fodors best cities for food

World’s Best Cities for Food

World’s Best Cities for food


Hong Kong is known as one of the culinary meccas of the world—and for good reason. The city’s international influences create a melting pot of food options, as hungry eaters can sample everything from bottomless noodle bowls to deep-fried slices of French toast with peanut butter. For midnight cravings, visit one of the city’s night markets. At the Temple Street Night Market (Temple St., Mong Kok), visitors can sample fresh seafood or choose from one of the market’s delicious desserts. A trip to Hong Kong wouldn’t be complete without dim sum. For dumplings steamed to perfection, visit Lin Heung Tea House (160 Wellington St; +852 2544-4556), an 80-year-old restaurant that’s a favorite among locals. Another local favorite, Under Bridge Spicy Crab (421-425 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai; +852 2893-1289;

underspicycrab.com) is not to be missed, with its extensive menu and super fresh seafood, although make sure you have a jug of water or beer, as this “mild spicy” would be blazing hot anywhere else. After sampling seafood and dim sum, stop for a cup of tea at LockCha Tea House (290B Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan; +852 2805-1360; lockcha.com). The house is half retail store, and you can sample different brews before you order. Finally, Hong Kong boasts a number of culinary festivals throughout the year. During the Cheung Chau Bun Festival (Pak She Street, Cheung Chau; +852 2981-0663; cheungchau.org), a four-day Thanksgiving feast, locals climb 60-foot towers of sweet buns in pursuit of good fortune.

HONG KONGYu Lan/Shutterstock

HONG KONGYu Lan/Shutterstock

The City of Love is also the city that loves to eat. For a modern take on a traditional crêperie, visit Breizh Café (109 rue Vieille du Temple, 3eMarais; +33 1-42-72-13-77; breizhcafe.com) in the Marais neighborhood. The café serves traditional Breton savory galettes with meat and cheese, but also crafts dessert crepes from Valrhona chocolate and homemade caramel. Paris is known for its outdoor markets, and Boulevard Raspail (6eSt-Germain-des-Pres) is one of the city’s best. On Sundays, shoppers can browse through rows of fresh, organic produce, and the market is also open on Tuesdays and Fridays with nonorganic food. Eating well is paramount at Guy Savoy (18 rue Troyon, 17eChamps-Élysées; +33 1-43-80-40-61; guysavoy.com), a restaurant on the Champs-Élysées that bears the name of its

world-famous chef. Diners can try dishes ranging from sea bass with spices to delicate vanilla-scented mille-feuilles. To further satisfy your sweet tooth, visit Angelina (226 Rue de Rivoli; +33-1-42-60-82-00; angelina-paris.fr) on the Rue de Rivoli. The tearoom offers a wide variety of elegantly crafted pastries and sweets—but don’t leave without ordering the famous hot chocolate. To remember your sweet time in Paris, bring back some treats from Le Bonbon au Palais (19 rue Monge; +33 1-78-56-15-72; bonbonsaupalais.fr). Carrying over 200 of the 650 bonbons considered part of France’s history, you’ll be sure to find something delectable. Don’t miss the candied flowers or fluffy flavored guimauves (marshmallows).

PARISCafe-Creperie Breizh Café by COG LOG LAB

In a city as large as New York, diners can pick their pleasure. From street food to five-star restaurants, the culinary scene offers something for every eater. For elegant, unexpected dishes with a creative twist, visit Eleven Madison Park (11 Madison Ave. at 24th St, Flatiron District; 212/889-0905; elevenmadisonpark.com) in the city’s Flatiron District. Swiss-born chef Daniel Humm offers a multi-course tasting menu made from fresh, seasonal ingredients. Reservations must be made exactly 28 days in advance to secure a coveted spot in the Art Deco dining room. To satisfy your sweet tooth, stop by Max Brenner: Chocolate by the Bald Man (841 Broadway, between E. 13th and E. 14th Sts, East Village; 646/467-8803; maxbrenner.com). The café offers a unique, chocolate-based menu with dishes like chocolate soup

and fondue. For farm fresh produce, visit the Union Square Park and Greenmarket (E. 14th to E. 17th Sts., between Broadway and Park Ave. S, Flatiron District). The market draws purveyors from the tri-state area, and products include fresh-baked pies, cider, local wine, and handcrafted cheese. Steps away from the market is Gotham Bar and Grill (12 E. 12th St., between 5th Ave. and University Pl., Union Square; 212/620-4020; gothambarandgrill.com), where renowned chef Alfred Portale creates “architectural food,” or towers of stacked ingredients with fresh, seasonal flavors. Tip: Gotham’s prix-fixe, three-course lunch is one of the city’s best fine-dining deals.

