Your go-to list of the most exciting food and drink scenes on the planet for 2024 and beyond
If you, like us, plan your travels around the restaurants and bars you want to visit, then this is the list for you. We’ve gathered some of the most underrated and overlooked destinations around, from a hub of female culinary talent in the Middle East to North America’s most exciting bar scene. Handily, these cities are all searchable through 50 Best Discovery, a selection of established and up-and-coming restaurants, bars and – soon – hotels of every persuasion, all of which have received votes in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, Bars and Hotels voting. So grab a map and start planning a new year of gastronomic exploration.
HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM
This vibrant Vietnamese city, also commonly referred to as Saigon, boasts a colourful and varied culinary scene
For too long seen as a stepping stone to the beaches of Da Nang and the colourful streets of Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City is finally commanding the attention it deserves as a food and drink destination in its own right. Vietnam’s largest and most bustling city is home to vibrant markets, traditional temples, teahouses and a whole new crop of cool coffee shops, bars and restaurants. Inside the city’s oldest wet market is Anan Saigon, home to Peter Cuong Franklin’s street food-inspired tasting menu, as well as adjoining cocktail bar Nhau Nhau and noodle joint Pot Au Pho. Meanwhile, trailblazing Aussie Jay Moir brings cocktails and chilled vibes at Layla Eatery & Bar, and sustainable tipples inspired by Vietnam’s flora at sister bar Summer Experiment. Be sure to make time for street-food staples like pho (noodle soup), banh mi (sandwiches) and bun cha (meatballs).
When to visit: December to March
Don’t miss: A classic Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk
BARCELONA, SPAIN
Enjoy cocktails at The World's Best Bar 2023, Sips, and food at The World's 50 Best Restaurants mainstay Disfrutar, helmed by three El Bulli alumni
It’s hardly under the radar as far as gastronomic cities go, but there are more and more reasons to plan a trip to Barcelona, not least because it’s now home to The World’s Best Bar – Sips, from bartending dream team Simone Caporale and Marc Álvarez, topped The World’s 50 Best Bars 2023 just two years after opening. And it’s not on its own: a cluster of brilliant drinking holes range from the modern (including World’s Best Bar 2022, Paradiso, hidden behind a pastrami shop fridge) to the traditional, with the likes of Boadas, the city’s oldest cocktail joint which has recently been renovated by Caporale, famous for its Martinis. Restaurant-wise, Barcelona is similarly spoilt for choice, with 50 Best Restaurants regular Disfrutar, tapas classic Cal Pep and modern Basque Lasarte – not to mention the lauded El Celler de Can Roca in nearby Girona.
When to visit: June to September for hot weather; March to May and October are quieter
Don’t miss: The mushroom ‘bikini’ toasted sandwich at Gresca
ISTANBUL, TURKEY
Dine on the delights of Istanbul's leading gastronomic talent at Neolokal and Mikla (L to R)
From waterside fish sandwiches to fine dining restaurants overlooking the Bosphorus, the city that straddles both Europe and Asia covers the full culinary spectrum. Fuel up with simit, a pretzel-like dough ring covered in sesame seeds sold on street corners, and head down to the Galata Bridge for typical balik ekmek, a simple sandwich of fresh mackerel with salad and lemon juice. In the evening, glam up for a trip to Turk Fatih Tutak, a love letter to Turkish cuisine including manti (lamb-stuffed pasta) from Turkey’s first two-Michelin-star chef. Or head to 50 Best Restaurants regular Mikla for rooftop cocktails with the best views of the city, followed by an innovative Turkish tasting menu. Neolokal is also worth a trip for more jaw-dropping views and sustainably sourced dishes by chef Maksut Aşkar.
