Every year since 2016, Resonance Consultancy — a Vancouver based place-branding firm that helps communities, cities and regions around the world become more livable, lovable and prosperous for its citizens, investors and visitors — has published an annual ranking of the World’s Best Cities. Earlier this year, we released our annual Europe’s Best Cities, spanning almost 30 data points. Among these is the number of local restaurants listed on TripAdvisor in each city. This is a good proxy for measuring the vibrancy of each city’s culinary scene, and gives us an excuse to explore the latest in restaurants, markets and awards cooking in the Old World’s urban centres.

Based on our 2024 Europe’s Best Cities rankings, we bring you the continent’s top food destinations. From Paris’s Michelin-starred icons to Rome’s modern twists on tradition, each city offers a unique culinary experience. Barcelona impresses with bold Catalan flavours, while Madrid merges tradition and sustainability. Istanbul fuses Ottoman heritage with modern flair, and London’s diverse food scene continues to evolve. Milan, Naples, Lisbon, and Berlin complete the list, offering a blend of history and innovation. From street food to fine dining, these cities are must-visits for food lovers in 2024.
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1

Paris: Always a good idea for (many) a meal

Paris is a culinary pilgrimage, with its world-renowned restaurants, bakeries, and cafés setting global standards for gastronomy. In 2023 alone, Plénitude earned its third Michelin star, solidifying the city’s reputation as the ultimate dining destination. Paris’ Le Jules Verne, perched atop the Eiffel Tower, continues to wow visitors with haute French cuisine, while the Bouillon Pigalle offers classic dishes at affordable prices, underscoring the city’s range of dining experiences.

One of the most anticipated culinary developments is the Les Halles Food Market, set to reopen next year as a modern epicentre for fresh produce and street food vendors, a nod to its historic roots as the city’s former central marketplace. Whether it's freshly baked croissants from Du Pain et des Idées or avant-garde dishes from Septime, Paris’ vibrant mix of old and new defines its food scene.

Street-side crêperies continue to offer sweet and savoury delights, while established brasseries like Le Comptoir du Relais blend tradition with modern innovation. Paris’ culinary journey reflects the city’s dynamic character, with new Michelin stars, food halls, and gastronomic festivals adding to the rich history of dining. In the afterglow of the 2024 Summer Olympics, expect an even more confident culinary destination as new pop-ups and global collaborations light up the city’s culinary scene.
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Rome: A feast for all senses across millennia

Rome’s culinary scene is an immersive step back in time, yet it's continually evolving with fresh ideas. With its ancient history embedded in every bite, the city's food culture offers a true taste of tradition. Rome’s Pulejo, which earned a Michelin star in 2023, is a prime example of how Roman classics like carbonara and amatriciana are being reimagined for modern tastes. Its minimalist design reflects its focus on simplicity and elegance, making it one of the hottest tables in the Eternal City. Meanwhile, Romanè and Don Pasquale offer more casual, but no less authentic experiences, focusing on local ingredients and classic dishes.

This year brings more excitement as global hospitality brands like Bulgari Roma prepare to open with culinary genius Niko Romito (of three-Michelin-starred Reale) at the helm. The city continues to cement its status as a gastronomic hub. The opening of the Anantara Palazzo Naiadi's rooftop restaurant, Seen by Olivier, further showcases the merging of tradition and contemporary elegance.

Romans’ love for food goes beyond just high-end dining. Wander the city's many markets, from Campo de' Fiori to Testaccio, and you’ll find stalls brimming with fresh produce, olive oil, and cheeses that embody Rome’s culinary essence. The city's casual trattorias — where hearty dishes like cacio e pepe, saltimbocca, and supplì reign supreme — make it a magnet for both tourists and locals alike. Food is an integral part of daily life, and whether you’re enjoying a meal in a centuries-old piazza or at a new rooftop hotspot, the food in Rome always tells a story.
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Barcelona: Culinary creativity in the Catalan capital

Barcelona’s cuisine is all about flavours that are bold, fresh, and vibrant, with Mediterranean influences intertwined with Catalan tradition. The city's food scene reached new heights in 2023 when Disfrutar was awarded its third Michelin star. Known for its boundary-pushing, artistic approach to food, this establishment redefines Catalan dining, inviting patrons on a sensory journey. Another exciting newcomer is Aleia, which earned its first Michelin star last year, a fine dining gem that reflects Barcelona's creativity and dedication to local ingredients.