NEW YORKNew_York_150 by Anders Carlsson

Barcelona is best known for its tapas, but there are many other foodie attractions throughout the city. Every winter, Catalonians enjoy calçotada—the winter feast. The feast’s namesake is sweet, long-stemmed calçots, or spring onions, and during the last week of January competitors from all over Catalunya compete in a calçot-eating contest. Another regional specialty is Iberico ham, a buttery, nutty-tasting meat that is often found in tapas or charcuterie plates. As the sun goes down, set out on one of the city’s infamous wine-bar crawls. Regional wines are served with tapas at iconic spots like Cal Pep (Pl. de les Olles 8, Born-Ribera; +34 93/310-7961; calpep.com), including spicy sausage and sizzling bombas, or golf-ball-sized fritters filled with mashed potato and ham. For some of the city’s best food-spotting, visit

La Boqueria (Rambla 91, Rambla; boqueria.info) in the heart of the city. La Boqueria is Europe’s oldest mid-city market, and popular items include dried peppers, sausage, spices, and acorn-fed Iberico ham. Or look for some wild mushrooms, another fundamental taste in Catalan cuisine, at Bolets Petràs (867-870; 93/302-5273; boletspetras.com) in La Boqueria. To experience “La Vida Tapa” visit Tickets (Avinguda Parel lel 164; ticketsbar.es) in the trendy Eixample neighborhood. The bar has great tapas offerings and an interesting bar layout that is meant to represent different, unique aspects of Barcelona. Watch the chefs while they craft a theatrical offering of food, including spherical olives and liquid ravioli.

BARCELONASteve Lovegrove/Shutterstock


When it comes to Roman food, simplicity is the name of the game. Most trattorias serve traditional dishes, although new waves of chefs are experimenting with different flavors and ingredients. For the perfect blend of old and new, visit Agata e Romeo (Via Carlo Alberto 45, Termini; +39 06/446-6115; agataeromeo.it). The husband-and-wife-owned restaurant offers diners traditional dishes with a creative twist: enjoy cacio e pepe with a dash of saffron, or salted cod served five ways. Visit Buccone (Via di Ripetta 19, Piazza del Popolo; +39 06/361-2154; enotecabuccone.com) for old world ambiance and a taste of Italy’s finest wines. The wine shop, located in a former carriage house, has shelves of high-quality vintages, and offers a guided tasting tour if you book in advance. Rub elbows with celebrities at Nino (Via Borgognona 11, Spagna; +39 06/678-6752; ristorantenino.it), Rome’s most celebrated trattoria. The restaurant’s menu is comprised of authentic, Tuscan fare and offers everything from hearty ribollita soup to cured meats and liver pate. Don’t leave the city without stopping by Castroni (Via Cola di Rienzo 196, Vatican; +39 06/687-4383; castroni.it), an internationally renowned food emporium that sells gourmet Italian goods and makes some of the best coffee in Rome.

(Mars 2013) by Philippe

ROME

(Mars 2013) by Philippe

As a foodie destination, London has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years. The city’s now vibrant food scene boasts some of the world’s best restaurants, gastropubs, and food emporiums. For Old English style cuisine with a modern twist, visit Dinner by Heston Blumenthal (66 Knightsbridge, Knightsbridge; +44 020/7201-3833) at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. Chef Ashley Palmer Watts pays homage to Old English cooking with dishes like Beef Royale—a sous vide meat dish slow-cooked for 72 hours—or pineapple Tipsy cake, a dessert modeled after traditional English spit-roasting. Under the railroad tracks of London Bridge Station is Borough Market (Southwark St., Borough; +44 020/7402-1002; boroughmarket.org.uk), a farmers’ market that boasts some of the city’s best fare. Visitors can purchase

gourmet meats and cheeses and produce, or stop by one the market’s food stands for freshly prepared lunch and desserts. For authentic Indian street food, visit Roti Chai (3 Portman Mews S., Fitzrovia; +44 020/7408-0101; rotichai.com) behind Selfridges. Popular fare includes street snacks like bhel puri, or puffed rice with exotic spices, and Keralan chicken “lollipops” with a coriander dipping sauce. Adventurous eaters will enjoy The Giaconda Dining Rooms (9 Denmark St., Soho; +44 020/7240-3334; giacondadining.com), an Australian-run restaurant with a melting pot of modern European cuisine. Diners can sample everything from rack of lamb with gnocchi to ham hock hash with a fried egg.

