Visit These Cities in 2024 for Flavorful Culinary Experiences (2024)

Epicureans take note: these three cities are experiencing epic growth in their culinary scenes. Plan a vacation to these destinations to discover new restaurants, immersive experiences, award-winning cuisine, and unique creations from top chefs.

New Orlando, Florida restaurants have joined the exclusive group of MICHELIN-recognized eateries, in the 2024 edition of the MICHELIN Guide Miami, Orlando and Tampa. The recognition of 48 Orlando restaurants confirms what locals and visitors have known all along — that Orlando has an exceptional culinary community.

“With 7 starred, 11 Bib Gourmand and 30 Recommended Restaurants in the 2024 MICHELIN Guide, Orlando continues to drive culinary innovation forward,” said Casandra Matej, president & CEO of Visit Orlando. “This is a true testament to the growth and vibrancy of Orlando's culinary scene, fueled by the dedication of our talented chefs, restaurateurs and committed service staff. Together, we've made Orlando a vibrant hub for international cuisine, attracting food enthusiasts and enhancing the local dining experience."

Four new Michelin Starred restaurants join the growing list of Orlando's one-starred venues, including Camille in Baldwin Park, Natsu in the North Quarter District in Downtown Orlando, Papa Llama in Curry Ford West and Victoria & Albert's at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Soseki Modern Omakase in Winter Park; Capa Steakhouse & Bar at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort; and Kadence in the Audubon Park Garden District retained their one-star recognition.

MICHELIN Guide inspectors added two new Orlando restaurants—Sushi Saint (City District) and Zaru (Mills 50)—of the Bib Gourmand designation for great food at great value bringing the total to 11. The list also includes: Bombay Street Kitchen, Domu, Isan Zaap, Norigami, Otto's High Dive, Taste of Chengdu, The Ravenous Pig, The Strand Food & Drink, and Z Asian.

Orlando now has 30 MICHELIN Recommended Orlando restaurants. The list includes: AVA MediterrAegean (Winter Park), BACÁN (Lake Nona Wave Hotel), Black Rooster Taqueria (Mills 50), Citricos (Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa), Chuan Fu (Winter Park), EDOBOY (Mills 50), Four Flamingos, A Richard Blais Florida Kitchen (Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress), Juju (Milk District), Kabooki Sushi (Milk District), Kai Asian Street Fare (Winter Park), Kaya (Mills 50), Knife & Spoon (Grande Lakes Orlando), Maxine's on Shine (Colonialtown), Morimoto Asia (Disney Springs), Pizza Bruno (Curry Ford West), Prato (Winter Park), Primo by Melissa Kelly (The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes), Ravello (Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort), Sear + Sea (JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa), Se7en Bites (Milk District), Selam Ethiopian & Eritrean Cuisine (SeaWorld Orlando Area), Shin Jung (Mills 50), Sticky Rice (Mills 50), Swine & Sons (Winter Park), The Pinery (Ivanhoe Village Main Street in Downtown Orlando), The Polite Pig (Disney Springs), Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood (Disney's Coronado Springs Resort), Tori Tori (Mills 50), Twenty Pho Hour (International Drive Area), and YH Seafood Clubhouse (International Drive Area).

The MICHELIN Guide also recognized Orlando's creativity, commitment to service and sustainability with three special awards in these areas: the Michelin Exceptional co*cktails Award for Justin Levaughn of Otto's High Dive; the Michelin Service Award to Israel Perez, maître d'hôtel and sommelier of Victoria & Albert's; and the Michelin Green Star, which recognizes exceptional sustainable dining that doesn't sacrifice flavor, to the Michelin Recommended Kaya, led by Chef Lordfer Lalicon. For more details on all 48 Orlando restaurants recognized by Michelin, including inspector notes, visit the official Visit Orlando blog.

