Rankings Span Fine Dining to Viral Sensations Tripadvisor announced winners of its 2026 Travelers' Choice Awards: Best of the Best Restaurants, based on reviews and ratings from a global community of millions of diners over a 12-month period. The recognized establishments rank among the top 1% of all listings on the platform. Fogón Asado in Buenos Aires claimed the No. 1 spot globally in Fine Dining for its "intimate, interactive open fire asado tasting experience." In the U.S., Ristorante Paoletti in Highlands, North Carolina, earned the top Fine Dining title for its "elevated Northern Italian cuisine and legendary wine cellar." In Casual Dining, Pizzeria Arrivederci in Paris secured the highest global honors, while Hook & Barrel in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, ranked No. 1 in the U.S. for sustainable seafood and hospitality.
New Experiential Categories Reflect Travel Trends Recognizing growing demand for immersive culinary experiences, Tripadvisor introduced four new award categories this year: Food Tours: Reykjavik Food Walk in Iceland leads globally, while Seattle's Chef Guided Food Tour of Pike Place Market tops the U.S. ranking. Cooking Classes: Rome Pasta and Tiramisu Class ranks No. 1 worldwide, with Cape Town's Wine Tour (Paarl, Franschhoek & Stellenbosch) also earning top honors. Wine & Beer Tours: Michigan's 5-Hour Traverse City Wine Tour claims the U.S. No. 1 spot. Viral Right Now: A new social-media-driven category highlighting trending foodie sensations. London's Dishoom and Ho Chi Minh City's Banh Mi Huynh Hoa lead this list.
Methodology and Broader Awards According to Tripadvisor, the 2026 awards are "calculated based on the quality and quantity of reviews and ratings for restaurants on Tripadvisor collected over a 12-month period, July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, specific to each award subcategory, as well as an additional editorial process." Tripadvisor also maintains rankings across traditional dining categories including Fine Dining, Casual, Date Night, Hidden Gems, and Vegan & Vegetarian. The awards form part of the platform's larger Travelers' Choice umbrella, which recognizes travelers' favorite destinations and experiences globally.
Why It Matters
For restaurant operators and hospitality businesses, Travelers' Choice recognition drives direct consumer bookings and reservation traffic. Tripadvisor processes over a billion reviews; placement on these curated lists signals quality to travel planners and can influence booking decisions. The platform's expansion into experiential dining categories—food tours, cooking classes, wine tastings—reflects a shift in how travelers value culinary experiences as core travel activities rather than afterthoughts, creating new revenue opportunities for local operators and tour providers.
For more insights and trends in the food and beverage sector, check out more articles in The Food & Beverage Magazine family of publications.
Written by FBM Publications Editors