LONDON(c) trentham | Dreamstime.com

In the culinary realm, San Francisco sets the bar high. The city boasts a diverse food scene, including regional wines, ethnic fare, and an abundance of fantastic produce from local farmers’ markets. For an 11-course tasting menu full of fresh, Bay Area produce, visit Coi (373 Broadway, North Beach; 415/393-9000; coirestaurant.com). Chef Daniel Patterson forages many of the restaurant’s ingredients, and offers diners inventive, seasonal dishes. The young, old, and everyone in-between flock to chef Judy Rodgers’s Zuni Café (1658 Market St., Hayes Valley; 415/552-2522; zunicafe.com), where the brick-oven-roasted whole chicken and flourless chocolate gateau Victoire have drawn crowds for over two decades. For an upscale market experience, visit Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market (Ferry Plaza at Market St., Embarcadero; 415/291-

3276; ferrybuildingmarketplace.com). Tables are lined with gourmet cheeses, smoked fish, and locally grown fruit, and diners can whet their appetite with free samples and freshly prepared foods. For a locals-only experience, track down the roving farmer’s markets and food-truck parks that Off the Grid (www.offthegridsf.com) hosts around the city. Wine lovers will enjoy the Bluxome Street Winery (53 Bluxome St., SoMa; 415/543-5353; bluxomewinery.com), the only winery within city limits. Sample vintages in the tasting room, or stop by the last Saturday of every month for a farmers’ market with local vendors.

SAN FRANCISCOCourtesy of Off the Grid


World’s Best Food Cities

Tokyo is known for its traditional cuisine, but an influx of new restaurants and culinary techniques has diversified the city’s culinary scene. For glamorous décor and an eclectic menu, visit Tableaux (B1 Sunroser Daikanyama Bldg., 11-6 Sarugaku-cho, Shibuya-ku; +81 03/5489-2201; tableaux.jp). Diners can sample everything from crab-and-shrimp spring rolls to filet mignon with creamed potatoes. For a more traditional dining experience, stop by Inakaya (1F Reine Bldg., 5-3-4 Roppongi, Minato-ku; +84 03/3408-5040), a restaurant that showcases robatayaki cooking. Guests sit at a U-shaped counter and choose ingredients; two cooks then prepare their order and hand it back on an 8-foot wooden paddle. Ume No Hana (2F Aoyama M’s Tower, 2-27-18 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku; +84 03/5412-0855) also provides a traditional Japanese dining experience. Guests remove their shoes before entering the main dining room, and wooden screens separate the tables. The house specialty, tofu, is cooked many different ways: diners can order it boiled, steamed, or stir-fried.

TOKYO

Chef at Inakaya by Joi Ito

Rich, hearty fare and a focus on farm-fresh ingredients make Amsterdam a foodie paradise. For a taste of “New Amsterdam” cuisine, visit Bolenius (George Gershwinlaan 30, Museum District; +31 020/404-4411; bolenius-restaurant.nl) in the city’s Museum District. Many ingredients are sourced from the restaurant’s garden, and traditional dishes undergo unique transformations: cauliflower and ricotta surprise in the house risotto, and old-fashioned Dutch candies are refashioned for dessert. No food lover can visit Amsterdam without sampling rijsttafel, or rice table, at an Indonesian restaurant like Blauw (Amstelveenseweg 158-160, Museum District, +31 020/675-5000). The traditional Indonesian spread—the Southeast Asian country was once a colony of the Netherlands—features many small

plates for sharing, all served with rice on the side. The Red Light District might not be known for its food, but a small alley is home to Blauw Aan De Wal (Oudezijde Achterburgwal 99, Red Light District; +31 020/330-2257; blauwaandewal.com), one of the city’s most revered culinary institutions. Located in the courtyard of an old monastery, the restaurant offers a rustic, peaceful dining environment and fresh, Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. Explore where food meets art at De Culinaire Werkplaats (Fannius Scholtenstraat 10; deculinairewerkplaats.nl). Try foodie art with themes like “flowers” or “red revisited.” Organic eaters enjoy Noordermarkt (Noordermarkt, Jordaan), a weekly organic farmers’ market held every Saturday. Products include free-range meats, vegan cakes and homemade sauces.

