From vibrant food markets to quaint local eateries, the world is filled with delicious spots waiting to be explored — but which cities stand out for food lovers?
To uncover the top foodie cities, the slots team at Spin Genie examined key factors, including the average restaurant cost in different regions, the cities with the highest number of eateries, and the most photogenic food scenes.
Whether you’re craving spicy street food in Mexico City or a refined Michelin-starred dining experience in Tokyo, we’re here to showcase the ultimate guide to global food hotspots and uncover unique places to satisfy your culinary cravings.
The best foodie cities around the world
1. Chiang Mai, Thailand | 9.76 out of 10
In first place is Chiang Mai, with a score of 9.76 out of 10. Renowned for its affordability, travellers can indulge in various dishes at budget-friendly prices — the average cost for two people at a mid-range restaurant is C$24 for three courses.
Chiang Mai is most well-known for its local Thai food, including khao soi (a curry noodle soup) and sweet, sticky mango rice. A restaurant where you can sample these delicacies includes Pakorn's Kitchen, with one reviewer saying it was the “best food we’ve eaten in Chiang Mai.”
2. George Town, Malaysia | 8.39 out of 10
George Town, Malaysia, lands in second, securing a score of 8.39 out of 10. The location did well across all factors, with standout scores for a three-meal cost (C$28) and 3.85 Michelin-recommended restaurants per 10,000 people.
The city’s blend of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Peranakan influences creates an exceptional range of flavours. Local favourites include char kway teow (stir-fried noodles) and assam laksa (sweet and sour fish soup) from family-run shops like My Own Café.
3. Porto, Portugal | 8.22 out of 10
Porto, Portugal's coastal gem, completed the top spots in third. The city achieved an 8.22 out of 10 and narrowly beat Lisbon, another Portuguese foodie hotspot.
Known for its seafood, hearty stews, and famous Francesinha sandwich — a multi-layered sandwich packed with meat and drenched in sauce — Porto has plenty of spots for foodies. A special place with two Michelin stars is Antiqvvm. Located next to the Museu Romântico, this fine-dining restaurant serves tasting menus featuring blue lobster and wagyu dishes.
The cost of visiting a restaurant in foodie cities
We’ve looked at the average cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant to find the most affordable cities if you’re on a budget and the most expensive if you’re looking to splash out.
The average cost of the worldwide foodie cities in this study is C$73, so let’s see which places are far more, or less, expensive than this.
The most affordable foodie city
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Average cost of a meal at a mid-range restaurant: C$24
Chiang Mai, Thailand, is not only the foodie capital of the world but also the most affordable place. Two people can enjoy a three-course meal at a mid-range restaurant for an average of C$24.
However, these low prices shouldn’t make you question the high-quality food you can find throughout the city. A reviewer of one mid-range restaurant, Khao-so-i, said the “khao soi was delicious and beautifully presented!”
The most expensive foodie city
Reykjavik, Iceland
Average cost of a meal at a mid-range restaurant: C$166
Reykjavik, Iceland, is one of the most expensive foodie hotspots in the world. A three-course meal at a mid-range restaurant costs around C$166. Despite the high prices, Reykjavik's food scene often provides an unforgettable culinary experience. You can try out the cities’ Nordic traditions with dishes such as Arctic char, lamb stew, and the famous fermented shark (hákarl).
The foodie city with the most restaurants
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Affordable restaurants per 10,000 people: 39.85
Fine dining restaurants per 10,000 people: 4.01
Chiang Mai stands out not only for its affordability but also for having the highest number of restaurants per population, with nearly 40 affordable eateries and over four fine dining establishments per 10,000 people.
Beyond street food, Chiang Mai offers a variety of dining experiences, from family-run spots like Tikky Café to chic restaurants such as Parc Thai Eatery. The city’s food culture extends beyond traditional Thai cuisine, with many restaurants serving fusion dishes, international flavours, and modern interpretations of local favourites.
The foodie city with the most Michelin-recommended restaurants
Aix-en-Provence, France
Michelin-recommended restaurants per 10,000 people: 4.48
Aix-en-Provence, France, has the highest concentration of Michelin-recommended restaurants per 10,000 people, at 4.48, making it a true culinary gem in the heart of Provence.
