Eating and drinking

Buenos Aires is synonymous with grilled meats and red wine – and you should sample plenty of both while you're here – but the capital city is also brimming with excellent Mediterranean, Italian, Asian and Spanish foods thanks to a robust immigrant population (second only to the US). Munch on empanadas on the go, sit down and savor a pizza, explore one of the city's indoor food markets and finish every meal with an alfajor – an addictive cookie sandwich that's glued together with sweet dulce de leche.

The food scene here made headlines back in 2019 when Mana became the first Manchester restaurant to receive a Michelin star in more than 40 years. That shouldn't be the only place you hit, though – locals rave about the city's massive Chinatown, hidden curry cafés, late-night kebabs and next-level tasting menus. Plus, some of London's finest mini-chains have migrated here, too, including Dishroom and Shoryu.

Ready to send your senses soaring? Consider a trip to Thailand's capital, where food is an art form that goes way beyond pad Thai (though, you shouldn't feel guilty about eating it while you're here). Carve out ample time to explore the city's vibrant street food scene, where noodles, seafood, meat skewers and soups are on full display.

A nail-bitingly close second place goes to Tel Aviv, where the culinary scene is absolutely jam-packed with hot newcomers, traditional Middle Eastern eats, an astonishing array of vegan-friendly joints and lively cafés that overflow into the streets. Once you've eaten your weight in shawarma, falafel and hummus, try something new – sabich (a pita sandwich stuffed with fried eggplant, hard-boiled eggs and tahini) or malabi (rose water milk pudding) should do the trick.

Anyone who's feasted their way through Shanghai won't be surprised to see the coastal city claim this year's top spot. The booming metropolis is a bonafide foodie playground, with a healthy mix of fine-dining heavyweights and street food heroes – both of which pull inspiration from every corner of the world. Diners can slurp xiaolongbao, splurge on steamed hairy crab, savor braised pork and devour glutinous rice balls. Drink, sleep, repeat!