The typical cuisine of a place is a direct reflection of its culture and the local produce the land offers. Italian cuisine, thanks to a combination of various factors, is undoubtedly one of the most beloved in the world. This isn’t just an opinion: in the latest TasteAtlas ranking of the cities with the best food in the world, the entire podium is Italian. Here are the destinations highlighted by the platform.
Cities with the best food in the world
TasteAtlas has created various rankings related to the best dishes to try, the finest cuisines, and more. The results of the rankings are primarily based on user ratings. Specifically, for the city ranking, TasteAtlas relied on approximately 477,000 ratings from a database of around 17,000 cities worldwide. The podium that emerged, although not based on professional evaluations, is good news for Italy.
Naples
Naples is often celebrated as one of the culinary capitals of the world, thanks to iconic dishes like pizza (but not only). According to TasteAtlas, Naples ranks first for its cuisine, making it the city with the best food in Italy. The most loved dishes, judging by the reviews, were margherita pizza, sfogliatella, gnocchi alla sorrentina, and spaghetti with clams.
Milan
Just after the Neapolitan capital, with only a few hundredths of a point difference, comes Milan. In this case, the most appreciated dishes by the reference sample were risotto alla milanese, cotoletta, ossobuco, cassoeula, and, for dessert, the famous panettone.
Bologna
With a very small gap, Bologna appears, one of the cities where the food is most delicious. In Bologna, the best dishes are tagliatelle al ragù, tortellini in broth, cotoletta alla bolognese, lasagne, and crescentina. But the podium certainly doesn’t mark the end of the Italian cities on the list.
Florence
Florence is less than an hour by train from Bologna, but the culinary tradition is quite different. Bistecca alla fiorentina is one of the most appreciated dishes according to TasteAtlas. Also featured are some typical regional dishes, such as ribollita, crostini toscani, and pappa al pomodoro.
Other cities in the top 10
Moving down to the top 10, other cities from around the world appear, although Italy's presence remains very strong. In particular, the top positions are completed by:
- Mumbai (India), known for dishes like Bhelpuri, Pav bhaji, and Vada pav.
- Rome, famous for carbonara, cacio e pepe, and pasta alla gricia, as well as coda alla vaccinara.
- Paris (France), appreciated for foie gras, escargots, and crème brûlée.
- Vienna (Austria), the Austrian capital stands out for its schnitzel.
- Turin, where you can enjoy dishes like vitello tonnato, agnolotti, or sweets like gianduiotto.
- Osaka (Japan), a major Japanese city and also a gastronomic hub.
What is the best cuisine in the world?
Determining the best cuisine in the world is a complex task, as taste is subjective and influenced by personal and cultural experiences. However, there are some cuisines that, due to their richness of flavours and traditions, are often considered among the best globally. Among these, Italian cuisine holds a place of honour, not only for the variety of its dishes but also for the use of fresh and simple ingredients that enhance natural flavours.
According to the "100 Best Cuisines in the World" ranking by the same platform, Italian cuisine ranks only second. In first place, albeit by a small margin, is Greek cuisine. These two Mediterranean cuisines are followed by Mexican cuisine. The top 10 is completed by Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Indonesia, France, Japan, and China.
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Even when it comes to typical dishes, Italy doesn’t manage to claim the top spot, though it comes quite close. The most appreciated dish by the platform’s community is Lechona, a Colombian dish made with pork. Following closely are Neapolitan pizza, with a score of 4.75/5, Brazilian Picanha, and Algerian Rechta. However, when it comes to culinary regions worldwide, Campania takes the top spot.
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