AMSTERDAMStephen VanHorn/Shutterstock

From appetizer-style mezes to plates of fresh seafood, Istanbul is a food lover’s dream. For Cretan seafood specialties like sea bass ceviche and grilled calamari, visit Giritli (Keresteci Hakki Sok., Sultanahmet; +90 212/458-2270; giritlirestoran.com). The restaurant offers a multicourse meal and unlimited alcoholic drinks, including raki, an anise-flavored spirit and Turkey’s national drink. Istanbul is home to a plethora of outdoor markets, and two of the most popular are Balik Pazari (off Istiklal Cad., Beyoglu) and the Egyptian Bazaar (near Yeni Cami Meydani, Eminönü). You can shop for fish, fresh produce, and traditional delicacies at Balik Pazari, or walk through stalls with exotic spices and dried fruits at the Bazaar. For a taste of another local specialty, kebab, visit Mabeyin (Kisikli Mh., Kisikli Büyük

Çamlica Cd No: 129, Üsküdar; +90 216/422-5580; mabeyin.com). Set in a 19th-century mansion, the restaurant offers expertly made mezes, kebabs, and stews. Seek out Mikla (Mesrutiyet Cad. 15, Beyoglu; 212/293-5656; miklarestaurant.com) for contemporary cuisine featuring eclectic dishes flavored with Turkish and Nordic influences. Located on the top floor of an 18-story building, Mikla offers incredible 360-degree views of Istanbul as well as unique dishes like smoked lamb loin with walnut pesto and white bean puree. For Turkish recipes you won’t find anywhere else, visit Çiya (Güneslibahçe Sok. 48B, Kadiköy; 216/336-3013; ciya.com.tr). The wide range of top-notch kebabs are enticing, and equally intriguing are desserts like candied olives, tomatoes, or eggplant, served with sweet clotted cream.

ISTANBUL© Ahmet Ihsan Ariturk | Dreamstime.com


Singapore is a melting pot of cultures, and its food scene embodies that ethos. Hungry visitors can find cuisine from just about every corner of the globe. Les Amis (#02-16 Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Rd., Orchard; +65 6733-2225; lesamis.com.sg), the city’s premier French restaurant, is a favorite among Singaporean businessmen and celebrities. Guests can choose from a six-course dinner menu and an impressive wine list. For a fusion of Asian cuisines, visit Jade (The Fullerton Hotel, 1 Fullerton Square, CBD; +65 6877-8188; fullertonhotel.com). The restaurant serves Chinese food with a twist—guests can sample everything from cocoa-flavored pork ribs to homemade spinach tofu with Japanese nameko mushrooms. Singapore also has some of the best street food in the world. Popular dishes include Hokkein

mee, or fried pawn noodles, and Hainanese chicken rice, which is considered Singapore’s national dish. Singapore’s multicultural heritage is embraced and commemorated by Immigrants Gastrobar (467 Joo Chiat Road; immigrants-gastrobar.com) where guests can try any of the 20 multicultural culinary heritage dishes—featuring Chinese, Eurasian, Indian, Malay, and Peranakan traditional flavours. Located inside the Flower Dome is Pollen (18 Marina Gardens Drive; +65 6420-6848; pollen.com.sg) a splurge-worthy eatery where chefs grow many of the herbs and vegetables that flavor the dishes. Indulge with Pollen’s Dessert Degustation menu, which includes a seasonal pre dessert, two delectable desserts, a home-made Pollen ice cream bar and one glass of dessert wine.

