Lisbon has won the award for Best Culinary City in Europe

Lisbon has won the award for Best Culinary City in Europe for the first time at the World Culinary Awards.

Lisbon has won the award for Best Culinary City in Europe for the first time at the World Culinary Awards. The award was received at a ceremony held in Dubai, where the Portuguese capital stood out from the competing cities: Barcelona, ​​Copenhagen, Florence, London, Paris and Vienna.

Gastronomy is one of the key points when choosing a tourist destination and Lisbon has long been recognised for its diverse and quality offerings“, highlights the Lisbon Tourism Association (ATL) in a press release. “From typical and local restaurants serving traditional food to signature restaurants and Michelin-starred chefs who reinterpret classic flavours, there is a vast selection that attracts visitors from all corners of the world“, continues the ATL, referring to the various chefs who have been winning stars and status for Lisbon in recent years – including two chefs with two Michelin stars , Henrique Sá Pessoa, at Alma, and José Avillez, at Belcanto, elected Best Restaurant in Portugal in these World Culinary Awards.

Carlos Moedas, Mayor of Lisbon, said: “It is a great source of pride to see Lisbon’s identify and traditions being awarded for the first time in this sector and how innovation combines with these gastronomic traditions. It is recognition of  the quality of the gastronomy for which Lisbon is so well known and an award that encourages all the professionals who keep it alive. The local economy is increasingly a distinctive factor in the city of Lisbon and gastronomy contributes greatly to the quality of Lisbon’s tourism“.

The winners of the World Culinary Awards are chosen through a public vote.