Aix-en-Provence offers food lovers elegant dining and Provençal flavours rooted in local traditions. The city's Michelin-recognised restaurants, such as Les Inseparables, Le Art, and Côté Cour, have a refined approach to French cuisine. Signature dishes include bouillabaisse and St. Honoré cake, with each restaurant putting its spin on the classics.
The most Instagrammed foodie hotspot
Melbourne, Australia
Foodie Instagram hashtags per 10,000 people: 7,977.70
Melbourne, Australia, reigns as the most Instagrammed foodie hotspot, with over 7,977 foodie hashtags per 10,000 people. The city’s café culture is world-renowned, with Instagram feeds often flooded with images of vibrant avocado toasts, perfectly crafted flat whites, and artful desserts.
Melbourne's food markets, such as the iconic Queen Victoria Market, are also famous for their fresh produce and international flavours. The city’s love for delicious cuisine and beautifully presented dishes has made it a magnet for foodies and social media enthusiasts.
Gordon Ramsay is the highest-earning influential foodie outside of the US and Canada
Gordon Ramsay
Potential earnings: C$119,156
Gordon Ramsay has kept up with his social media influence since last year’s study, again securing the top position. However, his potential earnings have almost doubled. With 18,100,000 followers, he could earn up to C$119,156 for a sponsored post.
Ramsay began his career training under chefs like Marco Pierre White and Guy Savoy before opening his first restaurant, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, in London in 1998, which went on to earn three Michelin stars.
Beyond the kitchen, he became a household name through hit television shows such as Hell's Kitchen, MasterChef, and Kitchen Nightmares. Alongside this, he has authored numerous cookbooks and has even started a TikTok trend where he reacts to recipes on the app.
The best foodie cities in the US and Canada
1. Miami, Florida | 8.23 out of 10
Miami tops the list of foodie cities in the US and Canada for 2024, scoring 8.23 out of 10. Miami is known for Cuban sandwiches, stone crabs, and ceviche, dishes you’ll likely be able to find in restaurants like Monty's Coconut Grove or Old's Havana Cuban Bar & Cocina.
With its year-round sunny climate, outdoor dining is popular, and Instagram is filled with vibrant images of the food here against this backdrop. There are over 20,400 posts with foodie hashtags relating to this location.
2. Atlanta, Georgia | 7.41 out of 10
Atlanta jumped into second position with a score of 7.41. The city is famous for its comfort food classics like fried chicken, biscuits, and peach cobbler, while its restaurant landscape has expanded to include globally inspired fare, from Korean BBQ to Ethiopian cuisine.
A three-course meal for two people at a mid-range restaurant will cost about C$121, while there is an average of over 16 restaurants per 10,000 people in the city.
3. Vancouver, British Columbia | 7.27 out of 10
Vancouver is the only Canadian city in the top 10, scoring an impressive 7.27. Seafood, especially salmon and spot prawns take center stage, while the city’s thriving international scene — from sushi at Miku to kibbeh at Nuba — means there’s something for everyone.
The average cost of a three-course meal for two is the lowest out of the top three destinations, at C$120. However, you can find tasty bites even cheaper at the city's food trucks and bustling markets.
The cost of visiting a restaurant in the US and Canadian foodie cities
The average cost of a three-course meal for two people at a mid-range restaurant is slightly higher throughout US and Canadian foodie hotspots, at C$113. But where can you find the most affordable and expensive spots?
The most affordable foodie cities in the US and Canada
Charlottetown and Fredericton
Average cost of a meal at a mid-range restaurant: C$73
Two places tie for the most affordable restaurant meals and they’re both in Canada.
Charlottetown, the capital of Prince Edward Island, is known for its fresh, local seafood and farm-to-table dining. With an average cost of C$73 for a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant, you can expect to find menu staples such as seafood chowder, lobster rolls, and even raspberry cream cheese pie, along with local produce like potatoes and artisanal cheeses.
