Croquettes, Spanish tortillas, Bocadillo de Calamares – what do these dishes have in common? Well, for starters, they’re all delicious, but more importantly, they all come from Madrid, which has just been crowned the best city for food in Europe by .
That’s right – the Spanish capital beat out the likes of other titans when it comes to dining out in Europe, garnering an impressive 90 percent approval rating from the thousands of locals we surveyed, who described its scene as ‘diverse’ and ‘experimental’.
Paired with a tied fourth place ranking with New Orleans when it came to opinions from food experts, it not only makes Madrid the best city for food in Europe, but the fifth best in the world. And sure, Madrid’s food scene has always been renowned, but what’s going on there right now?
Recommended: This is officially the world’s best city for food right now, according to .
‘We’ve got the world’s best plant-based restaurant according to Green Guide (El Invernadero), a Michelin-starred spot dedicated to offal (La Tasquería), and the only fine-dining restaurant inside a historic flamenco tablao (Corral de la Morería),’ says Gorka Elorrieta, Madrid’s Food and Drink editor, ‘Natural wine bistros are everywhere, small bakeries are thriving, and young chefs are making waves at OSA, Chispa, Lur and Tonton, while the Trafalgar neighbourhood is bursting with exciting new openings. ’
If you’re headed to the city soon and are craving some more inspiration, check out the recently updated roundup of our favourite restaurants in the city.
Other European destinations to make the list include Paris (in number 9), Porto (number 17) and Naples (in number 19), but you can tuck into the full list here. And, if you’re still hungry, have a gander at our guides to the world’s best sandwiches, steaks and pizzas.
Did you see that four African cities have been crowned among the world’s 20 best food destinations?
Plus: The cities and countries with the best-tasting tap water, revealed.
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