When to visit: April to June or September to October – or head to the Gastromasa food symposium in November
Don’t miss: Cocktails and tunes on Mikla’s rooftop at the Marmara Pera
NEW ORLEANS, USA
Sip on New Orleans' storied liquid history at Cure and Jewel of the South
Carnival parades, Creole architecture and culinary delights – as destinations go, New Orleans has it all. As the place where the Sazerac was invented, it’s no wonder the city’s cocktail scene is among the very best in the world. Highlights include Cure, a bar credited for pioneering the craft cocktail movement when it opened in 2009, and Jewel of the South, an homage to an historic bar of the same name set in a 19th-century Creole cottage. Meanwhile, New Orleans cuisine is chock-full of treasures from po’boy sandwiches to beignets and jambalaya. Order the shrimp po’boy at Parkway and follow with the best fried chicken in town at Willie Mae’s Scotch House, or head to long-running restaurant Commander’s Palace for Creole haute cuisine in a landmark mansion setting.
When to visit: For the best buzz, visit in February for Mardi Gras
Don’t miss: A Sazerac at Peychaud’s, named after its inventor
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
Firedoor's mastery of open-flame cooking and Maybe Sammy's lauded cocktails are just a few of the reasons to visit Sydney
Wherever you stand in the debate over which city holds the culinary crown between Melbourne and Sydney, you certainly can’t go wrong with the latter. While fine dining spots like Peter Gilmore’s Quay and Tetsuya Wakuda’s eponymous Japanese have long attracted international attention (thanks in part to the 50 Best lists), there’s a new guard of Sydney chefs that includes Lennox Hastie of Firedoor and Mat Lindsay of wood-fired Ester. Then there’s Saint Peter, where 50 Next alumnus Josh Niland takes sustainable fish butchery to the next level, serving offal-based dishes like John Dory liver on toast. Bar-wise, Sydney is on fire – plant-powered speakeasy? Try Charlie Parker’s. Homage to indigenous Australia? Head to Rosenbaum & Fuller. Sky-high hotel bar? Dean & Nancy on 22. Great coffee, glorious beaches and a sterling gastronomic scene – Sydney has it all.
When to visit: September to November or March to May
Don’t miss: An evening at Maybe Sammy for menus adorned with AI-generated art, elaborate and experiential serves and full-team dance routines
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
Visit the opulent Charles H to drink cocktails in style and Mingles for a contemporary taste of Korea
Korean cuisine is increasingly popular around the world, with spots like Atomix in New York, Komah in São Paulo and Koan in Copenhagen all flying the flag for kimchi and bibimbap. While the rest of the world is just catching on, Seoul’s locals have long been in the know about the jewels of hansik cuisine. Longstanding Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants-rated venues Mingles, La Yeon and Jungsik all offer innovative fine dining takes on Korean food classics, while at The Best Restaurant in Korea 2023, Mosu, chef Anh Sung rips up the rulebook to redefine what is considered ordinary and traditional Korean food. Just as thriving as the restaurant scene is Seoul’s nightlife, with speakeasies such as Alice and Charles H, theme-changing basement spot Keepers, and even Texan barbecue-themed Southside Parlor.
When to visit: March to May or September to November
Don’t miss: The beef-centred omakase menu at seven-seat Born and Bred
MUMBAI, INDIA
Sample the breadth of Indian gastronomy at refined Masque and beloved Shree Taker Bhojanalay (L to R)
A cultural melting pot that blends Portuguese, Persian and a wide variety of influences, Mumbai is a firm contender among India’s most exciting food destinations. Perhaps most famous internationally is Masque, where chef Varun Totlani serves a forward-thinking, 10-course degustation reinventing Indian classics. Fine dining aside, it’s essential to visit Shree Thaker Bhojanalay, a 75-year-old Gujarati institution serving vegetarian thali plates packed with chutneys, dahl and curry. Make time for Mumbai’s many delicious vegetarian street snacks, from vada pav, a deep-fried potato patty in a soft bread bun, to bhel puri, a dish of puffed rice and vegetables.
