Where does one eat best? According to the just-published TasteAtlas 2025/2026 rankings, the answer is resoundingly, gloriously Italy. And the timing couldn’t be more perfect, as it comes hot on the heels of UNESCO’s recognition of Italian cuisine as Intangible Cultural Heritage.
In the TasteAtlas “Best Food Cities in the World” category Naples triumphs with a dazzling 4.99 score, officially crowned as the planet’s tastiest urban destination. Hardly a surprise in the homeland of pizza, sfogliatella and street food elevated to an art form. A score it shares with Milan whose elegant culinary evolution has taken it far beyond the aperitivo stereotype. And third we find Bologna (4.98), which quite simply makes the world’s best ragù.
Italy’s dominance continues in “Best Food Regions in the World.” Campania takes gold with a score of 4.47 for its sun-soaked produce and traditions that inspires dishes from pasta allo scarpariello to mozzarella di bufala. Emilia-Romagna follows closely (4.45) with Parmigiano Reggiano, and cured meats like the inimitable Parma Ham. And Rome? The Eternal City slides into a surprising ninth place, below Mumbai, Paris and Vienna. Romans will shrug, and the debate between cab drivers, grandmothers and half the city’s chef-restaurateurs will be a fiery one.
However, the list from TasteAtlas, the global online culinary guide, echoes a broader truth as affirmed by UNESCO: Italian cuisine is more than food, it is technique, territory, seasonality, community, memory, and an intrinsic part of daily life.
Pamela McCourt Francescone
Executive Editor
