Philippines one of the best foodie destination for 2026 - Michelin

The best destinations for foodies in 2026, according to Michelin

Star Insider
16 January 2026

The best destinations for foodies in 2026, according to Michelin

Michelin has revealed its eagerly awaited "Best Places to Travel in 2026 for Food Lovers" list. Published by the Michelin Guide, the index is compiled by Michelin inspectors and experts on the ground and highlights 16 destinations around the world chosen for their selected restaurants and hotels and emerging culinary scenes. Essentially, the list showcases an appetizing variety of food from different countries and the techniques used by top chefs to create dishes that are redefining menus and placing cuisine on the traveler's map.

16. Vancouver, Canada

Vancouver is already deserving of its reputation as a great food city. In 2026, it's also a FIFA World Cup host city, adding further appeal to this multicultural Canadian city.

As a foodie destination, Vancouver is renowned for its vibrant culinary scene. Fresh locally caught seafood, strong Asian influences, and a burgeoning focus on Indigenous cooking lend this eco-conscious Pacific hub an appetizing allure.

15. Québec, Canada

Québec is the only Francophone-majority province in Canada. Fiercely proud of its historic New France roots, Québec is nonetheless fully international, its diverse regions, languages, cultures, and history shaping its global character.

Québec's culinary landscape is firmly rooted in 17th-century French cooking techniques. Inventive Montreal chefs, for example, ably uphold this farm-to-table philosophy with dishes that also draw on historical influences from British and Indigenous cuisines, many reimagined for international palates.

14. Philadelphia, USA

Another 2026 World Cup host city, Philadelphia boasts one of America's most dynamic dining scenes, shaped largely by immigrant traditions and seasonal mid-Atlantic seafood.

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the establishment of two Philadelphia landmarks offering an array of food options, the Reading Terminal Market and the Italian Market. Today, neighborhood restaurants flourish.

13. Boston, USA

Further up the East Coast, Boston is a historic food city, known for its exciting blend of New England seafood, tasty Italian fare, and classic American comfort foods, unique regional tastes like North Shore roast beef.

While Boston remains deliciously seafood-centric, the city is also appreciated for more exotic menus, typically listing Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine. And an emerging, newly energized emphasis on sophisticated and innovative dining visibly illustrates Boston's growing reputation as a significant food destination.

12. Florida, USA

Gone are the days when Florida's epicurean clout was centered solely on Miami. These days, the state's culinary identity has broadened to include places like Orlando, Tampa and, more recently, Fort Lauderdale, The Palm Beaches, and St. Pete-Clearwater.

Seafood menus and chef-led dining rooms exemplify Florida's charge as a gourmet destination. But the state's culinary depth is also heightened by Cuban influences, the Floribbean fusion of Caribbean spices and tropical ingredients, and traditional Southern comfort dishes.

11. The American South

And comfort food is what the American South is all about... and more! Across Alabama, Atlanta, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, a bold new culinary clarity is redefining menus across the board.

In Alabama and Mississippi, chefs are carefully reinventing regional staples; standalone Atlanta is big on innovation; Louisiana, meanwhile, is consolidating its Cajun and Creole authority. The Carolinas have redefined their seafood and whole-hog traditions, while Tennessee is honing its smoke-driven identity.

10. Route 66

Route 66—"The Mother Road"—is 100 years old in 2026. All the more reason, then, to drive it. Across eight states, numerous eateries are gearing up for an influx of visitors.

But it's the quality plates found at the start and end of the route in Chicago and Los Angeles that truly inspire, and where exclusive gourmet restaurants in both cities cater to a discerning clientele.

9. Philippines

Filipino food is highly regarded for its diverse fusion of Indigenous ingredients and Malay, Spanish, Chinese, and American influences. And restaurants in Manila and Cebu are where these bold sweet, sour, salty, and savory flavors are best enjoyed.

But Manila and Cebu are destinations where you can also find a host of young chefs directing kitchens with independent flair and redefining Filipino food culture, employing traditional and international techniques to create dishes using regional fruits, spices, and cooking techniques like marinating and grilling, while balancing those same sweet, salty, and acidic flavors.

8. Jiangsu, China

Jiangsu province is one of China's most refined dining destinations. The culinary scene is dominated by Huaiyang cuisine and a garden culture known for its delicate, fresh, and mild flavors.

