Cape Town named among the world’s best food cities as South Africa earns global acclaim

The latest Time Out ranking of the World’s Best Cities for Food placed Cape Town at number 11 globally.

Cape Town has once again been recognised as one of the world's leading food destinations, while a string of international accolades is helping cement South Africa's growing reputation as a global powerhouse for food, culture and creativity.

The latest Time Out ranking of the World’s Best Cities for Food placed Cape Town at number 11 globally, just missing a coveted top-10 spot in a list dominated by cities such as Lima, Bangkok, Mexico City, London and Barcelona.

The ranking, released this week, is based on feedback from local residents and assessments by Time Out’s international network of food experts. It measures everything from food quality and affordability to innovation, diversity and the strength of local dining culture.

While Cape Town dropped from fourth place in 2025, the city’s reputation for exceptional food remains firmly intact. In fact, it achieved the third-highest score in the world for food quality, with 93% of residents giving its dining scene a positive rating.