follows:
- Number of cuisines: 106
- Food & drink activities: 352
- Instagram posts: 524,000
- TikTok posts: 21,200
When it comes to offering the most different kinds of cuisine, Washington, DC leads with 109, but New York follows closely behind with 106, reflecting its diverse cultural fabric and status as a culinary hub, from street food to Michelin-starred dining. And considering it would take over 22 years to eat through all of NYC’s restaurants, there’s certainly a lot of opportunity to explore all 106 cuisines!
If you’re looking to pack your bags and explore the world’s food capitals, Fiona Wood, Travelbag’s Africa and Oceania Destination Manager, shared some top tips on best planning the best culinary trip and finding each city’s hidden gems. She suggests doing the following:
- Plan well in advance
- Organize cooking classes
- Get information from local sources
The Top Ten Best Cities for Foodies
1. Melbourne
2. Toronto
3. Dubai
4. Sydney
5. Hanoi
6. Chicago
7. Houston
8. Tokyo
9. Bangkok
10. New York
See the full study.