Emphasizing natural tastes, meticulous preparation, and artistic interpretation, chefs in the cities of Suzhou and Nanjing are applauded for their elegant regional food traditions, including the use of freshwater fish, subtle seasoning, and classical techniques.

7. Cappadocia, Turkey

Famed for its unworldly landscape of towering rock formations known as "fairy chimneys," Cappadocia is a favorite vacation getaway. Its natural wonders complement a burgeoning culinary scene, where 70% of the gastronomy is local.

Here, traditional fare is served in clay pots—earthy slow-cooked stews, soups, and grilled meats, and other hearty Turkish staples. The destination's culinary awakening is such that much of what's on offer is now appearing on pop-up tasting menus.

6. Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is a culinary destination to watch. While the kingdom's food scene is predominantly local, chefs working in cities such as Riyadh and Jeddah are successfully reinterpreting traditional dishes, grilled meats, and Red Sea seafood with daring creativity.

Meanwhile, the international flavor is picking up pace, with Japanese, Chinese, Lebanese, and French cuisines listed prominently on menus in restaurants and hotels in Saudi cities and coastal resorts.

5. Amalfi Coast, Italy

The picture-perfect Amalfi Coast is renowned for its serene beauty and romantic allure. The area is also celebrated for its creative culinary scene. Think grilled lobster, lemon-laced pasta, and just-caught seafood served al fresco.

The food remains elemental, rooted in tradition but elevated by stunning coastal settings. Kitchens work with the seasons, with chefs using fresh local produce and artisanal products to create an authentic taste of the Mediterranean lifestyle.

4. Wrocław, Poland

Wrocław, the historical capital of Poland's Silesia region, is a vibrant city where chefs are reinterpreting Silesian cooking traditions with flair and imagination. The picturesque old market square is lined with several restaurants where this new approach to food can be sampled.

Visitors can still enjoy classic Silesian fare, dishes like pierogi and beef roulade. But these new breed of chefs are designing menus with modern culinary techniques that's allowing this Central European food destination to step out of the shadows.

3. The Dolomites, Italy

All eyes are on Cortina d'Ampezzo as the town prepares to host the 2026 Winter Olympics. In preparation, the Dolomites region in the northern Italian Alps, Michelin's third-placed best travel destination, has benefited from new infrastructure and refined mountain hotels. The Games will also afford thousands an opportunity to savor alpine cooking.

Dolomites gastronomy is a unique, hearty blend of Italian and Austrian-German traditions. Local fare includes dumplings, speck (smoked ham), and mountain cheeses. But thanks to chefs looking to techniques outside of the Italian Alps, these cherished dishes are lent a decidedly modern twist.

2. Czech Republic

Michelin's second-placed travel destination is the Czech Republic. While Prague remains a well-known haunt for gourmands, it's what's cooking beyond the capital that has foodies excited. In Karlovy Vary and other spa towns, for example, it is simple ingredients such as potatoes, freshwater fish, and foraged mushrooms that are enriching menus.

Hearty and traditional Central European comfort food is still enjoyed across the country, with rural kitchens and menus rooted in place and seasonality that are essentially redrawing the culinary map.

1. Venice, Italy

Heading the list of the best places to travel in 2026 for food lovers is Venice. Appropriately one of the most romantic of European cities, Venice is honored not so much for its existing culinary scene but for what connoisseurs of fine dining can expect in the future.

A hotel renaissance is about to reset the city's dining scene. Orient Express, Cheval Blanc, Rosewood, and Airelles are all vying for a place at the table in the floating city. Arriving with these high-end properties will be stylish and trendy restaurants with kitchens geared towards serving those most appreciative of Michelin-rated dining spots.

Alex Eala hailed as Kooyong Classic champion

Alex Eala hailed as Kooyong Classic champion

Nicole Anne D.G. Bugauisan 
Manila Times
16 January 2026

MANILA, Philippines — Tennis sensation Alex Eala will carry a strong momentum going into the 2026 Australian Open after capturing the Evonne Goolagong Cawley Trophy at the Kooyong Classic women’s singles exhibition meet.

Kooyong Classic announced Eala's feat on Friday afternoon, with a picture of the Filipina receiving the trophy.

“We are happy to announce the winner of the Evonne Goolagong Cawley Trophy, Alexandra Eala,” the event organizers wrote on its socials. 

“Congratulations to our women’s 2026 Kooyong Classic Champion,” the post added.

Eala, ranked 49th in the world, defeated Olympic silver medalist Donna Vekic of Croatia, in the meet.