Visit These Cities in 2024 for Flavorful Culinary Experiences (1)

Washington, DC is undergoing a culinary renaissance and experiential cuisine is at its helm. Visitors can enjoy activities, art, culture, and sensory experiences through offerings like artificial intelligence co*cktails, blindfolded dines, Embassy Chef tastings, sushi-making, cat-petting, Michelin chef counters and more.

Restaurants with activity experiences:

City Experiences Signature Dinner Cruise – The Wharf - Pier 4, 580 Water Street SW, Washington, D.C. Dine and dance on the Potomac River with views of the city's iconic monuments and memorials on this casual night out. Enjoy a delicious, chef-prepared buffet and gorgeous views of Washington, DC's spectacular architecture.
Cure Bar & Bistro – Chinatown - 1000 H St NW, Washington, DC 20001. Cure Bar & Bistro features a unique menu that intersects a modern take on traditional French cuisine and Japanese sushi. The restaurant offers sushi making classes and an interactive chef's tasting menu on Fridays and Saturdays.
Pratt Standard co*cktail Company Classes – Dupont Circle - 2012 P St NW, Washington, DC 20036. Discover pre-prohibition style co*cktails with Pratt Standard co*cktail Company's public classes that include one hour of instruction on co*cktail history, distilling, and on techniques like garnishing, shaking, and stirring.
Pineapples and Pearls – Capitol Hill - 715 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003. A fun take on fine-dining with an elegant yet playful tasting menu composed of several courses with paired beverages. Every meal comes with a book to peruse, a collection of stories and photographs that explain parts of the course to come, and entertaining “gifts” from handcuffs to beggars' purses.
Rose's Luxury – Capitol Hill - 717 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003. The classic Rose's experience is now a five-course "choose your own adventure" menu with a travel-the-world vibe. Enjoy private dining at their rooftop garden with personalized service akin to the terrace at your best friend's apartment with a custom-tailored wine pairing by a Master Sommelier.
El Cielo – Union Market - 1280 4th St NE, Washington, DC 20002. Enjoy an immersive tasting menu that includes “sensory immersion” experiences. The tasting menu includes a visual stunt ideal for the Instagram era called “Chocotheraphy” where guests “wash” their hands in liquid chocolate to awaken their senses.

Art attractions with extra culinary flair:

ARTECHOUSE – Southwest Waterfront - 1238 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024. Guests can bring their co*cktail to live through augmented reality by scanning it with their mobile device. AR designs change based on the museum's current exhibition.
Drunk Shakespeare at The Sage Theatre – Downtown - 1100 13th St NW, Washington, DC 20005. In a hidden speakeasy, five classically trained actors assemble for their sacred ritual. One actor takes five shots of whiskey and then attempts to perform a major role in a Shakespeare play. Hilarity and mayhem ensue.

Establishments with special chef experiences and menus:

Albi – Chef's Table at the Hearth – Navy Yard - 1346 4th St SE, Washington, DC 20003. Journey through Levantine cooking with a 2.5 hour long dining experience - Chef Rafidi's multi-course, semi-improvisational Sofra menu from the intimate Hearth Table inside their kitchen.
Imperfecto: The Chef's Table – West End - 1124 23rd St NW, Washington, DC 20037. The Degustación is a 12+ course Omakase-style tasting menu with Chef Enrique Limardo, through which guests will travel through South America and into the Mediterranean.
Jont – U Street Corridor - 1904 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009. The 14-seat chef's counter serves an ingredient focused tasting menu that highlights the best seasonal ingredients around the world.
minibar by José Andrés – Penn Quarter - 855 E St NW, Washington, DC 20004. One of the most exclusive dining experiences in DC, this theatrical restaurant sits guests inside the kitchen where they witness more than a dozen of DC's finest chefs working together in a perfectly choreographed dance of culinary preparation.
Seven Reasons – Chinatown - 931 H St NW, Washington, DC 20001. Spring 2024 will bring a surprise chef's tasting experience with Chef Enrique Limardo where blindfolded guests solve puzzles and riddles to “unlock” the menu and utensils across the span of a 3-hour interactive affair.