SINGAPORE(c) Szefei | Dreamstime.com

Buenos Aires has a reputation for good food—and the city’s diverse culinary scene does not disappoint. While international influences abound, most of the restaurants are Argentine at their roots. In the heart of the Recoleta neighborhood, Duhau Restaurante (Av. Alvear 1661, Recoleta; +54 11/5171-1340; buenosaires.park.hyatt.com) combines French cooking techniques with the finest South American ingredients. Guests can visit the wine and cheese bar, or sample one of the restaurant’s gourmet seafood or meat dishes. Rio Alba (Cerviño 4499, Palermo; +54 11/4773-5748), a traditional Buenos Aires steakhouse, is known for its tender cuts of beef and attentive service. La Cabrera (Cabrera 5099, Palermo Soho; +54 11/4831-7002; parrillalacabrera.com) is another popular parrilla that serves everything from

grilled goat cheese to mollejas (sweetbreads). Wine lovers will enjoy Terroir (Buschiazzo 3040, Palermo; +54 11/4778-3443; terroir.com.ar), a wine shop located in a Palermo townhouse. Visitors can choose from a large collection of Argentine wine, or participate in private tasting courses. To feel like a true insider visit one of the puertas cerradas, or closed-door restaurants, where amazing chefs work, often in the comfort of their own homes. Enjoy the community and tradition at Adentro Dinner Club (Buenos Aires 1414; adentrodinnerclub.com) when you join Chef Gabrial and his co-owner, girlfriend Kelly, for the asado, a traditional gathering to grill steak and socialize for hours.

BUENOS AIRESBife de chorizo @ La Cabrera by Ryan Vettese


Marc Bruxelle/Shutterstock

From street food to gourmet restaurants, you don’t have to look far for good eats in Mexico’s capital city. For classic Mexican cuisine, visit cookbook author Patricia Quintana’s Izote (Av. Presidente Masaryk 513, at Socrates Col. Polanco; +52 55/5280-1671; izote.com.mx). The restaurant uses Aztec recipes and ingredients to create sophisticated dishes like shark fillet with chili and garlic, and lamb steamed in banana leaves. Visitors with a sweet tooth will love the Dulceria de Celaya (5 de Mayo 39, Col. Centro; +52 55/5521-1787; dulceriadecelaya.com), a 19th century candy store that offers a variety of traditional sweets. For mid-day snacks, stop by one of the city’s many street stalls and try crispy flautas, quesadillas, or gorditas grilled to perfection. Diners can find more upscale fare at Pujol (Francisco Petrarca 254, Polanco; +52 55/5545-3507; pujol.com.mx), an elegant restaurant that puts a modern spin on traditional Mexican dishes.

MEXICO CITY

(c) Lucidwaters | Dreamstime.com

The Holy City is home to a number of foodie destinations, most of which specialize in Middle Eastern or Mediterranean cuisine. For authentic Israeli food with a modern twist, visit Machneyuda (10 Beit Yaakov St., Machaneh Yehuda; +972 02/533-3442) in Jerusalem’s center city. The menu changes daily but includes classic dishes with fresh, seasonal ingredients. After dining at the restaurant, visit its namesake market, Machaneh Yehuda (Off Jaffa St., Machaneh Yehuda). Browse stands filled with fresh produce, sweet confections, and crispy fried balls of falafel. Also popular are Jerusalem’s cafés. Visit one like Kahlo (31 Bethlehem Rd.; Baka; 02/673-6365) and try one of the generous sandwiches named for the surrounding streets accompanied with a limonana (lemonade with crushed mint).

For a midday snack, buy a Jerusalem bagel from a street vendor. The long, oblong-shaped bagels are served with little packets of za’atar, a popular Middle Eastern spice blend. Not to be missed is hummus, especially the delicious sharp and creamy hummus from Abu Shukri (HaGay (Al Wad Rd.) 63, Moslem Quarter; 02/627-1538) where the dish is a family specialty. End the night at Chakra (41 King George St., Downtown; +972 02/625-2733; chakra-rest.com), a sophisticated restaurant with an extensive tasting menu. You can sample local specialties like baba ghanoush and bread, or heartier fare like lamb osso buco.

JERUSALEMChameleonsEye/Shutterstock

Cosmopolitan Montréal is home to a variety of international cuisines but stays true to its French roots. Visit Old Montréal to sample some of the city’s best French fare. Try one of the savory or sweet crepes at Chez Suzette (3 Rue St-Paul E.; +1 514/874-1984; creperiechezsuzette.com), or stock up on maple butter cookies at Les Delices de l’erable (84 Rue St-Paul E.; +1 514/765-3456; mapledelights.com). Stop by Chez l’Epicier (311 Rue St-Paul E., Old Montréal; +1 514/878-2232; chezlepicier.com) for classic French food with a creative twist. Dishes include a chocolate “club sandwich” with pineapple

