a landable guide
Restaurant density per resident, log-normalized so big cities do not dominate. The cities where the food scene is the point.
By Karol Gajda
A food scene is not measured in Michelin stars. It is measured in density: how many restaurants, bars, and cafes per resident, and how much variety that density creates in daily life. Landable scores this from OpenStreetMap venue counts within a 10-mile radius, normalized per 100k residents on a log scale.
This list weights restaurant density heavily and adds walkability, because you have to be able to reach the food, plus things to do and a little affordability. There is no rent cap, since great food scenes often correlate with higher-cost cities.
01
LA · 962k metro
New Orleans tops the foodie list: one of the densest restaurant-and-bar scenes per resident in the country, a Walk Score of 98, and $1,612 median rent.
1,064
restaurants, bars, and cafes (OSM, 10mi radius)
$1,612
median rent / month
02
Photo by Casey Olsen on Unsplash
OR · 381k metro
Eugene lands second on food density, with a Walk Score of 97 so the whole scene is within reach on foot. $1,799 median rent.
see the full dispatch for Eugene03
Photo by Brad Switzer on Unsplash
MI · 366k metro
Ann Arbor takes third: a deep per-capita food scene, a Walk Score of 97, and $2,082 rent.
see the full dispatch for Ann Arbor04
Photo by Rufina Rusakova on Pexels
OR · 2.5M metro
Portland pairs serious restaurant density with a Walk Score of 100 and $1,781 rent. A city that rewards eating out.
3,123
restaurants, bars, and cafes (OSM, 10mi radius)
$1,781
median rent / month
05
Photo by Joseph Corl on Unsplash
FL · 262k metro
Sarasota earns its spot on the table: high restaurant density, Walk Score 96, $2,121 median rent.
see the full dispatch for Sarasota06
Photo by Andrew Whitmore on Unsplash
CA · 4.6M metro
San Francisco is the mid-list foodie pick that holds up: dense dining, Walk Score 99, $3,146 rent.
4,313
restaurants, bars, and cafes (OSM, 10mi radius)
$3,146
median rent / month
07
Photo by Jason Moyer on Unsplash
CA · 282k metro
San Luis Obispo clears the bar with a strong per-capita food scene, a Walk Score of 98, and $3,095 median rent.
see the full dispatch for San Luis Obispo08
Photo by Carson Vara on Unsplash
NJ · 382k metro
Trenton keeps the foodie promise: a deep restaurant scene you can walk to, at $2,540 a month.
see the full dispatch for Trenton09
Photo by Cosmin Serban on Unsplash
HI · 989k metro
Honolulu lands near the bottom of the ten and still eats well: high restaurant density, Walk Score 99.
see the full dispatch for Honolulu10
Photo by Luiz Souza on Pexels
NV · 565k metro
Reno rounds out the list: dense dining, a Walk Score of 95, $1,908 median rent.
see the full dispatch for RenoWe rank by 40% restaurant density, 20% walkability, 20% things to do, 10% affordability, and 10% weather. No rent cap.
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