Time Out Ranks Cape Town Among World’s Best Food Cities

South Africa’s food, culture and creative sectors are enjoying growing global recognition, with a series of recent Time Out rankings highlighting the country’s growing influence as a destination for world-class dining, creativity and lifestyle experiences.

Time Out’s 2026 World’s Best Cities for Food ranking, released on Monday, 8 June, placed Cape Town at number 11 globally, narrowly missing the top 10 in a fiercely competitive list led by Lima, Bangkok, Mexico City, London and Barcelona.

Compiled from a global survey of residents and assessed by Time Out’s international network of food experts, the annual ranking measures food quality, affordability, innovation, diversity and local dining culture.

Although Cape Town slipped from fourth place in 2025, largely due to affordability weighed against its otherwise highly rated dining scene, the city received the third-highest score globally for food quality, with 93% of locals rating its food scene positively.

Among the standout experiences highlighted by Time Out were the shoreline-inspired menus at Amura by Ángel León and the boundary-pushing creativity of The Test Kitchen Fledglings.

The recognition forms part of a broader wave of international acclaim for South African food and culture.

Earlier this year, Time Out’s ranking of the World’s Best Burgers saw Zuney Burger’s Wagyu Burger claim second place globally, behind only Tokyo’s Smash Things. Johannesburg favourite Mafia Bite also secured eighth place, reinforcing the depth and diversity of South Africa’s culinary landscape.

The country’s pizza scene has also earned international recognition, with Johannesburg’s Little Kitchener’s Pizzeria and Cape Town’s Pizza Connection recently named among the world’s best. Meanwhile, Cape Town has also featured prominently in Time Out’s annual global culture rankings, further cementing South Africa’s reputation as a destination rich in creativity, hospitality and unique experiences.

The recognition extends beyond individual venues and rankings. Together, these accolades highlight the growing influence of South Africa’s food, culture and creative sectors, and the role they play in shaping the country’s global reputation. They also reflect the diversity of experiences found across the country, where different cities, communities and cultural traditions continue to contribute to a vibrant and evolving urban identity.

As South Africa’s hospitality, tourism and cultural sectors continue to evolve, Time Out South Africa believes the country’s greatest strength lies not in a single city or experience, but in the diversity of communities and creators shaping modern South African life.