Europe’s Most Overrated Food Cities, According to American Travelers

Paris, France: Historic expectations, mixed perceptions

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Paris remains one of the most appealing food destinations in Europe, with more than half of respondents naming it among the cities they’re most excited to visit. But it also took the top spot for the most overrated food city, with 37 percent of respondents saying it was either “somewhat overrated” or “very overrated.”

While Paris is home to globally recognized culinary traditions, from Michelin-starred restaurants to historic bistros and some of the best wines in the world, the city has become a magnet for tourists, and food availability reflects that. Visitors are likely to encounter high visitor prices, restaurants marketed as “authentic” but built almost entirely for tourists, and pushy restaurant staff that don’t match the preconceived notion of relaxing at a riverfront cafe uninterrupted for hours on end. Some of the top restaurants in Paris may also require reservations months in advance, meaning all but the most organized visitors miss their chance.

It’s also possible that conceptions of Paris’ food scene are outdated and based in historic nostalgia more than current-day trends. Neighborhoods like the 11th arrondissement and Canal Saint-Martin have become hubs for more casual, contemporary dining, with some of the coolest speakeasies and locally owned restaurants in France. But Americans may still be assuming it’s all small, candlelit bistros with checkered tablecloths and waiters in white aprons exclusively serving coq au vin.

Amsterdam, Netherlands: A less-defined food identity

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Amsterdam is a different case from Paris: it’s not considered a culinary capital in the traditional sense, though it’s still a popular tourist destination. However, roughly 20 percent of respondents felt it was overrated. That could be because the city has less of an established identity; most people have had French food, but few walk around looking for a Dutch restaurant. The city has a fantastic international food identity, with cuisine from around Europe and the world readily available. But it’s still not on the same level as Paris or Rome.

However, recent years have seen growth in high-end and experimental restaurants, as well as a strong coffee and cafe culture. But for travelers seeking a clearly defined “must-try” food experience, Amsterdam may not always be able to deliver. That’s reflected in other survey data, as only 10 percent of respondents labeled it as their top food city.

Barcelona, Spain: Meets expectations

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According to the survey, Barcelona is a good example of how popularity doesn’t always translate to disappointment. The city rates as one of the most exciting food destinations for visitors planning trips to Europe, coming in as the third-most wish-listed destination for foodies. And it doesn’t disappoint, it seems. Nearly half of respondents said Barcelona’s food scene is “rated about right,” with a smaller share (13.2 percent) describing it as overrated to any degree.

One reason for that rating could be the accessibility of its food culture. Tapas bars, hundreds of local markets, and plenty of street food vendors, combined with a strong food identity around dishes like tapas and paella, make it easy for even first-time visitors to find what feels like an authentic culinary experience.  Of course, Barcelona is no stranger to overtourism issues, and visitors looking for the best food in the city will want to skip crowded areas like La Rambla and head to more local dining zones, like the pedestrian-friendly Rambla del Poblenou (often called the “local Rambla”) or Rambla del Raval, with an edgier and more diverse food scene.

Rome, Italy: Lives up to the hype

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Among major European food cities, Rome wins a superlative: it’s both the top destination traveling foodies want to visit, and the least likely to be considered overrated — despite facing many of the food tourism-related challenges of Paris.

More than half of respondents selected Rome as a top food destination, and the city bested Barcelona in terms of how may people think it lives up to the hype. A majority (55.8 percent) said it’s exactly as good as they expected, with far fewer people considering it overrated compared to Paris. Part of that could be that Roman cuisine is very defined, even within the greater category of Italian cuisine. It’s also widely available and fairly accessible across price points (perhaps unlike Paris, in that regard). Specialities associated with Rome, such as cacio e pepe, carbonara, and amatriciana are easy to find in both traditional trattorias and more modern settings, reducing the likelihood of unmet expectations for someone craving a specific dish.

Lisbon, Portugal; and Prague, Czech Republic: Less well-known, more uncertainty

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Unlike Rome, Paris, and Amsterdam, Lisbon and Prague don’t stand out as either overrated or underrated. But they still rank highest for something else: unknowns. In the survey, both cities had the highest share of respondents selecting “not sure” when asked how their food scenes are rated. Lisbon led with slightly more than 18 percent, followed closely by Prague at around 17 percent. Both numbers are significantly higher than cities like Rome (only 3.9 percent didn’t have strong feelings) or Paris (2.67 percent).

In some ways, this may benefit those cities, as travelers aren’t arriving with high expectations, but with no expectations. Both also scored low in the percent of trovelers who thought they were “highly overrated” at just 5.2 percent for Lisbon and 5.6 percent for Prague. Of all the cities on the list, they may be in the best position to woo travelers, as food trips to these cities are likely to be more about discovery than about any one must-have experience.

The full methodology and survey results are available on the Eating Europe website.