She first defeated the Croatian in the quarterfinals of the ASB Classic last week.

The Evonne Goolagong Cawley Trophy serves as a tribute to the former Australian player.

Cawley, a former No. 1 player in women’s singles, was one of the world's top tennis players in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Eala will open her 2026 Australian Open against the United States’ Alycia Parks in the first round on Sunday, at Melbourne Park, Australia.

The 20-year-old Eala earned a direct entry in the Australian Open due to her rankings and will face the current world No. 100 Parks in the first round.

The 25-year-old Parks reached a career-high of world No. 40 last Aug. 14, 2023, and won her first WTA singles title in the 2023 Lyon Open. 

Philippines cements its position as one of the world’s largest remittance destinations

Philippines emerges as battleground for faster, cheaper digital remittances

Keisha Ta-Asan
Philstar Global
11 January 2026

MANILA, Philippines — As the Philippines cements its position as one of the world’s largest remittance destinations, global financial institutions are doubling down on efforts to support the country’s rapidly evolving digital payments landscape.

J.P. Morgan sees the Philippines at the center of Asia’s cross-border remittance growth, driven by the surge of digital wallets, instant payment schemes and new consumer expectations for speed and transparency.

Akhil Devmurari, fintech sector head for Asia Pacific at J.P. Morgan Payments, said the Philippines continues to stand out in the region’s payment corridors.

“Philippines has one of the largest inbound remittance corridors,” he said. “Last year (remittances) were close to $40 billion. It’s a huge value and that is continuing to grow.”

Building rails across ASEAN

The bank’s regional footprint provides the infrastructure needed to support this expansion. Devmurari said the global investment bank’s payments organization is present in 14 markets including Singapore, Hong Kong and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

This presence allows the bank to offer local clearing access, local accounts and execution services, particularly for clients moving money into remittance-heavy markets like the Philippines.

Devmurari said his team focuses on supporting regulated payment companies, many of which are driving today’s cross-border innovation.

“Our approach is to help our clients provide cash management services, payments capabilities where they can leverage banks’ rails to collect money from the senders,” he said. This includes services that cover “collections, safeguarding funds, foreign exchange and payout services.”

With remittance flows into the Philippines still dominated by bank transfers, the push toward instant payments and wallet-based settlements is accelerating. Devmurari noted that the demand for speed has shifted drastically.

He added that the bank is enhancing its country-level capabilities to support this shift.

“We are subscribing, or already have access, to local real-time payment rails so we can enable faster transaction processing for our fintech companies,” he said.

For the Philippines, this opens the door to more seamless last-mile payouts using the country’s instant transfer system. The next frontier, he said, is pay-to-wallet capabilities. “Pay-to-wallet capabilities is something that we think will also add value and is an evolving area.”

Financial inclusion drives wallet growth

Beyond remittances, wallet providers are accelerating financial inclusion across ASEAN — a theme particularly relevant for the Philippines, where millions remain unbanked.

Devmurari said wallet companies have become “very powerful” by using technology for know your customer onboarding and remote access.

“People who are in remote areas are not easily able to access the financial ecosystem but they can actually do it by leveraging individual wallet capabilities,” he said.

ASEAN still has about 55 percent of its population unbanked or underbanked. Wallets, he said, are filling this gap and J.P. Morgan’s role is to support liquidity and payout rails behind these platforms.

“We feel that we are going hand in hand with the fintech companies and wallet providers to tackle the financial inclusion part.”

The bank sees growing momentum in southbound corridors such as India to ASEAN and China to ASEAN, but the Philippines remains a critical destination market.

“Middle East and the Philippines is a huge opportunity,” Devmurari said, noting the continued expansion of Filipino worker deployments abroad.

He also highlighted the growing cross-border connectivity of Philippine fintechs.

“As the fintech community grows, the cross-border connectivity and cross-border connectivity from the corridors perspective, whether Middle East or Philippines or other ASEAN markets into the Philippines, I think that’s going to be a significant opportunity,” he said.

Efforts like Project Nexus, which links real-time payment systems across ASEAN, are expected to further boost speed and transparency.

But as digitalization advances, Devmurari stressed the need to address emerging threats.

The future, he said, is about balancing innovation and risk. “On one hand, yes, the growth is important, real-time payments are already here, wallet capabilities are already there. At the same time we need to strike a balance between risk management and digitalization.”