Fredericton also offers dining at around C$73 per meal in mid-range establishments. The city’s food scene is shaped by its surrounding farms and rivers, meaning you’ll find delicious seafood and hearty, locally sourced meats and vegetables. Look for fresh Atlantic salmon, smoked fish, and dishes with wild blueberries or maple syrup — they’re the city’s local specialties.
The most expensive foodie cities in the US and Canada
San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City
Average cost of a meal at a mid-range restaurant: C$162
While Canada dominates the most affordable foodie hotspots, the US takes up the most expensive places. San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City all cost an average of C$162 for three courses.
However, you can expect tasty food in all three of these locations, whether it’s fresh oysters from Blue Mermaid Restaurant in San Francisco, enchiladas verdes from El Compadre in LA, or fritto misto from Olio E Più in NYC.
The foodie city with the most restaurants in the US and Canada
We’ve found the places in the US and Canada with the most affordable and fine-dining restaurants per 10,000 people — giving you plenty of choices.
The foodie city with the most affordable restaurants in the US and Canada
Greenville, South Carolina
Affordable restaurants per 10,000 people: 13.46
Greenville in South Carolina is perfect for foodies on a budget. This location has the highest number of affordable restaurants, at 13.46 per 10,000 people.
Affordable spots in this city include Kitchen Sync, where you can try their “delicious shrimp burger,” and Smoky Dreams Barbecue and Catering, which one reviewer described as their “favorite BBQ in South Carolina.”
The foodie city with the most fine dining restaurants in the US and Canada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Fine dining restaurants per 10,000 people: 2.78
If you have a special occasion coming up or want to spend a bit extra on food, Las Vegas has many fine dining restaurants to choose from. There are just under three establishments per 10,000 people, for a total of 184.
Try the famous chocolate globe dessert and bread pudding at Vic & Anthony's Steakhouse, or opt for tuna sashimi and black snapper at Raku.
The foodie city with the most Michelin-recommended restaurants in the US and Canada
Berkeley, California
Michelin-recommended restaurants per 10,000 people: 13.20
Michelin-recommended restaurants promise to be full of impressive dishes and excellent service. If this is what you’re looking for, then Berkeley, California, is the spot to be in.
There are just over 13 Michelin-recommended restaurants, including Comal (where “Latin fare doesn’t get any better”) and Chez Panisse.
The most Instagrammed foodie hotspot in the US and Canada
Vancouver, British Columbia
Foodie Instagram hashtags per 10,000 people: 21,178.80
Vancouver food lovers are the most active on Instagram, with 1,551,521 foodie-related hashtags. This works out at almost 21,180 hashtags per 10,000 people!
Some shared posts include stunning pictures of seabuckthorn ceviche served at Published on Main and snaps from the annual Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival.
Chrissy Teigen is the highest-earning influential foodie in the US and Canada
Chrissy Teigen
Potential earnings: C$227,922
Chrissy Teigen retains her crown as the most influential foodie in the US and Canada. She has over 42 million followers on Instagram, meaning she could earn up to C$227,922 per post on the app.
With multiple best-selling cookbooks to her name, Chrissy Teigen is known for her approachable yet creative recipes and has built a massive following by blending humour, authenticity, and culinary expertise.
Methodology
Best foodie cities
We created a seed list of foodie cities using sources such as CN Traveller, Taste Atlas, and Time Out.
We also created a seed list of foodie cities in the US and Canada using sources such as US News and Forbes.
We used Numbeo to source the average cost of visiting a restaurant, looking at the price of a three-course meal for two people at a mid-range restaurant.
Then, we found the number of cheap, mid-range, and fine-dining restaurants in each city using Tripadvisor.
We sourced the number of Michelin-recommended restaurants in each city using the official Michelin guide site.
We calculated the above per 10,000 of the population, sourcing each city's population from City Population.
We found the number of foodie Instagram hashtags for each city by looking at #[CITY]foodie and #[CITY]foodies.
Highest-earning foodie influencers
Using various articles from Google, we also compiled a list of the top foodie influencers, considering their social media platform followers. We then calculated their highest estimated potential earnings per sponsored post using the Instagram pricing calculator from Inzpire Me.
All data was collected on 03/09/2024 and is correct as of then.
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