If there’s one thing that brings people together, it’s food. From bustling street markets to world-class fine dining, cities around the world continue to redefine culinary experiences. But which places truly stand out in 2025?
According to Time Out, thousands of locals have shared their insights on the best cities for food, ranking them based on quality, affordability, and a range of attributes, from family-friendliness to innovation.
Each city was evaluated across 18 different criteria, with expert opinions from food critics, editors, and Time Out Market chefs shaping the final selection. To ensure diversity, only one city per country was included, highlighting the best of global gastronomy.
Below are the top culinary hotspots of 2025, places where bold flavours, creative chefs, and local traditions make dining an unforgettable experience.
1) Capetown, South Africa
Cape Town has taken the top spot as the best city in the world this year, largely thanks to its exceptional food and drink scene. With an impressive 95% approval rating for its dining experiences, the city tied with Paris as the highest-rated culinary destination in the survey. Capetonians also ranked among the most enthusiastic about their food, with a significant number describing it as “delicious.”
2) Lagos, Nigeria
Lagos emerged as one of the most budget-friendly cities for food and drink, with 88% of locals saying it’s affordable to grab a drink and 68% agreeing that dining out won’t break the bank. When asked to define their city’s food scene, 78% of Lagosians went with “delicious,” while many others highlighted its “healthy,” “traditional,” and “convenient” aspects.
3) Marrakech, Morocco
Getting a taste of Marrakech’s celebrated cuisine won’t break the bank, if you ask locals – the Moroccan city was rated the third-most affordable place to eat and drink on the list. Locals characterized their food scene as “traditional,” “diverse,” and “delicious,” making it a must-visit for those eager to explore its rich culinary heritage.
4) Cairo, Egypt
In Cairo, a solid 90% of locals gave high marks to their city’s food scene, with “diverse” being the most popular term used to describe it. While eating at restaurants wasn’t rated as the most affordable compared to other cities, only 69% said it was inexpensive, grabbing a drink remained a budget-friendly option, with 82% agreeing that it was easy on the wallet.
