The experts at The Michelin Guide have released a food lovers to-do list for 2025 with a top 10 of destinations that is not all white linen and complicated cutlery. Food trucks and street sellers feature strongly, as do late-night markets and barbecue culture, with an emphasis on fresh ingredients and wholesome dishes. The Americas boast three cities on the ranking, and Asia five, while two spotlights fall on Europe. So, does your favourite destination get a mention?
Austin, Texas, USA
Austin, Texas gets kudos for its “innovative barbecue” scene, world-class brisket and Tex-Mex dishes, and commitment to farm-to-table local ingredients. Complemented by “craft breweries, creative cocktails, and live music”, the Guide calls the Lone Star capital a “must-visit city” and notes its restaurants have even been praised from space, with NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station agreeing with the Michelin experts about their merits.
Miami, Florida, USA
Miami makes it onto the roster for its “multicultural food”, “thriving cocktail scene” and “growing focus on sustainable, locally sourced ingredients”. Sample, for example, Latin American and Asian influences at the Colombian-inspired and Michelin-starred ElCielo. Diverse ingredients and cooking styles pop up everywhere, Michelin says, from Little Haiti to Little Havana, and fresh seafood such as ceviche and stone crab abound thanks to the city’s prime coastal location. Yum.
Mexico City, Mexico
Meanwhile in Mexico City , “ancient traditions meet cutting-edge creativity” the ranking says, inviting you to “get a taste for street-side tacos to Two-Star Mexican gastronomy.” The Mexican capital has 20 Bib Gourmands (the Michelin Guide’s good-value classification), plus five One-star and two Two-star restaurants. Traditional dishes like tacos al pastor and mole are being elevated to fine dining standards, “making Mexico City one of the world’s most exciting food destinations for 2025,” the Michelin people say.
Bangkok, Koh Samui and Phuket, Thailand
Bangkok, Koh Samui and Phuket all get a mention in the Michelin foodie Top 10. Bangkok “has long been a restaurant and food mecca, from its world-renowned restaurants to its dizzying street food markets” but it has just received its first ever Three-Star recognition for Sorn – a restaurant with a focus on the art of Southern Thai cuisine that “blends tradition with modernity, and refinement with evolution”. That accolade, combined with screen-driven travel thanks to a new season of The White Lotus, is creating a buzz in town that is surpassing even the usual heady atmosphere at night markets and beachside bars.
Osaka, Japan
Osaka is set to welcome the 2025 World Expo. Attendees and other city visitors will be met by a vast menu of 62 Bib Gourmands, 71 One-Star, 10 Two-Star, and three Three-Star restaurants. It’s a city dubbed the “Kitchen of Japan” benefitting from delicious Kansai coast seafood in “neon-lit districts like Dotonbori” alongside fine dining that “pushes the boundaries of traditional Japanese cuisine”.
Fujian, China
Fujian promises “tucked-away charm and a unique food scene that combines delicate broths, fresh seafood, and a distinctive balance of sweet, sour, and savory flavors,” Michelin says. If that description is not enough to tempt you, consider also the province’s offering of “light, aromatic dishes”, like the local Buddha Jumps Over the Wall soup made with abalone and sea cucumber – all in a lesser known region waiting to be discovered.
Da Nang, Vietnam
Over in Da Nang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its quaint beauty, there’s a food scene again combining fresh seafood and traditional regional specialties, such as “rich turmeric noodle broth, and bun cha, a flavourful fish cake soup”. For a magical night out, Michelin proposes the “minimalist and theatrical Nén Danang and Madame Lân”, where local cuisine is served “in a courtyard illuminated by colorful lanterns hanging in the trees above.” Of course, other experiences are on offer amid “a dynamic mix of street food vendors and modern eateries, offering everything from casual fare to upscale dining”.
Vienna, Austria
Vienna has come alive thanks to “ambitious chefs” and a lively street food scene refreshing its Austro-Hungarian food legacy and reimagining hearty dishes such as schnitzel or goulash with new global influences. What’s more wine estates and taverns (heurigen), plus a “farm-to-table ethos” are all bringing irresistible ingredients such as cured meats and cheeses from the Tyrol to your taste buds.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Roll up to Amsterdam, and you’ll be greeted by 18 Bib Gourmands, 24 One-Star, and seven Two-Star restaurants, as well as canal-side eateries and food markets, who will surely serve something special for the Dutch city’s 750th anniversary year. Ragout-filled savoury croquettes and caramel waffles get shout-outs, as well as herring, served everywhere from restaurants, to bruin cafés (brown cafés), “known for their cozy atmosphere and good Dutch beer.” And in this port city, you can perhaps save yourself a trip around the world, thanks to flavours from as far and wide as Indonesia, Morocco, Suriname and Türkiye.
