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Travel inspires many memorable cultural conversations around the world, with food bringing people together everywhere. For food enthusiasts, local cuisine is not just an aspect of travel; it is often the highlight of their journey. According to a recent Hilton report, nearly one in five individuals plan leisure trips specifically to explore new restaurants and culinary experiences.
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Following accommodations, travellers are expected to prioritise dining experiences as the second-highest item in their travel budgets in the new year. TasteAtlas, a renowned food and travel guide, has recently unveiled its 2024/25 World Food Awards, which feature rankings of 100 cities based on food ratings.
Notably, European cities dominate the rankings of the best global food cities, securing 8 spots in the top 10. Furthermore, Taste Atlas highlighted Italy’s culinary supremacy by featuring six of its cities in the Best Food Cities list for 2024-25.
Remarkably, two Asian cities also featured in the list, with one city in India and Osaka in Japan, which is also nicknamed “Kitchen of the Nation,” rounding up the top 10.
| Global Rank | City | Country | Rating | Must-try dish |
| 1 | Naples | Italy | 4.8 | Pizza Margherita |
| 2 | Milan | Italy | 4.7 | Risotto alla Milanese |
| 3 | Bologna | Italy | 4.6 | Tagliatelle al Ragù |
| 4 | Florence | Italy | 4.6 | Bistecca alla Fiorentina |
| 5 | Mumbai | India | 4.5 | Vada Pav |
| 6 | Rome | Italy | 4.5 | Spaghetti alla Carbonara |
| 7 | Paris | France | 4.4 | Crème brûlée |
| 8 | Vienna | Austria | 4.4 | Zwiebelrostbraten |
| 9 | Turin | Italy | 4.3 | Agnolotti |
| 10 | Osaka | Japan | 4.3 | Takoyaki |
Source: Taste Atlas
Please note: This ranking reflects the cities’ culinary richness and the average ratings of their regional and national dishes based on over 477,000 valid ratings collected by Taste Atlas.
Indian cuisine, known for its vibrant spices and diverse culinary traditions, has secured the 12th position in the Taste Atlas ranking of the world’s best cuisines for 2024-25.
Surprisingly, Mumbai has ascended to 5th place in the 2024-25 Global Best Food Cities list by Taste Atlas, while its competitor, the capital city of Delhi, is ranked 45th, far behind Mumbai.
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| Global Rank | Indian City | Rating | Must-try dish |
| 5 | Mumbai | 4.5 | Vada Pav |
| 43 | Amritsar | 4.2 | Amritsari Kulcha |
| 45 | New Delhi | 4.2 | Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani) |
| 50 | Hyderabad | 4.1 | Hyderabadi Biryani |
| 71 | Kolkata | 4.0 | Rasgulla |
| 75 | Chennai | 3.9 | Dosa |
Source: Taste Atlas
In addition to city rankings, specific regions in India have also been acknowledged, with Punjab ranked as the 7th Best Food Region in the world, celebrated for dishes like Amritsari Kulcha, Tandoori Murgh, and Shahi Paneer.
Additionally, Maharastra (ranked 41st), West Bengal (ranked 54th), and Southern India (ranked 59th), also featured on the list.
Showcasing a vibrant and diverse culinary heritage, India stands as an enduring symbol for its rich food culture, thereby inviting food enthusiasts to embark on an extraordinary journey that reflects centuries of culinary evolution and creativity.