Cuisine with a cultural experience:

Casa Teresa – Downtown - 919 19th St NW, Washington, DC 20006. A visit to Casa Teresa is designed to be a progressive dining experience. From the DIY appetizers that pay homage to Spanish chef Rubén García's abuela Teresa, to the family-style entrees of whole fish, pass-the-plate grilled meats, and veggie dishes over open flames and oak charcoal, there is no better way to immerse in Spanish food that feels like it came from “grandma's house”.
Dear Sushi – East End - 200 Massachusetts Ave NW Suite 150, Washington, DC 20001. An omakase experience that celebrates both traditional and envelope-pushing takes on sushi. The omakase starts with seasonal snacks, moves into several sushi courses that showcase both traditional and Chef Makoto's modern takes, then ends with a dessert.
dLeña – Mount Vernon Triangle - 476 K St NW Suite D, Washington, DC 20001. Experience wood-firing of your dish at your own table at dLeña, which offers elevated Mexican fare executed in a striking, rustic-chic venue. Ask and you'll be shown their speakeasy, ROJA Mezcal Lounge, which offers live jazz among their smokey mezcal and tequila-centric menu.
Embassy Chef Challenge by Events DC – Penn Quarter, Smithsonian American Art Museum - G Street Northwest &, 8th St NW, Washington, DC 20004. Washington, DC embassy chefs engage in an annual friendly competition to serve guests and celebrate culinary diplomacy. Guests partake in tasting experiences including food, drink, and cultural dress from around the world including past winners like The Bahamas, El Salvador, Morocco, Peru, and Serbia.
Iron Age Korean Steakhouse – Columbia Heights - 3365 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010. Iron Age is known for its affordable all-you-can-eat menus and their tabletop grills for a fulling DIY Korean barbecue dining experience. Get ready to cook a large variety of meat selection available and fret not, as the experienced staff will always be there to prevent anything from burning.
Philotimo – Downtown - 1100 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005. An exploration of Greece's cherished traditions and culinary beauty through the lens of Michelin-starred chef Nicholas Stefanelli. The vibrant culinary journey pays homage to Chef Stefanelli's heritage and the rich history of the country – well beyond the olive groves and the shores of the shimmering Aegean.

Visit These Cities in 2024 for Flavorful Culinary Experiences (2)

Santa Monica has long been renowned as a leading culinary destination in Southern California. In just 8.3 square miles, Los Angeles beach city is home to over 400 restaurants – including 18 Michelin recommended. With a favorable location and visitor profile of global foodies, the city attracts international chefs, new restaurant concepts and already thriving establishments to the area. As a result of its booming dining scene and innovation, Santa Monica is poised to be one of the top culinary destinations in 2024.

According to Food & Wine's 2024 culinary travel trend predictions, Santa Monica leads the charge when it comes to satisfying the desires – and taste buds – of food savvy travelers. The beach city ticks off several boxes on the recently published list including: Wellness tourism, Immersive culinary experiences, destination-focused dining, hyper-local ingredients, zero waste/sustainable practices and alfresco dining.

Wellness Tourism is focused on self-care and mindful eating, and Santa Monica has offerings peppered all throughout the beachside city. Impasta provides healthy pasta dishes made with vegetable noodles, including zucchini, hearts of palm and spaghetti squash. All the dishes are thoughtfully curated using low-calorie, low-carb and 100% gluten-free ingredients. And it's new to the seaside city's Downtown area! Then there's La La Land Kind Café – not only does this café hire and give back to fostered youth, but they also offer delicious, health-focused drinks like the Butterfly Matcha Latte – which uses blue butterfly pea flower and ceremonial grade matcha. You can find them on Montana Avenue. Colapasta is one of Downtown Santa Monica's mainstays, the Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant sources certified organic raw ingredients from the Santa Monica Farmers Market, as they pride themselves on meeting rigorous quality standards. The Italian restaurant specializes in house made pasta.

