Tokyo, Rome, Paris ... 6 great foodie destinations everyone should visit once

Everyone needs to eat – which is why food might be humanity's most universally appreciated art form, a creative pursuit which welds pleasure and poetry with practicality and purpose – however mundane your meal might seem.

Fine dining, however, is another ballgame. For one, it’s about far more than what finds its way into your mouth, which is just a fraction of the experience; instead the ambience, hospitality and presentation of the food often leave the greatest impression.

Environment is everything. Travelling the world, there’s no better way to get to know a place than through its food, which offers a window into the cultural, social and ethnic factors which have shaped what’s on your plate.

Here we round up six of the world’s must-visit cities for flavour-hungry foodies.

Paris, France

The fashion and art capital of the world is also equally renowned for its culinary culture. The refined nature of Parisians is clearly reflected in the rafts of dining options on offer in the French capital: Paris is filled with bustling coffee shops, the wafting aroma of croissants and cheesecakes filtering into the streets. Relish the macrons, caramels and lavish servings of chocolate in a typical French brasserie.

Tokyo, Japan

This progressive country is the birthplace of the world-famous sushi cuisine, which can be downright experimental, but always remains sumptuous to the palette. Also try the ultimate comfort food, okonomiyaki, which is a thin pancake with a batter base that can be rounded out with any filling you chose. Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is an epicentre of Asian fine dining – but don’t miss the attractive street food options, as well.

Lisbon, Portugal