Of course, the culinary adventure in Barcelona begins in its markets like Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria or the lesser-known Mercat de Sant Antoni. This is  where locals and enlightened tourists alike indulge in tapas, fresh seafood, and Iberian ham, capturing the essence of Catalan gastronomy. Even everyday street foods like bocadillos and patatas bravas are prepared with meticulous care and served with pride.

With the near-completion of Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia in 2026, tourism to Barcelona is expected to skyrocket, especially around its famed food markets. One project gaining traction is the expansion of the Pedralbes Food Market, which is set to attract food lovers globally next year. From the city's pintxos bars in El Born to its high-end culinary temples, Barcelona effortlessly balances tradition and modernism, a reflection of its ranking among Europe’s top cities for food and culture.
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4

Madrid: Tradition, innovation and sustainability

Madrid’s culinary landscape is as dynamic as the city itself, combining deep-rooted Spanish traditions with cutting-edge modernity. Local flavours dominate, from jamón ibérico to churros con chocolate, but Madrid has also become a hotbed of sustainability-driven gastronomy. Restaurants like Coque, which holds two Michelin stars, are leading the charge, blending farm-to-table dining with luxury, resulting in both a sustainable and sumptuous experience. Another standout is Dani García’s Dani Brasserie, located in the Four Seasons Madrid, where bold flavours meet a cosmopolitan atmosphere, celebrating Spanish cuisine with international flair.

Madrid’s new wave of dining experiences includes the Royal Collections Gallery, an awe-inspiring cultural project next to the Royal Palace that will soon include a fine dining restaurant featuring traditional Spanish dishes with modern twists. This year will also see the completion of Madrid Nuevo Norte, Europe’s largest urban regeneration project, which is expected to create hundreds of new restaurants and bars in the city's northern districts.

Locals are also keen on Madrid’s famous markets, like Mercado de San Miguel, where you can sample tapas while mingling with tourists and Madrileños. Chocolatería San Ginés remains a popular late-night stop for churros dipped in thick hot chocolate, further cementing Madrid’s reputation as one of the world’s best destinations for food lovers.
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5

Istanbul: Timeless tastemaking in Europe’s most populous city

Istanbul’s food scene is a delightful fusion of its rich Ottoman heritage and modern global influences. In 2023, the city's culinary landscape hit new heights when TURK Fatih Tutak earned its second Michelin star. Tutak is known for his commitment to Turkish ingredients and flavours, which he elevates with innovative techniques learned abroad. The opening of JW Marriott Marmara Sea and the luxury Peninsula Istanbul in the same year also bolstered the city’s reputation as a gourmet destination, with their in-house restaurants pushing the boundaries of Turkish cuisine.

From kebabs to mezes, Istanbul's food culture remains firmly rooted in tradition. The city's street food scene, including simit (a Turkish sesame bread) and balık ekmek (fish sandwiches), is world-renowned. The Galataport project, which includes the world’s first underground cruise terminal, is also revitalizing Istanbul's historic waterfront and promises a variety of new dining venues by 2027.

Beyond fine dining, the traditional markets, like the Spice Bazaar and Grand Bazaar, continue to attract millions of visitors annually, offering a sensory overload of spices, teas, and Turkish delights. Istanbul’s culinary future looks as bright as its ancient past, with a steady rise in both local and international investment in its ever-evolving food scene.
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6

London: A culinary renaissance

While London topped our overall Europe’s Best Cities ranking, its food scene ranks #6 as it continues to push boundaries, offering everything from iconic British dishes like fish and chips to the culinary mastery of Michelin-starred venues. CORE by Clare Smyth retains its three Michelin stars, a nod to the city's evolving food culture that celebrates local produce with international sophistication. London has also seen a resurgence in its street food culture, with hotspots like Borough Market and Maltby Street Market attracting food lovers from all over the world.

The recent opening of Alain Ducasse’s new venture in Mayfair is highly anticipated, promising to bring another layer of luxury to London’s dining scene. The London food market revolution is in full swing with the recent opening of Eataly London, showcasing the best of Italian fare while also promoting sustainability.