Santa Monica is also home to many immersive culinary experiences. The Gourmandise School is consistently recognized as one of the best cooking schools in the Los Angeles region, Gourmandise offers hands-on cooking and baking classes for all skill levels, with classes ranging from weekslong series to develop and improve skills to private parties for up to 50 people to group classes and more. Check them out at Santa Monica Place.

Destination-focused dining brings the charm of the area to its menus, with local and seasonal ingredients. The Lobster, a Michelin-recommended and iconic institution, is nearly a century old and offers some of the best sunset views in Santa Monica. The restaurant specializes in California spiny lobster and oysters from the creative mind of chef Govind Armstrong, a regular at the Santa Monica Farmers Market, always in search of seasonally driven ingredients. Santa Monica native Raphael Lunetta is the proud chef and owner of two Lunetta eateries – the Michelin-recommended and upscale neighborhood diner Lunetta all Day serves brunch, lunch, dinner and a unique Golden Hour menu, and Lunetta at Night offers a late night menu – both centered around ingredients sourced from the local farmers markets. Michael's Santa Monica is a mainstay that opened its doors in 1979 and has been delighting dinners in the city ever since. In fact, Michael's is credited as a pioneer in the farm-to-table space by being one of the first restaurants in California to offer market-driven plates using local produce and hyper-seasonal ingredients.

Santa Monica is known for its four weekly certified farmers markets that are overflowing with colorful produce and the freshest locally sourced ingredients. Taking over several city blocks, each market has its own personality and diehard patrons – including several Santa Monica chefs. Hyper-local Ingredients are a plenty in Santa Monica, as nearby farmers bring their bounties to four weekly markets.The Downtown Farmers Market – the largest of the weekly markets – happens every Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., where locals and visitors can catch a glimpse of celebrities/celebrity chefs. This location is also open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the corner of 2nd and Arizona Ave. There's also the Pico Boulevard Farmers Market – this hidden gem of a market is great for families, as it's located at Virginia Ave Park in the heart of the Pico neighborhood. Open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Main Street Farmers Market is a Sunday market that includes organic bounties, live music and more. Main Street and Pico Markets are the only markets in Santa Monica that sell non-agricultural items. Catch the fun every Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Zero Waste and sustainable practices can be found at restaurants dedicated to reducing their footprint by producing zero trash, including its ingredients. Some of these establishments include:

Birdie G's – a Michelin-recommended eatery helmed by award-winning chef and co-owner Jeremy Fox. The menu focuses on Eastern European cuisine emphasizing zero-waste using ingredients sourced from local farmers, ranchers and fishermen who strictly abide by planet-friendly practices.
Socalo – a beachy California cantina and Mexican pub from the brilliant minds and award-winning chefs/owners Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken. Patrons feel good about eating here as they serve sustainably sourced fare procured through Smart Catch and Seafood Watch Program memberships, which thoroughly assess the ways fisheries operate ensuring they exceed and upkeep environmental sustainability practices.
Papille Gustative – the farm-to-table artisan restaurant collects food scraps in buckets to be composted and then used as fertilizer in their garden – not to mention, everything down to the cups, utensils, to-go boxes, bags, and straws are biodegradable.

Finally, for alfresco dining and views of the Pacific Ocean, try these spots:

Èlephante – a Michelin-recommended restaurant and beach house that channels the spirit and cuisine of Italy's southern coast and aims to transport patrons from Santa Monica to the Mediterranean – both with ingredients and an incredible outdoor space that provides stunning ocean views and candy-colored sunsets.
1212 Santa Monica – located on the bustling Third Street Promenade, 1212 Santa Monica is a popular restaurant and event space with expansive outdoor seating, perfect for people-watching and respite after a day of shopping.
Water Grill – dubbed one of the best seafood restaurants in Los Angeles, Water Grill is a culinary destination in its own right. The elevated dining experience offers superior quality and the freshest seafood, accompanied by fantastic views of the Pacific.

For more information or to plan a culinary-inspired trip to Santa Monica, check out this in-depth dining guide.