A small Michigan city has been named one of the best dining destinations in the world for 2026.
Eater, a publication that covers food, dining and restaurant news, recently released its list of “The Best Dining Destination in 2026," which highlights 15 cities and regions.
Recommended Videos
Among destinations ranging from Aguascalientes, Mexico, to Okinawa, Japan, is Traverse City, a small lakeside community in Northern Michigan.
“Drawn to bucolic farmland, endless cherry and apple orchards, and increasingly respected wine regions, chefs and wine pros are relocating from major cities to this lakeside Arcadia,” Eater’s Stacy Brugeman wrote.
Brugeman highlighted several chefs, restaurants, and food producers shaping Traverse City’s culinary scene, including chefs Andy Elliott and Emily Stewart of Modern Bird. The Traverse City restaurant was recently named to the New York Times’ list of the 50 best restaurants and is a semifinalist for a James Beard Award in the Best Chefs: Great Lakes category.
Also recognized were winemaker David Bos of BOS Wine in Elk Rapids; chef Bobby Thoits of Supper in Glen Arbor; chefs Sarah Welch and Cameron Rolka, who are preparing to open Umbo in Traverse City; and chefs Jennifer Blakeslee and Eric Patterson of The Cook’s House, who were James Beard finalists last year. Additional mentions included American Spoon in Petoskey and Trattoria Stella in Traverse City.
“Despite growing hype, the community remains low-key,” Brugeman wrote. “Farmers review seed lists with cooks before placing orders, fishermen meet restaurant owners to hand off buckets of smelt, and neighbors knock on kitchen doors to share fresh favas. They foster a collaborative energy that’s only possible in the friendly Midwest.”
The other destinations named on Eater’s list include the following:
- Aguascalientes, Mexico
- Birmingham, Alabama
- Gaziantep, Turkey
- La Paz, Bolivia
- Okinawa, Japan
- Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Isle of Skye, Scotland
- Mauritius
- Route 66, United States
- Bengaluru, India
- The Dominican Republic
- Kelowna, Canada
To learn more about why each destination is named on Eater’s list, click here.