Australian city listed as a 2026 global food hotspot – alongside a surprising overall winner
Source: Instagram
When it comes to the world’s best cities for eating and drinking, many people will immediately think of places like Paris, New York, Bologna or Tokyo.
However, the hottest culinary city right now is Peru’s Lima. That’s the verdict of a new list – which also ranks Melbourne in the top 10.
Often dubbed South America’s foodie capital, Peru boasts a fusion of diverse flavours that draws on traditional ingredients from the Peruvian Amazon as well as Spanish, Asian and African influences.
Lima, in particular, has a reputation for harbouring some “serious culinary talent”, according to Time Out, which released its “Best Cities for Food” rankings this week.
“Hardly a week goes by without a hot-ticket new restaurant setting up shop in the Peruvian capital, but Lima’s Boho district Barranco recently saw a particularly high-profile opening,” writes Time Out’s local food expert Friedrich Reip.
“In March, Rodrigo Fernandini – who made a name for himself directing Peruvian fine-dining restaurants in Florida and New York – inaugurated his first flagship local, Fernandini.”
Fernandini’s menu ranges from ceviche, aged duck breast and dishes featuring chorizo and chimichurri, to items much less familiar to most Australians – such as “paiche” (a huge fish native to the Amazon River), “huancaina” (a creamy, cheesy sauce), and “aguaymanto” (a native fruit also known as a Caper gooseberry).
Reip also gives a shout-out to a tiny Lima patisserie, El Pregón de las Once, which is said to give largely forgotten historic Peruvian desserts a new life.
“Their puff pastry Ranfañote is to die for.”
The latest accolades come after Lima’s Maido was last year crowned the world’s best restaurant in a “50 Best” list compiled by global media group William Reed, which also included three other restaurants in the Peruvian city.
Ceviche is one of Peru’s most well-known dishes. Photo: Pexels
To compile its list of the best food cities, Time Out surveyed more than 24,000 locals based all over the world, asking them to rate the overall quality of the food scene where they live and to nominate top food spots.
Their responses were then brought together with those of the publisher’s food critics and editors, who voted for the cities they think are “the most exciting destinations on the planet right now”.
Taking out second spot in the rankings was Bangkok – lauded for a “serious revival” of its street-food scene combined with a fresh take on Thai fine dining – followed by Mexico City, London, Barcelona and Ho Chi Minh City.
Melbourne made it into seventh position, ahead of Beijing, Athens and Lisbon.
Time Out said 94 per cent of the Melburnians surveyed said eating out in the city was “good” or “amazing”, with most agreeing that the city does coffee and cafes best.
“In a city long revered for its restaurant scene, there’s never been a more exciting time to eat out in Melbourne than right now,” wrote Time Out’s Melbourne editor, Leah Glynn.
“Chefs like Tom Sarafian, Rosheen Kaul, Gayan Pieris and Zoe Birch are expanding hungry diners’ horizons through their wildly innovative and modern takes on Armenian, Egyptian, French, Chinese, Sri Lankan and local Australian cuisine.”
Specific eateries highlighted by Glynn included Charrd (for its burgers), Chicky Boi (for its “chicken sangas”) and Bakemono (Japanese-inspired pastries), along with Portuguese restaurant Marmelo and Ukrainian restaurant Otakoi.
When it came to a must-order item, she nominated the chicken skewer at Zareh, a Collingwood restaurant that serves up dishes inspired by the Armenian and Lebanese heritage of chef and owner Tom Sarafian and his partner Jinane.
“Slathered in toum [garlic sauce], grilled and served over a punchy bed of herbs and pickled green chilli, it’s the kind of dish that forces you to reconsider the idea that chicken could ever be boring.”
It is not the first time Melbourne has scored a spot in global food city rankings. Travel eSIM company Holafly recently named it the “world’s most diverse foodie city”, based on an analysis of Tripadvisor restaurant data which showed 79 per cent of the city’s restaurants served “international cuisine”.
UK website Travelbag also awarded Melbourne top position in its 2025 list of the Top-10 Long Haul Destinations for Foodies and second place (after Dubai) in its 2026 list.
“If you’re planning a trip to Australia, Melbourne is an absolute must for food lovers,” declared Travelbag’s Australia expert Fiona Wood.
“The city has a strong Korean influence, and Healeys Lane, nicknamed ‘Kimchi Lane’ by locals, is a perfect example. From Korean BBQ and hot pots to trendy bakeries, there’s something for everyone.”
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