Here's Where T+L Editors Love to Travel for Food

Travel + Leisure

2 days ago

When it comes to discovering a destination, few experiences are as revealing (or as delicious) as exploring its food scene. We asked the Travel + Leisure team to share the cities that left the strongest impression on their taste buds, from street food havens to fine-dining capitals. Whether it's bold flavors or rich culinary traditions, these food cities are the ones that served up a long-lasting experience for T+L.
"Thailand is one of those places where the food itself is the destination. When my husband and I honeymooned in the land of fish sauce and chilies a few years ago, our itinerary read more like a menu, our days and nights revolving around where and what we'd eat next: boat noodles slurped outside a street stall in Bangkok; fragrant khao soi at a Chiang Mai recommendation we'd gotten from a local Uber driver; green curry in a countryside cooking class using ingredients we'd handpicked just nearby; a whole, salt-crusted fish with an ice-cold Singha on the beach in Railay; and sweet mango sticky, well, anytime we had the chance.
What makes Thailand's culinary scene stand out is its flavors, yes—a pungent alchemy of sour, sweet, salty, and spicy (sometimes all at once)—but it's also about the accessibility of absurdly good food. You don't need reservations or a big budget. Some of the best meals we had came wrapped in banana leaves or served in plastic cups with a straw. Street vendors are revered like celeb chefs, and we ate well whether we were sitting outside on a wobbly plastic stool devouring som tum or tucked into a Michelin-starred restaurant being served course after course.
Eating in Thailand isn't just for sustenance; it's about exploring, nourishing not only your stomach, but your senses, from following your nose through a night market or learning to pound curry paste from scratch in a countryside cooking class."
— Alisha Prakash, Associate Editorial Director
"When it comes to the range and quality of cuisines, New York City can't be beat. Sure, the tacos are still not as great as Los Angeles, but where else can you get top-notch cuisine from places like Uzbekistan, Armenia and Ethiopia? The diversity of Japanese cuisine alone is amazing, whether you want sushi, tempura, soba noodles, or grilled eel. That said, it's the fried chicken, caviar, champagne at Coqodaq that made me fall in love with the city again. It feels like a party every night."
— Denny Lee, Articles Editor A bowl of Bucatini All'Amatriciana and small market in Rome, Italy.
Nina Ruggiero/Travel + Leisure
"In Rome, life is centered around food. From the espresso crowds spilling out of tiny cafes in the mornings to long afternoons spent at sidewalk tables over pasta and wine, there's no better way to live, if you ask me. I studied abroad in Rome over 15 years ago, and I've been returning regularly ever since—mainly to eat. Without fail, I'll have a bowl of bucatini all'amatriciana in front of me within half an hour of stepping foot in the city center. If you're there in March or April, you must also eat artichokes everywhere you go. I don't make the rules."
— Nina Ruggiero, Senior Editorial Director
"Many American cities have their own culinary specialties but New Orleans has such a distinct preserved cuisine that stands out from other destiantion in America. Only enhancing it further are the micro-communities of immigrants who are thriving in the food space. It's a living, breathing fusion of cultures—French, African, Spanish, and Creole, to name a few. From iconic staples like gumbo and beignets to neighborhood po' boy shops, I always feel like the city tells a story with every meal. I've had some of the best Honduran and Vietnamese food here. I've been to New Orleans eight times and I'm always down to go back—just for the food."
— Susmita Baral, Senior Editor
"Taiwan has one of the most diverse and vibrant culinary scenes in the world because of its political history. Original Taiwanese cuisine is largely Indigenous cuisine—there are 16 recognized Indigenous communities in Taiwan, each with its own foodways. Over the centuries, immigrants from the Chinese mainland, the vast majority of them from Southern China, came to Taiwan for all sorts of reasons: to farm, fish, and, in general, most came to Taiwan to try their luck if they hadn't been able to make it on the mainland."
— Mae Hamilton, Digital Editor
"Charleston is the "It City" for Southern cuisine. South Carolina's Lowcountry benefits from an incredible local bounty of fresh produce and seafood, and for hundreds of years, the diverse mix of people that have called this region home have shaped what we now see as quintessential Southern food. And its not just the deep food history that makes Charleston special; new chefs and experiences are redefining what Lowcountry cooking can be and bringing new flavors and cuisines to this South Carolina city."
— Elizabeth Rhodes, Senior Editor Tacos and a scenic street in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
From left:;"In San Miguel de Allende, T+L's No. 1 city in the world for 2025, the dishes are colorful, textured, flavorful and indicative of the vibrant culture there. Mexican cuisine is some of the best food I love to have when I travel. I was drawn to San Miguel being a quaint city with bustling elements so I knew there would be high-end restaurants, as well as local mom and pop shops where the food is just as good."
— Kareema Bee, Senior Visual Producer
"Whether you're wandering a night market or sitting down for a lengthy barbecue dinner, Korean food is perfect for sharing and trying lots of different things. I loved that small dishes of banchan (daikon, kimchi, bean sprouts, and other pickled veggies) and rice accompany almost every meal; the artfully arranged little bowls are also incredibly aesthetically pleasing."
— Elizabeth Cantrell, Senior Editor Scenic view of Portland Harbor in Maine and an iconic lobster roll from Even Tide.
From left: DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images; Jess Feldman/Travel + Leisure
"The culinary leaders who come here are truly not afraid to be creative. (Spoiler alert: it's not just lobster rolls and oysters.) There's Southern food at Hot Suppa, New England-inspired Asian at The Honey Paw, and delicious fine-dining restaurants that do specialize in seafood, but in the best way, like Scales or Fore Street." — Jess Feldman, Special Projects Editor
"Hong Kong has a trend of savory cocktails that I'm OBSESSED with. Not your typical dirty martinis. It's also home to the best bar in asia (according to 50 best). It's also a great spot for high/low dining. The street markets are filled with fun and unique bites and the city is jam-packed with Michelin-starred restaurants."
— Taylor McIntyre, Senior Visuals Editor Fresh crabs and crab soup from Baltimore, Maryland.
Lydia Price/Travel + Leisure
"While new luxury hotels and white-cloth eateries signal an uptick in Baltimore's tourism efforts, the city's culinary roots are deep and longstanding. Eclectic local cuisine draws from Southern soul food, coastal working-class creations, and influences from Polish immigrants. These hearty dishes hit the stomach like a warm hug, perfect for satiating the appetite after a long day of work on the Chesapeake. When you visit Baltimore, come hungry for Old Bay everything and crab served in every conceivable form."
— Lydia Price, Senior Editor
"The foodie love, pride and appreciation found all over Portugal was something I instantly connected to and fell in love with. Talking with locals in each city visited about their countries history and the food tied into it is an incredibly experience wherever you go but doing so in one of the oldest countries in Europe carries a little something extra. Even being seeped with so much history, having some of their most iconic treats and dishes being made for over 200 years, the kindness and ease of the people is truly what drew me in."
— Alessandra Amodio, Digital Photo Editor A frothy cappuccino from a cafe in Portland, Oregon.
"Portland, Oregon, is an eclectic heaven—and it's culinary scene represents just that. With its food cart culture, independent coffee shops, and roughly 83 microbreweries, it's no surprise this West Coast city attracts over 12 million visitors a year. I traveled here for the coffee culture for my solo birthday trip—and it consisted of reading in a new shop every morning while drinking locally roasted, ethically sourced coffee."
— Jessica Vadillo, Editorial Assistant