Lonely Planet authors reveal top food cities

Lonely Planet has revealed the cities that its staff and authors consider to be the best destinations in the world for good food.

The publishing company surveyed travel experts from all over the world, asking them: "What is your favourite city to gorge yourself with food?"

In joint first place were New York and Singapore, a result that reflects the diversity of cuisine on offer in the destinations.

Lonely Planet said that visitors can sample everything from "cheap street food to pricey fine dining - you can just eat and eat and eat and then, eat some more".

Rome and Paris also had to settle for a shared prize in second place.

The publishing firm revealed that its staff have a soft spot for Italy's capital for its "pizzas, pastas, wine and gelato", while the French city won votes for being simply "a decadent food lovers' dream".

Respondents to the survey also gave positive reviews of the culinary scenes in Melbourne and San Francisco.

Travellers planning a trip across the Atlantic in the near future will be able to make use of Lonely Planet's new publication The USA Book: A Journey Through America.