Every year, the travel experts at Condé Nast Traveller drop a list that sends food enthusiasts into a frenzy – the best places to eat around the world in the year ahead. It’s a global roll call that flits from Mediterranean islands to South American food capitals and beyond, and this year, among heavyweight contenders like Hong Kong, Crete and Medellín, one name stands out for Sydney locals: Parramatta. Our very own western hub has officially ranked number seven in the world on Condé Nast Traveller’s Best Places to Go in 2026 list – a massive nod to the area’s rise as a cultural and culinary powerhouse.
For those who haven’t wandered west in a while, this might come as a surprise, but getting the CN seal of approval is as legit a global accolade as a destination can get. According to the travel experts at Condé Nast Traveller, Parramatta’s level up is no accident – with Powerhouse Parramatta (soon to be NSW’s largest museum) cited as a major catalyst.
RELATED READ: These are our favourite restaurants in Parramatta
The CN experts cited a few Parramatta faves in their travel guide for 2026, directing travellers to Circa Espresso (winner of the People’s Choice Award for Best Café in the Time Out Sydney Food and Drink Awards 2025) for Ottoman eggs, and to Homage Specialty Coffee for Wagyu muffins. The guide also called out Parramatta Square – once more traffic-jam than terraza – which is now lined with leafy dining courtyards and big-name kitchens including Lebanese charcoal chicken legends Henrietta, Ruse Bar and Brasserie, Lilymu and Oribu. According to Condé Nast, Parramatta’s rise isn’t just about big museums and other ambitious design projects – it’s about bold, multicultural flavours and a city that’s learned to champion its roots while embracing ambitious change.
RELATED READ: Here’s our guide to 24 hours of eating in Parramatta
If you haven’t explored its laneways, cafés, and fire-powered kitchens in a while, it looks like you’d better jump to it in 2026 – before foodies from across the globe beat you to it.
These are the top 10 places eat around the world in 2026
- Boston, USA
- Crete, Greece
- Fès, Morocco
- Hong Kong
- Medellín, Colombia
- Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Parramatta, Sydney, Australia
- Patan, Nepal
- Prince Edward County, Canada
- Seville, Spain
You can read the full guide to where to eat in 2026 over here.
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