How often has a mouthwatering food pic stopped you mid-scroll? Social media is a major catalyst for culinary tourism with Instagram and TikTok particularly powerful in fuelling interest in travel for dining experiences and trends. But which Aussie capital city has global foodies in its grip?
UK-based OTA Travelbag looked at social media buzz, cuisine options and average meal costs to compile its global foodie city list from top destinations worldwide.
Melbourne topped the list as the world’s best city for foodies with 100 cuisines on offer, also racking up three million Instagram posts and 118,500 TikTok posts under ‘#melbournefood’ and making it a globally recognised destination for discerning foodies.
Sydney came in fourth on the global foodie city list, shoring up Australia as a top destination among those who travel for culinary experiences.
Toronto followed Melbourne closely in second place for global foodie city, offering 103 cuisines and 40 food and drink activities plus its own Michelin Guide.
Dubai ranked third with 61 cuisines and 106 food and drink activities, also attracting attention with 2.1 million Instagram posts and 127,900 TikTok videos showcasing its vibrant food scene.
South-East Asia and the US also had a strong showing with Hanoi (5), Chicago (6), Houston (7), Tokyo (8), Bangkok (9) and New York City (10) rounding out the global foodie list.
Other foodie city destinations to know
While not placing in the global top 10 foodie city list, London was the most popular foodie destination on social media with three million Instagram posts tagged ‘#londonfood’, the highest alongside Melbourne.
Washington, DC led the list for the most diverse cuisines with the US capital and international political hub offering 109 different options, followed by NYC and LA with 106 cuisines, showcasing each city’s multicultural appeal.
Hanoi was recognised as the most budget-friendly food destination with a meal for two averaging just AUD$44.99. In contrast, NYC is four times more expensive with a meal for two costing AUD$208.59.
