5 Small U.S. Cities With Incredible Food Scenes

Savvy travelers know that you don’t have to visit a big city to eat well. Small cities across the U.S. are serving up seriously good food, from inventive seafood dishes and mouthwatering barbecue fare to fresh, farm-to-table meals and world-class wine lists. Here are five of the best small American cities for foodies.

Bozeman, Montana

This small but fast-growing city of 57,000 is surrounded by cattle fields and country farms, setting the stage for a burgeoning food scene. Local chefs are tapping into Bozeman’s natural bounty of beef, grains, and produce to create dishes that are both hearty and creative, served everywhere from casual diners to fine-dining restaurants. 

While steakhouses and barbecue joints are popular — and often where you’ll find the city’s best bison burgers, brisket sandwiches, baby back ribs, elk steaks, and the like — Bozeman also surprises with its range of international cuisine. Top picks include Ted’s Montana Grill for classic American barbecue, Open Range for steaks and seafood, City Vineyard for one of the city’s best wine selections, and La Brasserie for refined European cuisine. To cap it off, Bozeman also boasts a booming craft brewery scene, so foodies and beer lovers alike have plenty on tap to enjoy.

Healdsburg, California

Healdsburg may be a small, charming city of just 11,000 people, but don’t let its size fool you. The smallest city on our list boasts six Michelin-recognized restaurants in the city proper and seven more in the surrounding area of Sonoma County. The local food scene in Healdsburg is heavily focused on fresh ingredients, farm-to-table dining, and, of course, world-class wine. 

At the top of the list is SingleThread, a three-Michelin-star restaurant located on a 24-acre farm that supplies many of the ingredients for its exquisite seasonal tasting menu. On the other end of the price spectrum, you’ll find stylish bakeries and cool cafes serving plant-based menus, focused on sustainability and local ingredients. Plus, in a place like Sonoma Valley, where wine reigns supreme, cozy wine bars with award-winning pours are abundant. The moral of the story is you’ll eat (and drink) very well in Healdsburg.

Greenville, South Carolina

Greenville is a city of 72,000 that packs a serious culinary punch for its 30-square-mile size. Thanks to the fertile soil of upstate South Carolina, Greenville has made a name for itself with seasonal dishes, creative menus, and a focus on honest, natural ingredients. Many Greenville restaurants sit on their own plots of farmland, allowing them to incorporate hyperlocal produce into their dishes. Topsoil and Fork and Plough, located slightly outside the downtown area, are both exceptional examples of farm-focused cuisine. 

Meanwhile, downtown Greenville offers around 200 restaurants packed into just 12 city blocks, with international cuisine from over 30 countries — making it one of the most interesting places to eat in the Southeast. Several spots have earned recognition from the James Beard Foundation, including O-Ku Sushi for its inventive sushi and cocktails, Scoundrel for elevated French cuisine, and Topsoil Kitchen + Market for exceptional pastries.

Portland, Maine

Once known primarily for its local lobster, this small city in southern Maine has transformed into an international culinary hot spot while still putting local seafood front and center. Located on a working harbor, Portland embraces a boat-to-table approach, evidenced by long-standing staples such as Boone Fish House (operating since 1898), J’s Oyster (since 1977), and Dimillio’s on the Water (open since 1982). 

Over the decades, Portland has steadily built a reputation for creative, standout restaurants that showcase its coastal location and fresh seafood. Today’s highlights include Luke’s Lobster, Scales, Eventide Oyster Co., and the Shop. It’s not all about seafood, either — Izakaya Minato serves inventive Japanese small plates, while Via Vecchio is a beloved Italian spot with a quintessentially Portland brick-and-wood interior. But perhaps Portland’s biggest claim to fame is its brewery scene, with more breweries per capita than any other U.S. city — roughly 18 for every 50,000 people. 

Fredericksburg, Texas

Texas barbecue meets authentic German cuisine in the small city of Fredericksburg, with a population of 11,500 people. German immigrants founded Fredericksburg in 1846, and evidence of European culture is still seen today in everything from the architecture to the food. Located in the heart of Texas wine country, Fredericksburg leads with its strong agricultural roots and plentiful vineyards to create a surprising epicenter for food and wine in south-central Texas. 

Farm-to-table is the norm, with local restaurants sourcing grassfed beef from family-owned farms and seasonal produce like peaches and pecans from Hill Country orchards. Cabernet Grill highlights the best of both worlds with tasty fare and an all-Texas wine list, while Der Lindenbaum pays homage to its roots by serving up genuine German cuisine in a historic building. With 75 wineries, vineyards, and tasting rooms in the surrounding county, visitors will find many opportunities to sip and savor throughout this charming Texas city.