Flavors That Travel with the Sun

Summer’s heat brings with it a perfect opportunity to explore destinations that reward the palate as much as the eye. Across the globe, a remarkable set of culinary capitals is emerging as the must-visit addresses for the discerning food traveler in 2025 — from the coast of Italy to overlooked corners of the American Northeast.

Begin in Alassio, Italy, where a vibrant culinary scene marries the freshest seafood with the celebrated DOP olive oil of the Riviera Ligure. It offers the coastal charm of Positano with a far more local, unhurried sensibility.

Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, has distinguished itself with a boldly international gastronomic offering that rewards those willing to seek out something genuinely singular. Meanwhile, Chiclana de la Frontera, on Spain’s Costa de la Luz, places seafood at the center of a local cuisine that is impossible to ignore — set against some of the most beautiful beaches on the Iberian Peninsula.

Further afield, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, captivates with the evocative traditional recipes of Minas Gerais, while Shillong, India, earns quiet renown for its Khasi cuisine and its genuinely unrivaled delicacies. Marloth Park, South Africa, and Arakawa City, Japan, round out the list with experiences that range from small-batch homemade wines to deeply authentic ramen — each a destination unto itself.

Of course, not every great culinary escape requires a long-haul flight. Oneonta, New York, is a hidden gem where craft breweries and farm-to-table dining combine to deliver an entirely satisfying — and refreshingly unpretentious — gastronomic experience.

This summer, venture toward destinations where every dish tells a story and every bite is a celebration in its own right. The table is set — the only question is where you will sit down first.