This Vacation spot Was Simply Named Europe’s Greatest Culinary Metropolis — and No, It is Not in Italy or France

Lisbon is legendary for its wealthy tradition, gorgeous structure, hilly cityscape, and, sure, meals. When you’ve ever visited the Portuguese capital, you realize its streets begin smelling like candy vanilla within the early morning as bakers whip up batches of pastries, together with the well-known pastel da nata. Now, the town is getting the culinary recognition it rightfully deserves, because it was lately awarded Europe’s finest culinary metropolis vacation spot on the annual World Culinary Awards, held in Dubai.

Lisbon beat different notable meals cities like Paris, London, Barcelona, Florence, Vienna, and Copenhagen. The winners are chosen by the culinary group, trade consultants, and customers in accordance with the group’s official guidelines.

“It is [the award] a recognition of the standard of the gastronomy for which Lisbon is so well-known and an award that encourages all of the professionals who hold it alive. The native financial system is more and more a particular issue for the town of Lisbon, and gastronomy contributes significantly to the standard of Lisbon’s tourism,” Carlos Moedas, the mayor of Lisbon, stated in a press launch, shared with Journey + Leisure.

Lisbon’s meals scene stands out with its variety, spanning not solely delicacies varieties and origins but in addition the standard of the meals. Town boasts seventeen one- and two-starred eating places listed on the Michelin Information, together with world-famous spots like Alma and Belcanto, lately included among the many World’s Prime 50 Eating places. Lisbon’s espresso outlets and bakeries had been additionally acknowledged by Meals & Wine in its 2024 World Tastemakers Awards, a testomony to the town’s culinary prowess. 

You do not have to look onerous to have a superb meal in Lisbon. Its many cervejarias, neighborhood eateries serving contemporary sea and shell meals together with a protracted listing of brews are all the time a superb — and inexpensive — alternative for a fast meal, additionally beloved by locals. (Beer lovers ought to try the beer museum on the coronary heart of the town’s Praça do Comércio.)

One other Portuguese metropolis snatched the award for Europe’s finest rising culinary metropolis vacation spot, and that is Porto. Portugal’s second-largest metropolis, sitting on the banks of the Douro River, is legendary for its stellar wine scene and distinct culinary heritage, the place guests can take pleasure in Michelin-approved effective eating experiences in addition to genuine plates of dishes just like the hearty Francesinha sandwich and the Cachorrinho, a sizzling canine sort of snack.

Among the many winners in North America are New York Metropolis’s Le Bernardin by chef Eric Ripert, voted finest restaurant, and Los Angeles, voted finest culinary vacation spot.

You possibly can see the complete listing of winners on worldculinaryawards.com.