My Current Top 5 Favourite Food Spots in the World
This list changes all the time. That’s part of the…fun? A new trip, a new meal, a new place that sticks with you longer than expected. Makes you want to go back instead of trying out a new city.
Right now, though, these are the five spots I think about the most. Not because they’re flashy or impossible to get into (some of them are), but because they make me feel jealous of my past self. I rank everything on Beli, and these are my top 5.
This isn’t about being “the best.” It’s about places that get it right. The room. The food. The way the night unfolds.
Here’s where I’d go back tomorrow if I could.
5. Interstellar BBQ — Austin, Texas
The Texas BBQ spot that lived up to the hype THE MOST. Interstellar doesn’t look fancy and doesn’t try to. You line up early. The sun’s already doing its thing. Everyone’s relaxed but locked in. They know why they’re here and they can’t wait, especially with the 20 hanging tomahawk ribeyes out front, cooking slowly.
The vibe is pure Austin. Easy. Friendly. No rushing, no posturing. You order as you go at the counter, grab the tray, find a seat, and settle in.
The brisket is rich and smoky, with a bark that snaps. The peach glazed pork belly is sweet and savoury. The short rib off the bone was maybe the favourite. The sides matter here too. Smoked scalloped potatoes. Baked beans. Coleslaw.
What stuck with me was how honest it felt. No gimmicks. No speeches. Just people who care, cooking food they believe in, even if it did get that Michelin star.
4. Lucali — Brooklyn, New York
Lucali has its own rhythm. You feel it before you even get inside.
You line up. You wait. You commit. Then you get your slot on the list. When would you like to join us? How many people? Two? Okay see you at six. It was four. We grabbed drinks at a nearby bar.
Once you’re in, the room is small and warm and buzzing. The lights are low. The oven is red hot, fresh basil is being picked, and dough is being rolled out with wine bottles.
The pizza is simple, but it’s dialed in. Thin crust with char and chew. Balanced sauce. Cheese that doesn’t overpower anything. I went for sausage and peppers. Next time I need to try the famous calzone here.
Lucali isn’t trying to impress you. It doesn’t have to. It’s confident in what it is. It’s always impressing. Sitting there, sharing a pizza, it felt less like a famous restaurant and more like a place that’s always going to be there when you get back to make the perfect pie. Also it’s BYOB…that’s fun!
3. Torrisi — New York City
Torrisi carries weight before you walk in. You feel it in the room, but you also feel it on your way there on the subway, as you wait in line, as you sit down…
Check out our full review of Torrisi to understand exactly why I love it here so much. And message us if you want a sure fire tip on how to actually get in!
2. Bistrot des Tournelles — Paris
This is what people mean when they say they want to eat in Paris.
The room is small and alive. Tight bar. Close tables. Plates flying out of the kitchen. It’s loud in the good way. Full of energy, not noise. It’s old school. Centuries old. Vampires and artists eat here.
You don’t ask for changes. You order from the menu and trust them. The staff are sharp and direct. If you’re relaxed, they are too. They didn’t even hate me for not speaking French (a genuine rarity and fair enough).
The food is classic and confident. Foie gras that’s rich and buttery and tastes like nuts. Mushrooms cooked until they smell incredible before they even hit the table. Beef with pepper sauce that tastes like it’s been made the same way forever. Thin, salty fries piled high. No tricks.
Bistrot Des Tournelles was my one chance at expensive, pure French food and I was so excited. It didn’t just live up to the hype, but blew my expectations out of the water in every way.
1. Attica — Ripponlea, Australia
Attica is different. You feel that right away.
The room is calm. Thoughtful. The service is warm but precise. Every part of the night feels intentional, but never stiff. You leave your napkin on the table when you go to the bathroom, it’s folded when you come back. Sounds like too much, but they are ninjas.
The food tells a story. Ingredients you don’t see everywhere. Dishes that make you stop and listen. Not in a lecture way. In a quiet, respectful way. You’re guided through the meal, but you’re never rushed. Maybe you watched its Season 1 episode of Chef’s Table on Netflix before you went. Maybe it was the world’s 23rd best restaurant when you went. Maybe it was your birthday and the staff knew that and took you for a tour of the kitchen like you were on an episode of The Bear.
By the end, I wasn’t just impressed. I was grateful. Grateful to have been there, to have tasted it, to have shared in something that felt bigger than just dinner.
This was all back in 2015 and it’s still #1 so…
I hope 2026 brings even more meals like this…places that slow you down and remind you why you love food in the first place.
Stay tuned.
AUTHOR: Hogan short
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