If your 'hood is on this list, congratulations, you're probably gaining weight, as we made sure every neighborhood is fantastic to eat and drink in. And once we’d narrowed it down to our top 18, we examined two major factors to determine placement: 1) culinary history, and 2) what’s happening now.
The first factor is important because — as much as we love knowing about the new, cool spots popping up in changing neighborhoods — it's just as important to us that these 'hoods maintain some semblance of a connection with their food history. And the second is obviously critical because that history is constantly being rewritten by new chefs and bartenders with crazy, innovative ideas, and lots and lots of mezcal.
As this does exist on the Internet, there will be disagreements, and we encourage you to express them using your inside voice in the comments. But until then, put on your most comfortable Skechers walking shoes and some loose pants, and get ready to enjoy the best food and drink ‘hoods in the land of the free.
SEE ALSO: The 15 most underrated foodie cities in the US
RiNo
Once upon a time, this was a neighborhood Denverites would go to if they wanted to have a nice night out... and then get mugged afterwards. Now? It's practically swarming with hot restaurants and breweries. Part of that is due to The Source, an enormous 20,000sqft "artisan food market" that houses one of Denver's best restaurants (Acorn), coffee roasters (Boxcar), breweries (Crooked Stave), and plenty more. Four other exemplary craft breweries have taprooms in the neighborhood as well, including the Utah-transplant Epic Brewing, which knows their way around a sour. For food, Work & Class serves up shared plates of delicious Latin/American food, Cart-Driver is the tiny, high-quality pizza joint every neighborhood deserves, and Los Chingones is the Mexican food outpost of one of Denver's finest restauranteurs. And for something you likely won't find in any other city, Infinite Monkey Theorem cans their own wine and has an expansive space to drink it in.
Denver, CO
Fishtown
The legend here is that Charles Dickens named the area Fishtown when he visited in the 1800s, but, if you’ll excuse the pun, that story’s veracity kind of stinks. And now that most people have stopped reading, let’s get down to it: the old shad-fishing blue collar Irish neighborhood is in the midst of those changes you read about when a New York Times writer visits, and puts down the official stamp of gentrification (see: Bonnie Tsui, October 9th, 2013). And as much fun as it is to discuss the hilarity that ensues when theTimes comes in and calls a place "scruffy," you still want to go here and eat and drink, thanks to places like beer garden Frankford Hall (if you’ve never had a Kasekrainer, this is the time to do it), Johnny Brenda’s from the Standard Tap folk, Stephen Starr/Joe Carroll’s amazing BBQ spot Fette Sau, and the chorizo & potato tacos at Loco Pez. And yes, of course, there is a Barcade here too.
Philadelphia, PA
East Nashville
East Nashville’s role in the Nashville food renaissance might be captured best by POP Nashville: Chef Sarah Gavigan ladles up the city’s most-slurpable ramen four nights a week, but opens the 1,000sqft space as a pop-up for the rest of the week, letting whatever other creative spot take a turn to test their talents — whether it’s another chef or a temporary art gallery. With nationally-acclaimed restaurants now dotting Music City, historic East Nashville acts more as an artsy small town fostering talent, rather than a ‘hood in the state capital. From Porter Road Butcher, a full-service butcher shop/one of the best sandwich shops in the city, the city’s first izakaya Two Ten Jack, cocktail haven Holland House, and Pharmacy Burger Parlor’s juicy, hulking burger, wandering the area is like eating a Nashville sampler platter, condensed for your convenience.
Nashville, TN
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