“fries” and white asparagus soup with truffle oil. For something a little different head over to Chinatown for a dim sum breakfast at Maison Kam Fung (1111 rue St-Urbain; 514/878-2888; maisonkamfung.com). Watch

the waiters parade dumpling-laden trolleys around, pointing out which dishes you’d like. While the city boasts a number of outdoor food markets, Marche Jean-Talon (7070 av. Henri-Julien, Little Italy; +1 514/937-7754; marchespublics-mtl.com) in Little Italy is one of the most popular. Outdoor stalls are filled to the brim with produce, and the market’s shops offer everything from meat and fish to freshly baked bread. A foodie trip to Montréal is not complete without a stop at the iconic Schwartz’s Delicatessen (3895 boul. St-Laurent, The Plateau; 514/842-4813; schwartzsdeli.com). This deli serves up one of the world’s best smoked-meat sandwiches, served piled high on rye and best slathered with spicy deli mustard. Even stars like Angelina Jolie and Halle Berry couldn’t resist.

MONTRÉALMarc Bruxelle/Shutterstock


The Windy City knows its food. From upscale restaurants specializing in molecular gastronomy, to smaller neighborhood establishments, there’s something for every eater in America’s Second City. For an innovative, 18-course tasting menu that will surprise and delight your palate, visit chef Grant Achatz’s Alinea (1723 N. Halsted St., Lincoln Park; 312/867-0110; alinea-restaurant.com). Achatz specializes in molecular gastronomy, and every dish is engineered to yield unexpected pleasures. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, stop by the Green City Market (1790 N. Clark St., Lincoln Park; greencitymarket.org), the city’s largest outdoor farmers’ market that specializes in local, organic produce. Every July, the city hosts Taste of Chicago (Grant Park; cityofchicago.org), one of the country’s largest

outdoor food festivals. Sample cuisine from local restaurants and sign up for four-course dinners made by Chicago’s finest chefs. At the Slurping Turtle (116 W. Hubbard St; River North; 312/464-0466; slurpingturtle.com) you can find heaping bowls of slurpable ramen. While the ramen is the main attraction, make room for bincho (white charcoal) grilled meats and yakitori snacks like duck-fat fried chicken. For fresh Mediterranean fare made by a Top Chef champion, stop by Girl & the Goat (809 W. Randolph St., West Loop; 312/492-6262; girlandthegoat.com) in the West Loop. Chef Stephanie Izard’s inventive dishes include confit goat belly with bourbon butter and grilled baby octopus with guanciale, fava beans, and pistachios.

CHICAGOAlinea by Kimberly Vardeman

Innovative cooking and local produce are staples of Sydney’s food scene. The city’s “Mod Oz” cuisine incorporates fresh ingredients and Mediterranean and Asian flavors. To sample Mod Oz cooking at its finest, visit Tetsuya (529 Kent St., City Center; +61 02/9267-2900; tetsuyas.com) in Sydney’s City Center. Chef Tetsuya Wakuda combines Japanese-French and Western flavors to create an 11-course degustation menu that reflects the freshest seasonal ingredients. For another taste of Mod Oz cuisine, stop by Rockpool (107 George St., The Rocks; +61 02/9252-1888; rockpool.com). The seasonal four-course menu features everything from duck pastrami to lotus-leaf wrapped chicken, and the restaurant’s date tart has been a local favorite for over 20 years. Mark your calendar for the International

Food Festival (goodfoodmonth.com), which showcases the city’s best restaurants, bars, and food businesses. Shoppers will enjoy Paddy’s Market (9-13 Hay St., Haymarket; paddysmarkets.com.au), the city’s largest fresh produce and flea market. Aussies also love dining alfresco so head down to the harbor or beach and settle in for a great meal. For traditional Italian food enjoyed at a locale right on the beach, check out Pilu at Freshwater (On the beach, Moore Rd, Freshwater NSW 2096; 02/9938-3331; piluatfreshwater.com.au). Enjoy Sardinian fare at Pilu, with a signature dish that takes several hours to slow-cook—oven-roasted suckling pig, served on the bone with traditional farmhouse suckling pig sausages.

