Shortlist revealed for olive's inaugural Travel&Taste awards
- Alex Crossley
Published: August 3, 2026 at 1:11 PM
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Our team of in-house experts and specialist guest judges have curated this year's shortlist of the world's best food-first travel experiences and destinations
For more than 20 years, the olive team has been uncovering the best in food-led travel, so we are delighted to announce the shortlist of our inaugural olive Travel&Taste Awards, celebrating exceptional destinations, hotels and experiences.
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Our shortlisted destinations and experiences include established favourites and exciting new discoveries that deserve a place on every food lover’s travel wish list. They offer genuine sense of place, strong local identity and a commitment to creating meaningful connections between travellers, food, culture and community.
The shortlist has been selected by a panel of olive's editors, alongside a specialist guest judge in each category (full list below). The winners will be announced on 2 September, we can’t wait to share them with you.
The 2026 shortlist for olive Travel&Taste awards is:
Food Destination of the Year
- Japan
- Greece
- Spain
- Slovenia
Luxury Food Destination of the Year
- Sri Lanka
- Tanzania and Zanzibar
- Switzerland
- Alto Adige/South Tyrol, Italy
Emerging Food Destination of the Year (guest judge Gurdeep Loyal)
- George Town, Penang, Malaysia
- Newcastle, UK
- Chicago, USA
- Estonia
Culinary Experience Destination of the Year (guest judge Verna Gao)
- Istanbul, Türkiye
- Oaxaca, Mexico
- Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Austin Texas, USA
Sustainable Food Destination of the Year (guest judge Meera Dattani)
- Stockholm Archipelago, Sweden
- Alentejo, Portugal
- Placencia, Belize
- The Julian Alps, Slovenia
European City Break of the Year (guest judge Gurdeep Loyal)
- Verona, Italy
- Antwerp, Belgium
- Cork, Ireland
- Gothenburg, Sweden
Gourmet Island Escape of the Year (guest judge Heather Steele)
- Menorca, Spain
- Sicily, Italy
- Tinos, Greece
- Isle of Skye, Scotland
Coolcation Destination of the Year (guest judge Meera Dattani)
- Nova Scotia, Canada
- Vilnius, Lithuania
- Finland
- Quito, Ecuador
Wine Destination of the Year (guest judge Kate Hawkings)
- Margaret River, Australia
- Jerez, Spain
- Mendoza, Argentina
- The Douro Valley, Portugal
Cocktail Culture City of the Year (guest judge Millie Milliken)
- Paris, France
- Athens, Greece
- New York City, USA
- Mexico City, Mexico
Culinary Cruise Route of the Year (guest judge James Litston)
- Havila Voyages Coastal Journey, Norway
- HX Expeditions: In Darwins's Footsteps, Galápagos Islands
- Oceania Cruises' Belfast to Lisbon Culinary Luminaries Cruise
- Hebridean Island Cruises' Flavours of the Hebrides itinerary, Scotland
Luxury Train Journey of the Year (guest judge Joanna Yee)
- The Golden Eagle Danube Express, Istanbul to Budapest via Romania
- Train Suite Shiki-shima, Japan
- Northern Belle, UK
- Belmond Andean Explorer, Peru
UK Restaurant with Rooms of the Year (guest judge Milly Kenny-Ryder)
- Mýse, Yorkshire
- Gurnard's Head, Cornwall
- Updown Farmhouse, Kent
- Osip, Somerset
UK Vineyard Stay of the Year (guest judge Kate Hawkings)
- Sandridge Barton, Devon
- Wraxall, Somerset
- Tillingham, East Sussex
- Oastbrook, East Sussex
UK Spa Retreat of the Year (guest judge Gina Jackson)
- Middleton Lodge, Yorkshire
- Heckfield Place, Hampshire
- The Newt, Somerset
- Gilpin, Cumbria
London Gourmet Escape of the Year (guest judge Gina Jackson)
- The Newman, Fitzrovia
- The Connaught, Mayfair
- Raffles London at The OWO, Whitehall
- Rosewood London, Holborn
European Rural Retreat of the Year (guest judge Milly Kenny-Ryder)
- eriro, Tyrol, Austria
- São Lourenço do Barrocal, Alentejo, Portugal
- Castiglion del Bosco, Tuscany, Italy
- Le Doyenné, Paris, France
All-inclusive Escape of the Year (guest judge James Litston)
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- Jade Mountain, Saint Lucia
- Wilderness, across Africa
- Daios Cove, Greece
- Lujo, Türkiye
Authors
Alex CrossleyDigital Editor
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