Lisbon voted Europe’s Best Culinary Destination for the first time

The city of Lisbon has won the prize for Best Culinary Destination in Europe at the World Culinary Awards for the first time.

The honour was given out at a ceremony held in Dubai, and among the competing cities were Barcelona, Copenhagen, Florence, London, Paris and Vienna.

Gastronomy is one of the key points when choosing a tourist destination and Lisbon has long been recognised for its diverse and high-quality offer. From typical and local restaurants with traditional food, to signature restaurants and Michelin-starred chefs who reinterpret classic flavours, there is a wide selection that attracts visitors from all over the world.

The Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, said that “it is a source of great pride to see Lisbon’s identity and traditions honoured for the first time in this sector and how innovation combines with these gastronomic traditions. It’s recognition of the quality of the gastronomy for which Lisbon is so well known and an award that encourages all the professionals who keep it alive.” The local economy is increasingly a distinctive factor for the city of Lisbon and gastronomy contributes greatly to the quality of Lisbon’s tourism.”

The World Culinary Awards, a “sister” event to the World Travel Awards, are celebrating their fifth edition this year and aim to promote global culinary culture and encourage gastronomic tourism.

The gastronomic event highlights the best practices and innovations in the sector and covers various categories, including restaurants, chefs, hotels and other culinary-related establishments. The winners are chosen through a public vote.