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Read the full article here: Best of the World 2026: 15 of the Top Food Destinations
From Europe’s next great dining destination to the American Midwest’s most vibrant food scene, here are our favorite places in the world to eat and drink.
For many travelers, food is an integral part of what makes a destination “the best.” We couldn’t agree more. That’s why we asked our global writers and editors to follow their appetites to the most delicious—and intriguing—places. The result? 15 Best of the World Food experiences to build your next trip around. More than a pin on a map, these top spots reveal hidden histories, rising culinary stars, and surprising flavors that will leave you hungry for more.
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Why go now: Late last year, Kelowna was named a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy—the first in Canada. The designation recognizes this premier wine region and its growing culinary offerings, made possible by centuries of land preservation by First Nations and a vibrant immigrant history.
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The experience: Kelowna sits on the shores of Okanagan Lake, surrounded by the glacier-carved stepped benches of the Okanagan Valley. In the mid-1800s, French Catholic missionary Father Charles Pandosy was the first to plant grapevines and apple seedlings here. Now, the traditional territory of the Syilx Okanagan people is home to more than 800 farms and 40 wineries, many of them family- and immigrant-owned.
The best way to experience the area’s culinary riches is along the three-mile Boucherie bike route, which passes restaurants and fruit stands backed by stunning views of the lake and rolling vineyards.
Among the standouts is Volcanic Hills, which grew from an apple farm founded by Sarwan Gidda’s father, Mehta Gidda, an immigrant from East Punjab. Now the Gidda family showcases the region’s viticultural diversity with fruity pinot gris, an award-winning merlot, and a robust cherry wine. At Little Straw Vineyards, lauded viticulturist Karnail Singh Sidhu preserves the legacy begun by the Slamka family by overseeing the production of its famous full-bodied red blends. The winery’s new Tula Restaurant is where chef Bhawna Tandon pays homage to her Indian roots, with dishes like cedar-smoked tandoori salmon infused with Okanagan honey and apple cider vinegar.
Overlooking Okanagan Lake, the Old Vines Restaurant at Quails’ Gate Estate Winery serves meals with one of the valley’s best views, while Mission Hill Family Estate’s soaring bell tower and arched colonnades make a striking backdrop for summer concerts and wine tastings. If it’s available, try the 2020 Oculus, a Bordeaux-style blend well regarded by Canadian wine experts. And don’t forget to pack your panniers with favorite finds—many Okanagan vintages are available only at the source.
How to do it: Seattle-Tacoma and Vancouver International Airports have direct flights to Kelowna. Lakeside Eco-Sports rents Rize e-bikes with helmets, locks, and panniers. They also provide a navigation app with routes around the city, as well as guided outings in southeast Kelowna. Vivid Tours and Sip Happens offer guided tours in Lake Country.
