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Top destinations for 2026: Food and wine
If one of the reasons you travel is to eat, then consider this your guide to some of the world’s most exciting dining stops right now. Beyond the usual hotspots, we’ve singled-out 10 destinations setting the pace for gastronomy, from Seoul’s banchan to an Aussie state excelling in its culinary pursuits.
Argentina
It’s a commonly known fact that Argentinians have a thing for meat: the good people of this nation are obsessed with beef, any cut they can get their hands on, grilled over flames and devoured with gusto. There is also, however, an Argentinian food scene that goes beyond giant slabs of meat, and that’s the reason for culinary adventurers to get there in 2026.
Buenos Aires in particular is now home to a swag of restaurants pushing the country’s gastronomy into the future: Aramburu is the clear leader, serving innovative small-plate cuisine, though there’s also Crizia, which uses seafood as much as red meat, and Trescha gives Argentinian ingredients a molecular spin. Our advice is to give the touristy and frankly overrated steakhouse Don Julio a miss, and focus instead on smaller, more forward-thinking establishments. See argentina.travel
Denmark
There’s been something amazing happening in Denmark for some time now, a culinary revolution kicked off by star chef Rene Redzepi, of Noma fame, and developed by the slew of uber-talented chefs who have followed. Many countries the size of Denmark would be happy to have one world-renowned destination diner like Noma, but this Scandinavian nation has multiple. If you like your food to look beautiful (or wildly creative) and your bank account is limitless, try Geranium, Alchemist, Kadeau or Jordnaer. If you’re after something more accessible, sample Alimentum, Substans or Villa Vest. But Denmark is about far more than just fine dining, with everything from bakery treats to hot dogs to wine-bar snacks of sky-high quality available throughout. See visitdenmark.com
South Korea
On the off chance your world hasn’t already been invaded by KPop Demon Hunters, Blackpink, Squid Game and banchan, allow us to let you in on a secret: South Korea is having a moment. The culture of this country is everywhere, from our TV screens to our music players to our dining tables. Let’s focus on the latter. Korean food is enjoying its time in the spotlight, and now is the ideal moment to experience it in its home. The aforementioned banchan is a classic – an array of side dishes that make up an entire meal – though there’s also Korean barbecue, the rice dish bibimbap, plus spicy soups and cheap-as street foods. There’s a great craft beer scene in Seoul and Busan, though you’ll find yourself drinking soju, the local rice wine, with locals into the wee hours. See visitkorea.or.kr
Tunisia
Think North African cuisine, and you probably consider Morocco or maybe, Egypt. But don’t forget Tunisia, a small country that punches well above its weight when it comes to food. Its cuisine owes much to its impressive influences: the spices and cooking techniques of Berbers and Arabs, the ingredients and dining cultures of Italy, Spain and France. Tunisian cuisine is pleasantly spicy, with many dishes using harissa, a paste of ground chillies, capsicum, garlic and caraway seeds. Dishes also feature couscous, chickpeas, pasta, or sometimes bread. They’re affordable. And most of all, they’re delicious. Be sure to try fricasse – a classic sandwich of tuna, harissa, olives and olive oil – for a single bite that will tell you much of this country’s culture and history. See discovertunisia.com
Canada
There was a head-scratching moment back in 2022 when Michelin released its first guides to Canada: where’s Quebec? The foodie bible’s initial forays only listed restaurants in Toronto and Vancouver, leaving an obvious, francophone hole in its coverage. A few months ago though, that omission was finally redressed, with the release of Michelin’s guide to Montreal and Quebec City, shining a welcome light on the province that surely boasts Canada’s best cuisine. Only one restaurant scored two stars – the avant-garde Taniere3 in Quebec City – though a further eight picked up one star. So let the guide be your guide in Quebec. Its down-home classics are also a must: smoked-meat sandwiches of Montreal, no-frills bistros in Quebec City, and the gluttonous joy of poutine (chips with cheese curds). See travel.destinationcanada.com
United Kingdom
Given the way people poke fun at the UK for its supposed lack of culinary finesse, it’s worth remembering that many of the world’s most famous cooks hail from England. Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsay, Heston Blumenthal, Nigella Lawson, Marco Pierre White, Fergus Henderson – hugely influential names, so it should be no surprise to discover that food in the UK is so good. We can’t cover everything here, so let’s just look to London, where food-obsessed travellers can enjoy traditional afternoon tea (at the Ritz of course), gastro-pub cuisine (try Harwood Arms), the creator of modern nose-to-tail gastronomy (St John), wine bars, three-star fine diners, market stalls and restaurants serving the cuisines of the world. To mangle a famous phrase: when a person is tired of eating in London, they are tired of life. See visitbritain.com
Victoria, Australia
Victoria is ridiculous. We’re not even going to talk about Melbourne here, despite the city’s enormous range of high-quality culinary offerings. Let’s just consider the dining options outside Victoria’s capital, to give you a real feel for the quality: there’s Barragunda Dining, a stunning new restaurant on the Mornington Peninsula, which sits nicely alongside Tedesca Osteria, Many Little and Ten Minutes by Tractor; elsewhere you have Brae in Birregurra, Chauncy in Heathcote, Lake House in Daylesford, Provenance in Beechworth, Wickens at Royal Mail Hotel in Dunkeld, Du Fermier in Trentham, and the list goes on and on. Enjoy Melbourne, of course. But then jump in the car and explore Victoria, because if you like to eat, this state has an embarrassment of riches. See visitvictoria.com
Mainland China and Hong Kong
If you travel to eat, then you have probably been to Japan by this point (and if you haven’t, you really should). However, what about China? This country is a little more intimidating and a little harder work than its neighbour, but if you love food, China should be on your radar. There are eight distinct cuisines to sample across this huge country: the dishes you’re served in Guangdong, in the south-east, will be vastly different to those enjoyed in Sichuan, or Hunan. And while there are deep traditions to enjoy, there are also modern attractions. Hong Kong, for example, just hosted the World’s 50 Best Bars awards, a list that was topped by local cocktail-slinger Bar Leone. With visa-free entry now available to Australian passport holders, there’s never been a better time to check it out. See cnto.org.au and discoverhongkong.com
Turkey
There is a lot of incredibly good food in the Middle East – though, it’s fair to say that now is not the best time to visit foodie hotspots such as Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Iraq or Iran. It is, however, a good time to visit Turkey. This country, which straddles Europe and the Middle East, is currently rated yellow by DFAT (the same as, say, France or Hong Kong). It also boasts an incredibly strong food scene, from traditional eateries to modern fine diners. Istanbul is a microcosm of what the country has to offer, a city with a cuisine and indeed a culture that changes as you move from modern Besiktas to historic Galata to traditional Uskudar. Throughout Turkey, however, good food is a constant of daily life, with meals as rituals, food as celebration, and the warm welcome will make you thirst for more of this exciting region. See goturkiye.com
Colombia
Reputations die hard, which is surely the reason many travellers hear “Colombia” and think of gang violence instead of food. Because you should be thinking about food. Colombian cuisine has been on the up and up, with the likes of Celele in Cartagena featuring in the latest World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, and Bogota eateries Leo and El Chato also highly regarded. These, however, are the fine-dining tip of the foodie iceberg, as Colombia offers a vibrant and diverse scene, with Caribbean flair on its coast, traditional culture in its mountainous interior, excellent locally grown coffee, a fledgling craft beer scene, and influences from around the world. See colombia.travel
