:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Top-Small-US-Cities-for-Food-and-Drink-FT-BLOG0625-Healdsburg-CA-02-b78af314668e420487b38e1d35986238.jpg?w=780&resize=780,470&ssl=1 "11 Small Cities With Big Flavor to Visit Now")
From barbecue in the Carolinas to mezze in Vermont and wine country fine dining in California, great meals aren’t confined to America’s major metros. As part of Food & Wine’s 2025 Global Tastemakers awards, this list spotlights standout small U.S. cities for food and drink – each with fewer than 100,000 residents. Unlike other lists in the series, which were voted on by a panel, this one reflects my own selections. Based in central Ohio, I enjoy exploring local food options in small towns across the country. These destinations were chosen through research, local insights, and recommendations from fellow travel writers and editors at the magazine and beyond. Each place reflects a distinct identity — shaped by history, sparked by creativity, and packed with way more flavor than their size lets on. Dig in!
Asheville, North Carolina
Courtesy of ExploreAsheville.com
Perched in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville blends Appalachian roots with contemporary creativity. Cooks here marry heritage with invention, turning peak-of-season produce into artful plates. Standouts include Neng Jr.’s, the city’s first Filipinx restaurant from 2024 F&W Best New Chef Silver Iocovozzi, and Good Hot Fish, where Southern fish camp classics get a bold, modern update. A short drive away in Black Mountain, Hell or High Water offers refined takes on mountain fare. Named a top U.S. destination by Tripadvisor, Asheville lives up to its nickname – Foodtopia – one flavorful bite at a time.
Burlington, Vermont
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With no fast-food chains downtown and a fiercely loyal dining crowd, Burlington demands quality. Set on the shores of Lake Champlain and influenced by nearby Montreal, Boston, and New York, this progressive college town fosters tasteful, ingredient-driven cooking. At Frankie’s, two Hen of the Wood alums serve up nationally praised plates. MayDay, where chef Avery Buck was a 2025 James Beard Award semifinalist, channels neighborhood warmth and smart cocktails. And at Honey Road, co-founded by fellow semifinalists Cara Chigazola Tobin and Allison Gibson, Eastern Mediterranean mezze meets Vermont terroir. The result: a food culture that’s homegrown, globally inspired, and quietly ambitious.
Covington, Kentucky
Courtesy of Wendy Pramik
Just across the river from Cincinnati, Covington is where smooth bourbon meets savory goetta, and North meets South. This walkable river town blends Appalachian, German, and Southern influences into a culinary identity all its own. Classics like Anchor Grill and Otto’s keep things comforting, while Bouquet and Carmelo’s highlight nearby sourcing and modern flair. The city’s on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail’s B-Line and is the site of the beloved Goettafest. Set against a backdrop of cobbled streets and a restored Mainstrasse Village, Covington combines small-city soul with big character.
Fredericksburg, Texas
Courtesy of TM Studio
Rich in agricultural heritage and surrounded by peach orchards and vineyards, Fredericksburg is the epicenter of Texas Wine Country. With more than 75 wineries and tasting rooms, the town’s rolling landscapes have drawn winemakers, cooks, and travelers alike. That mix of tradition and Hill Country creativity fuels standout spots like Cabernet Grill, known for refined Texas fare and its all-Texas wine list, and Eaker Barbecue, where brisket gets a Korean interpretation. Round things out at Prometheus Pizza with wood-fired pies that balance familiar flavors with bold, seasonal combinations. From roadside peaches to German Texan plates, Fredericksburg keeps things fresh and full of character.
Greenville, South Carolina
Courtesy of VisitGreenvilleSC.com
Greenville’s fertile Upstate location – rich soil, long seasons, and more than 1,000 producers – makes it a natural home for those who truly cook from the ground up. Many restaurants even operate their own plots. The result? Menus that shift with the harvest and reflect deep ties to place. Bobby’s BBQ draws fans for its brisket and smoked turkey, while Topsoil and Fork and Plough feature farm-forward selections. Downtown, cuisine from 34 countries spans five continents, adding global dimension to this Southern town’s palate. With year-round growing and serious kitchen ambition, Greenville has firmly established itself as a rising destination for curious eaters.