London’s pub scene remains a cornerstone of its culinary identity, but it is the multicultural diversity of the city that defines its food scene today. Whether it’s authentic Indian cuisine on Brick Lane, dim sum in Chinatown, or modern European fare at The Connaught, the city continues to lead in culinary innovation, making it Europe’s most exciting dining destination.
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Milan: Eat, walk it off, and repeat (fashionably)

Milan’s culinary landscape is as chic and sophisticated as its fashion scene. Enrico Bartolini at Mudec retained its three Michelin stars in 2023, while the newly opened W Milan Duomo introduced the city to the Mio Lab cocktail bar, offering trendy Italian tapas alongside craft cocktails. Milan ranks in the top five for its food scene and shows no signs of slowing down.

Milan’s Lungarno Collection unveiled Portrait Milano, a luxury hotel housed in one of Europe’s oldest seminaries. Its restaurant, featuring local Lombard ingredients, is already making waves. Next year will see the launch of a new Identità Golose culinary hub, attracting the world’s top chefs for pop-up dinners and interactive cooking workshops.

Milan’s proximity to the Alps also influences its culinary scene, with hearty dishes like risotto alla Milanese and osso buco complementing the city’s more cosmopolitan dining options. Whether you're enjoying an espresso at a café on Corso Como or indulging in a Michelin-starred meal, Milan offers a food experience as stylish as the city itself.
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Naples: Italy’s under-appreciated feast

Naples is where food and tradition meet with unforgettable flair. Known for inventing pizza, the city still serves some of the best in the world at spots like 50 Kalò and L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele. But Naples is far more than just pizza. Veritas, a Michelin-starred gem, offers a refined take on Neapolitan classics, while the new W Naples hotel promises a high-end dining experience by 2024.

Naples’ rich history is reflected in its food, from its iconic sfogliatella pastries to fresh seafood served along the city's historic waterfront. The recently launched high-speed rail link to Rome will bring even more culinary explorers to the city, eager to indulge in the fresh flavours of Campania. With new Michelin-starred contenders and upscale dining venues on the horizon, Naples is solidifying its place as a must-visit destination for food lovers.
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Lisbon: The bounty of the sea on the edge of the continent

Lisbon’s culinary landscape is thriving, blending traditional Portuguese flavours with contemporary techniques. Kabuki Lisboa, with its Michelin star earned in 2023, brings an exciting Japanese-Portuguese fusion, while the city’s newest Michelin-starred restaurant, Kanazawa, continues to push the boundaries of Japanese-inspired dining in Lisbon’s creative food scene. Portuguese cuisine remains at the heart of Lisbon, with old-world staples like bacalhau (salted cod) and pastéis de nata (custard tarts) enjoyed in spots like Manteigaria and Pastéis de Belém.

The opening of the Lisbon Food Market, slated for next year, is poised to reshape the city’s status as a premier European food destination. This market will bring together traditional food stalls and innovative eateries that fuse global flavours with local ingredients. Lisbon’s food renaissance reflects the city’s broader cultural revival, driven by global nomads, tourists, and food enthusiasts. Whether you’re enjoying the sea breeze at a miradouro while savouring petiscos (Portuguese tapas), or indulging in cutting-edge fare at a Michelin-starred establishment, Lisbon’s culinary evolution makes it a standout on Europe’s food map.

With a growing wave of new openings, Michelin stars, and cultural initiatives, Lisbon continues to attract food lovers from around the globe. Its mix of traditional cuisine and contemporary creativity promises to make it a culinary capital for years to come.
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Berlin: Global influence blends with a proud culinary legacy

Berlin’s culinary evolution has cemented it as one of Europe’s most exciting food destinations. The city’s reputation for cultural diversity is reflected in its dining scene, with everything from authentic Turkish doner at local stands to cutting-edge modern cuisine found at restaurants like Nobelhart & Schmutzig, which proudly boasts a Michelin star for its hyper-local, sustainability-driven menu.

Berlin’s street food is legendary, with markets like Markthalle Neun offering a variety of food stalls serving global favourites such as currywurst, falafel, and dumplings. The city's Bite Club—a street food fair along the Spree River—continues to attract foodies from across the continent with its ever-changing roster of food trucks and stalls.

Berlin’s culinary renaissance is supported by its rise as a creative and tech hub, attracting both local and international chefs who seek to innovate while preserving the city's culinary heritage. Tim Raue, another Michelin-starred favourite, continues to dominate with his East Asian-inspired menu that blends German precision with global flavours.

Looking ahead to 2026, the launch of Berlin's Food & Drink District near Alexanderplatz will showcase the city's ambition to continue as a European culinary leader. As Berlin continues to grow, so too does its food scene, with a unique blend of global influences and traditional German dishes that keep travellers and locals alike coming back for more.
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