When to visit: October to February
Don’t miss: Fresh jumbo crab at Trishna
PORTO, PORTUGAL
This coastal Portuguese city delivers incredible food and drink beyond its namesake fortified wine
Best known as the birthplace of port, Porto matches its famous fortified wine with one of Europe’s most underrated food scenes, not to mention great weather. Easily navigable on foot and endlessly photogenic, the city has at its heart the River Douro and the D.Luís Bridge, both sides of which deserve to be explored. Try the tasting menu at laboratory-turned-restaurant Euskalduna Studio, feast on fried octopus by the river at Adega São Nicolau and be sure to sip the gin-based D.Pedro at The Royal Cocktail Club. It’s worth hiring a car to venture outside of Porto proper to Matosinhos, a pretty seaside town boasting a selection of innovative restaurants including Fava Tonka, a pioneering vegetarian spot from chef Nuno Castro. Just further north is Casa de Cha de Boa Nova, a seafood-focused tasting menu restaurant with dramatic ocean views set right on the water’s edge.
When to visit: Summertime, from June to September
Don’t miss: The francesinha, an enormous sandwich of assorted meats, fried egg and cheese sauce, served all over the city
SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE, MEXICO
Admire the World Heritage City at sunset with cocktails on the Bekeb rooftop
Home of the second edition of North America’s 50 Best Bars in 2023, San Miguel de Allende is arguably Mexico’s most up-and-coming destination, both for its thriving food scene and for its exciting wine and cocktail offering. A colourful, friendly UNESCO World Heritage City that’s easily navigable on foot, it is accessible within three hours’ drive or a short plane ride from the capital. Head straight to boutique hotel Casa Hoyos for rooftop cocktails from bartender Fabiola Padilla at Bekeb, with panoramic views of the Sierra Madre mountains beyond. For street eats, grab a buttery elote (grilled corn) in the main square facing the Parroquía de San Miguel Arcángel, before ambling the cobblestone streets to admire the baroque architecture.
When to visit: November to April
Don’t miss: A mezcal cocktail at Bekeb
DUBAI, UAE
Dubai has become an international hub of cuisines from across the world
Home to more than half of the top 10 of Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023, Dubai is widely acknowledged as the region’s culinary capital. It’s not hard to see why, with every appetite catered for, from high-end Peruvian at Coya to Japanese at Zuma and Sichuanese at Hutong. The city is also chock-full of female talent, with an outpost of Lebanese chef-owner Mireille Hayek’s celebrated Em Sherif and Palestinian Salam Dakkak taking the MENA’s Best Female Chef title in 2023 at her restaurant, Bait Maryam, among others. There’s endless talent on the bar scene too, from opulent Bulgari Bar to counterculture drinking den Electric Pawn Shop.
When to visit: November to February
Don’t miss: Izu Ani’s Greek-Mediterranean Gaia is the place to be seen
SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL
Pig out at A Casa do Porco before rounding off the night with cocktails at Tan Tan
Rio de Janeiro deservedly gets attention for its beautiful beaches and exciting culinary scene (it’s also host to Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023), but São Paulo has long held the title of Brazil’s best food and drink destination. Less touristy and more edgy than Rio, this sprawling city boasts unparalleled nightlife and dining options to suit all tastes, from old-guard fine dining spots D.O.M. and Fasano, to comfort food classic Mocotó, and the new crop of young chef-led restaurants like Metzi, Corrutela, Evvai and Charco. As a melting pot of cultures from Lebanese to Japanese, São Paulo also covers all the flavour bases: try the kimchi omelette at Komah, the palm heart ravioli at Maní or pick any spot in Liberdade, the local Chinatown. Wash it all down with cachaça cocktails at Jiquitaia or Japanese-inspired drinks at underground Tan Tan.
When to visit: All year round, with the hotter months and rainy season from October to March
Don’t miss: The pork (or vegan) tasting menu at The Best Restaurant in Brazil, A Casa do Porco
Browse even more restaurant and bar recommendations across the world on the 50 Best Discovery website, and follow 50 Best on Instagram, Facebook, X and YouTube for the latest news, features and videos.
