For many travelers, food is the most immediate and intimate way to connect with a new place, a direct line to its people, traditions, and landscape. As international culinary tours continue to rise in popularity, this connection has become central to the travel experience. To honor cities where creative food practices contribute to sustainable urban growth, UNESCO established the Creative Cities Network, recognizing communities for excellence in seven creative fields, with gastronomy as a key category.
Cities designated as UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy are celebrated for their deep-rooted food culture, innovative approaches to cooking, and the unique identity expressed through local cuisine. In this article, we showcase a selection of these destinations featured in our bespoke itineraries, each one demonstrating the character of a place and the skill of its people through its distinctive flavors.
What are the Must-Try Dishes in Arequipa, Peru's UNESCO City of Gastronomy?
Known as “La Ciudad Blanca,” Arequipa’s cuisine is fundamentally shaped by its fertile volcanic soil and high-altitude climate, which impart a unique intensity to local ingredients. “Rocoto relleno”, a spicy pepper stuffed with meat and seasonings, and “adobo arequipeño”, a marinated pork stew slow-cooked until deeply flavorful, are staples of the city’s food culture. Markets and family-run kitchens proudly feature produce from the surrounding Andes, including tangy fresh cheeses, golden Andean corn, and chili varieties with a signature smoky heat.
Taking a stroll through Arequipa’s traditional markets, you will find local specialties such as “queso helado”, a creamy, cinnamon-flavored ice cream, and freshly baked “pan de queso”. Cooking demonstrations preserve centuries-old techniques, such as slow-roasting meat over wood fires. This meticulous attention to flavor and process is the hallmark of Arequipa’s culinary traditions.
Discover Peruvian Cuisine in Arequipa, this tour also visits Lima | Sacred Valley | Cusco | Machu Picchu | Paracas
Exploring Belém's Amazonian Pantry: Unique Ingredients and Traditional Dishes
Belém sits at the edge of the Amazon River, where the rainforest provides ingredients found nowhere else. Local dishes highlight these unique flavors, such as tacacá, a tangy soup flavored with jambu leaves and tucupi sauce, or maniçoba, a slow-cooked cassava leaf dish that takes days to prepare. Tropical fruits like cupuaçu and açaí, along with aromatic herbs and spices, shape a cuisine that is deeply connected to the region’s environment.
Joining private culinary tours in Belém gives you the chance to meet chefs who continue to prepare traditional recipes passed down through generations. As a city recognized within the UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy, Belém combines indigenous techniques with Portuguese and African influences, producing flavors that are unique to this part of Brazil.
Savor the Flavors of Brazil in Belém | Salvador | Tiradentes | Rio de Janeiro
Florianópolis: Where to Find the Best Azorean Seafood in Brazil
Florianópolis, an island city in southern Brazil, is known for its seafood and strong Azorean influence. Local specialties include fresh oysters, shrimp stews, and grilled fish prepared using recipes passed down for generations. Seasonal ingredients from the surrounding waters are central to the city’s dishes, reflecting both the island’s climate and its culinary traditions.
In Florianópolis, you can find chefs still using traditional techniques in small family-run kitchens and coastal restaurants, preserving recipes that highlight the natural flavors of the sea. It’s recognition as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy reflects the city’s dedication to keeping Azorean seafood traditions alive and showcasing the distinctive tastes of southern Brazil.
Discover the Southern Charm of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro | Foz do Iguaçu | Governador Celso Ramos | Florianopolis
Paraty's Caiçara Cuisine: A Taste of Brazil's Coastal Fishing Heritage
Paraty is a colonial coastal town known for its preserved architecture and strong maritime traditions. Its cuisine centers on caiçara recipes developed by local fishing communities, featuring freshly caught fish, shrimp, and shellfish, often prepared simply to highlight the natural flavors. Tropical fruits such as guava and cashew are incorporated into desserts, and artisanal cachaça, made from local sugarcane, is used in both drinks and traditional dishes.
As you explore Paraty, you can watch fishermen prepare their catch at the docks, visit family-run cachaça distilleries, and taste dishes like moqueca caiçara, a slow-cooked fish stew unique to the region. These experiences reflect why Paraty was recognized as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, celebrating the town’s fishing heritage, traditional recipes, and the way local ingredients define its coastal cuisine.