Healdsburg, California
Courtesy of Stay Healdsburg & Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce
Once a quiet agricultural hub, Healdsburg has become a gem in Northern California, set at the crossroads of three iconic wine regions: Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Alexander Valley. Its proximity to vineyards and growers fuels a fresh, sustainable approach to cooking. The town thrives on a close relationship among restaurant teams, growers, and vintners, resulting in menus that celebrate the region’s bounty. SingleThread, a three-Michelin-starred destination, sets the tone with Japanese-influenced precision. Dry Creek Kitchen channels Sonoma’s richness through Charlie Palmer’s lens. At Valette, elevated dishes reflect deep community ties – proof that quiet corners of the map can still be world-class.
McMinnville, Oregon
Courtesy of Visit McMinnville
In Oregon’s wine-rich Willamette Valley, McMinnville marries pastoral charm with polished hospitality. Area growers shape every menu, and the town’s creative streak runs deep. Okta dazzles with rotating tasting menus in a space led by Eleven Madison Park alumni. Humble Spirit, from JBF Award-nominated chef Sarah Schafer, brings fine-dining precision to a comforting, community-minded menu. Inside the boutique Atticus Hotel, Cypress offers Mediterranean-inspired dishes that are equal parts refined and inviting, with standouts like lamb kefta and flatbreads. With winemakers, farmers, and restaurant talent working in close collaboration, McMinnville’s food culture feels as natural – and as thoughtfully composed – as the valley that surrounds it.
Oxford, Mississippi
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Oxford may be best known for Ole Miss and Faulkner, but its kitchen story is still being written. JBF-honored chefs such as John Currence of City Grocery and Vishwesh Bhatt of Snackbar anchor a community that blends creativity with Southern sensibility. Saint Leo brings wood-fired Italian cooking to the Square, while SoLa draws from the Gulf Coast and beyond. Even the gas station has a legend: the beloved “chicken on a stick.” With its walkable downtown, open-air markets and strong sense of place, Oxford’s flavor landscape feels deeply rooted and entirely its own.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Courtesy of Tourism Santa Fe
Santa Fe’s meals are as colorful and complex as its desert landscape. With more than 400 restaurants, the city champions Northern New Mexican cuisine, where red and green chile rule the plate. Its identity reflects a vibrant blend of Native American, Spanish, Mexican, and Anglo influences, passed down and reimagined through generations. Neighborhood favorites like The Shed, La Choza, and Maria’s dish out beloved classics, while Sazón, where JBF Award winner Fernando Olea transforms traditional moles into rich, artful creations, and Geronimo offer elevated interpretations that earn national praise. Add a 50-stop Margarita Trail and a market full of native ingredients, and you’ve got a destination where every bite is enriched by story.
Traverse City, Michigan
Courtesy of Traverse City Tourism
Traverse City is shaped by the Great Lakes – its glacial soil and temperate microclimate create an agricultural paradise. Cherries are the star (this is the Cherry Capital of the World), and the region yields wine grapes, hops, and grains that fuel a booming beverage culture. That abundance has drawn great kitchen talent and earned the area a reputation as a rising foodie hub. Farm Club lets diners eat just steps from the fields. The Cooks’ House leans regionally focused. Aerie offers sweeping views with its fine cooking. And in August, the inaugural Traverse City Food & Wine event will bring Tyler Florence and other culinary stars to celebrate it all.
Bozeman, Montana
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Where ranching heritage meets Rocky Mountain creativity, Bozeman delivers a food scene that’s as grounded as it is forward-thinking. Surrounded by farms and cattle country, the town leans into its local bounty, with chefs embracing sustainability and robust, regional flavors. Open Range offers elevated Montana comfort food in a rustic-modern space. At Ted’s Montana Grill – the only Montana-based location of Ted Turner’s restaurant group – bison burgers meet frontier spirit. And The Western Café, dubbed the “last best café,” serves hearty breakfasts with a side of nostalgia. With a vibrant downtown and Yellowstone National Park less than two hours away, Bozeman is big-sky dining with serious oomph.
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