SYDNEYIMG_9655 by a_b_normal123


World’s Best Food Cities

When one thinks of Marrakech, snake charmers and magic lamps usually come to mind. But there’s no mystery behind the city’s burgeoning food scene—visitors can sample both international cuisine and traditional Moroccan favorites. Visit one of the city’s souks, or markets, to bargain for food and try exotic local delicacies. The most bustling marketplace—with round-the-clock entertainment provided by swaying cobras and dancing monkeys—is at Djemaa El Fna (Medina), a square in central Marrakech where visitors can nosh on dates, spiced nuts, and other snacks by day, and on grilled fish, meats, and vegetables after dusk, when portable cooking kiosks crowd the area. Dine by candlelight at Le Tobsil (22 derb Abdellah ben Hessaien, Medina; +212 0524/44-15-23), a restaurant set in a restored palace that serves traditional Moroccan fare. For fluffy couscous and melt-in-your mouth lamb tagine, visit Dar Marjana (15 derb Sidi Tair, Bab Doukkala, Medina; +212 0524/38-51-10; darmarjanamarrakech.com), one of the city’s premier riad restaurants.

MARRAKECH

Curioso/Shutterstock

Behind Los Angeles’s glitz and glamour lies an expansive food scene. Ethnic restaurants abound, and diners can also sample dishes inspired by the farm-to-table movement. For fresh-off-the-dock seafood, visit Providence (5955 Melrose Ave., Hollywood; 323/460-4170; providencela.com) in Hollywood. Chef Michael Cimarusti uses French techniques and American and Asian flavors to create extensive tasting menus. It’s an elegant affair at Melisse (1104 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica; 310/395-0881; melisse.com), where Chef Josiah Citrin combines modern French cooking and seasonal produce to create upscale, artfully prepared dishes. To do your own shopping, visit Grand Central Market (317 S. Broadway, between 3rd and 4th Sts., Downtown; 213/624-2378; grandcentralsquare.com) in Downtown Los Angeles. The open-

air market has been an L.A. fixture for almost 100 years, and shoppers can find fresh produce, tortillas, and a plethora of ethnic food. For a gourmet shopping experience, visit Cube Café & Marketplace (615 N. La Brea Blvd., Hollywood; 323/939-1148; eatatcube.com). The market offers a wide variety of cheese, charcuterie, and pasta, and is also home to a café and cheese bar. Grab some south-of-the-border taste in pursuit of Southern Californians’ obsession: tacos. Check out Cacao Mexicatessen (1576 Colorado Blvd.; 323-478-2791; cacaodeli.com) for taco specialties like the carnitas de pato (duck confit) or the aguacate frtio (panko- crusted, lightly fried avocado).

LOS ANGELESP6271790 by Ed Kwon

Old meets new in Scandinavia’s capital city, as new Nordic cooking techniques and a revival of traditional favorites creates a vibrant, innovative food scene. For a 20-course tasting menu that epitomizes New Nordic cuisine, visit NOMA (Strandgade 93, Christianshavn; +45 32/96-32-97; noma.dk). Chef Rene Redzepi uses fresh, local ingredients to create artful dishes like potato and bleak, fish roe, and roasted turbot with bitter greens. Geranium (Per Henrik Lings Alle 4, 8, Østerbro; +45 69/96-00-20; geranium.dk) combines the best of both worlds, as chefs Rasmus Kofoed and Soren Ledet re-invent classic Scandinavian dishes with modern cooking techniques. Guests can opt for a seven-course tasting menu, or sample an organic vegetarian menu and individual courses instead. Delicious French

food is complemented by an outstanding 800 varieties of wine to choose from at Le Sommelier (Bredgade 63-65, Centrum; 33/11-45-15; lesommelier.dk). An elegant interior creates an inviting ambience at Le Sommelier where you can enjoy dishes like guinea fowl in a foie-gras sauce or lamb shank and crispy sweetbreads. For a taste of the Danish seas, stop by Fiskebaren (Flæsketorvet 100, 1711 København V; +45 32/15-56-56; fiskebaren.dk), a modern seafood restaurant in Copenhagen’s meatpacking district. Smorrebrod, or open-faced sandwiches, are a local favorite, and Aamanns (Øster Farimagsgade 12; +45 3555-3310; aamanns.dk) offers everything from spiced herring with potatoes and dill to Danish blue cheese with hazelnut crème and nougatine.

COPENHAGENjps/Shutterstock


Contributing Editor: Emily WassermanDeputy Editor: Erica Duecy

PHOTO CREDITSAlinea-Chicago: Alinea by Kimberly Vardeman

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