Find out more about Brazilian Heritage and Culture in Rio de Janeiro | Paraty | Salvador
Hyderabad's Street Food Scene: Balancing Spice and Sweetness in South Indian Cuisine
Hyderabad’s culinary identity has been shaped by centuries of royal influence, blending Mughal, Persian, and South Indian traditions. Signature dishes like Hyderabadi biryani, rich with saffron and slow-cooked meat, highlight the city’s complex flavors, while local snacks such as mirchi ka salan and double ka meetha balance spice and sweetness in ways unique to the region.
Hyderabad is a popular destination on guided culinary tours in India, where you can explore bustling spice markets, historic kitchens, and family-run eateries that have perfected recipes over generations. Street food plays a vital role in the city’s food culture – vendors serve piping-hot pani puri, spicy kebabs, and sweet treats along narrow lanes. Walking through the old city, you can watch chefs preparing dum biryani in traditional handi pots, learn the careful layering of spices for biryani and curries, and taste sweets crafted according to centuries-old royal recipes. These experiences give a real sense of how Hyderabad’s culinary traditions connect royal heritage, local markets, and everyday life in the city.
Discover the Culinary Delights of India in Delhi | Agra | Jaipur | Mumbai | Hyderabad | Kolkata
Jeonju's Fermentation Secrets: The Art Behind Bibimbap and Kimchi
Jeonju, worthy of its place among the UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy because of its centuries-old food traditions and regional dishes, is known for bibimbap – a mix of rice, vegetables, meat, and spicy gochujang sauce prepared with careful attention to balance and flavor. The city is also famous for its fermented foods, including ganjang (soy sauce), doenjang (soybean paste), and kimchi, which local families continue to craft using time-honored methods. In the hanok village, traditional wooden houses line narrow streets where street vendors serve jeon (savory pancakes) and sweet rice treats, offering a taste of Jeonju’s everyday food culture.
You can take part in workshops on fermentation, visit traditional restaurants, and explore local markets where chefs source their ingredients. Artisans press soybean pastes, chefs layer vegetables and sauces for bibimbap, and vendors prepare snacks the same way they have for decades. Each experience offers insight into Korean culinary philosophy, highlighting the careful balance of flavors, textures, and presentation that defines Jeonju’s cuisine.
Try A Taste of South Korea in Seoul | Jeonju | Gwangju | Gwangyang | Busan
Mérida, Mexico: Discovering the Unique Blend of Mayan and Spanish Cuisine
Mérida, the cultural heart of the Yucatán, is known for its unique blend of Mayan and Spanish culinary traditions. Dishes like cochinita pibil – slow-roasted pork marinated in achiote and wrapped in banana leaves – highlight the region’s bold flavors, while panuchos and salbutes showcase the local love for fresh tortillas, beans, and salsas. The city’s markets are filled with tropical fruits, chilies, and spices that form the backbone of Yucatecan cuisine.
Food-lovers can attend cooking demonstrations, meet local farmers, or participate in tasting tours. Walking through Mérida’s streets, you can visit family-run kitchens, sample street food, and watch local chefs prepare traditional dishes using techniques passed down through generations. You’ll experience smoky, earthy flavors, crisp textures, and tangy, spicy sauces that reflect centuries of Mayan and Spanish influence – a combination found nowhere else.
Uncover the Flavors of Mexico in Mexico City | Mérida
What is Thessaloniki's Signature Dish? Exploring Greek, Balkan, and Ottoman Culinary Influences
Thessaloniki, a proud member of the UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy, and its cuisine draws influences from Ottoman, Balkan, and Mediterranean traditions.
The city is known for its rich cheeses, cured meats, fresh seafood, and pastries such as bougatsa, a creamy custard-filled phyllo dessert. The central markets and seaside tavernas brim with local ingredients, enticing aromas, and flavors developed over generations.
Foodies visit to sample local specialties in intimate tavernas, join a workshop to learn traditional techniques, or enjoy modern interpretations of classic dishes at high-end restaurants. You’ll taste tangy cheeses, smoky grilled seafood, and delicate pastries, experiencing the textures, seasonings, and combinations that make Thessaloniki’s cuisine unlike anywhere else.
Discover Northern Greece in Athens | Thessaloniki | Amyntaio | Aristi, Ioannina | Ioannina
Ready to Plan Your Culinary Tour? Next Steps for Exploring UNESCO Cities of Gastronomy
The cities described here illustrate the diversity and depth of the UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy and highlight destinations featured in our bespoke itineraries. Each city presents a unique way to engage with local culture, history, and food traditions.
This selection is only a snapshot of the full network. For inspiration on additional journeys and to discover other destinations celebrated for their gastronomic excellence, download our complete list of the UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy. Contact our Reservations department to create your personalized culinary itinerary.