Chicago Ranked Among Nation's Top Food Cities

CHICAGO, IL— The No. 2 city in the country for food and drink is Chicago, and one of the best places to eat is Virtue in Hyde Park, according to Food & Wine’s annual Global Tastemakers Awards.

The winners across multiple categories “define American dining in 2025,” Food & Wine said in an announcement Wednesday.

“You can find a great meal in virtually any corner of America, if you know where to look,” Food & Wine said. “In some cities, though, an array of talented and ambitious chefs, cooks, and bartenders converge to create a truly standout food scene.”

In all, Chicago was recognized in five categories.

Chef Damarr Brown, who won Food & Wine's Best New Chef in 2022, has helped create the refined, award-winning Southern cuisine at Virtue in Hyde Park. Brown shared some of his favorite places to eat in the city including Demera, Piccolo Sogno and Esmé.

"If 'The Bear' caused you to pine for a classic Italian beef sandwich, plan a trip to get a taste of the Windy City," Food & Wine said.

The Global Tastemakers Awards are intended as a guide to help tourists find great food and drinks they travel around the United States and internationally. In the United States, the following awards were presented

Top 10 Cities for Food and Drink

1. New York City
2. Chicago
3. Los Angeles
4. Austin, Texas
5. New Orleans
6. Charleston, South Carolina
7. Miami
8. San Francisco
9. Houston
10. Philadelphia

Top 15 U.S. Restaurants

1. Burdell, Oakland, California
2. Canlis, Seattle
3. The Musket Room, New York City
4. Lowland, Charleston, South Carolina
5. Emeril’s, New Orleans
6. Mr. Tuna, Portland, Maine
7. Yangban, Los Angeles
8. My Loup, Philadelphia
9. Myriel, St. Paul, Minnesota
10. Stissing House, White Plains, New York
11. Nancy’s Hustle, Houston
12. Penny, New York City
13. Sunny’s, Miami
14. Virtue, Chicago
15. Oyster Oyster, Washington, D.C.

Top 10 Cities for Pastries

1. New York City
2. Chicago
3. Los Angeles
4. San Francisco
5. New Orleans
6. Boston
7. Miami
8. Houston
9. Las Vegas
10. Detroit

Top 10 Cities for Coffee

1. Los Angeles
2. New York City
3. Seattle
4. Portland, Oregon
5. New Orleans
6. San Francisco
7. Boston
8. Miami
9. Honolulu
10. San Juan, Puerto Rico

Top 10 Hotel Bars

1. King Cole Bar, St. Regis, New York City
2. Elysian Bar, Hotel Peter and Paul, New Orleans
3. Evening Bar, Shinola Hotel, Detroit
4. Titsou, Fouquet’s, New York City
5. Allegory, Eaton, Washington D.C.
6. Collins, The Fontainebleau, Las Vegas
7. Four Walls, The Joseph, Nashville
8. Midnight Rambler, The Joule, Dallas
9. SkyHigh, Four Seasons, Philadelphia
10. Z Bar, Peninsula, Chicago

Top10 U.S. Airports for Food and Drink

1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport
2. Chicago O’Hare International Airport
3. John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York City
4. LaGuardia Airport, New York City
5. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Austin, Texas
6. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
7. San Francisco International Airport
8. Denver International Airport
9. Miami International Airport
10. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

To develop the list of the best food and drink experiences for travelers, Food & Wine polled more than 400 chefs, travel experts, food and travel writers and wine pros from around the world. The results were ranked by the outlet’s Global Advisory Board, which ranked the top nominees in each category.