Ethiopia Named Among World's Top 50 Culinary Destinations for 2026
Ethiopia ranked 37th in Travel And Tour World’s 2026 list of the world’s top food destinations, with recognition for its traditional cuisine, coffee culture and culinary heritage. It was the only East African country included in the top 50 ranking.
Ethiopia has been ranked 37th in Travel And Tour World’s (TTW) list of the Top 50 Food Destinations Around the World for 2026, with the publication highlighting the country’s traditional cuisine, coffee culture and culinary heritage, according to Birr Metrics.
Mexico topped the global ranking, followed by Italy and Spain, while Japan and India rounded out the top five. TTW said the list assessed destinations based on factors including culinary traditions, food diversity, local ingredients, beverage culture, authenticity and visitor experiences.
The publication highlighted Ethiopia’s long-standing culinary traditions, spice-based dishes and coffee ceremonies as key elements of the country’s food culture.
The ranking identified Addis Ababa as a major culinary destination, citing traditional dishes such as injera, doro wat and kitfo, as well as the Ethiopian coffee ceremony. It also highlighted regional specialties, including Lalibela’s traditional and fasting foods, Gondar’s historic royal cuisine, Bahir Dar’s lakeside fish dishes, Harar’s spiced foods and sweets, and Jimma’s coffee heritage.
In Africa, Ethiopia ranked behind Morocco (20th), South Africa (29th) and Egypt (36th). It was the only East African country included in the top 50 list.
TTW said the 2026 ranking was based on editorial research covering culinary heritage, regional diversity, sustainability practices, local sourcing and traveler experiences.