5 Cities to See When Multiculturalism is On the Itinerary
A long standing criticism of travel writers is portraying tourist destinations as palatable, idealised and often as stereotypical versions of what once was a relatively homogeneous culture — before tourism, globalism, capitalism, etc, made an impact.
Instead, we’re going sink our teeth into five cities that have become meccas for cultural diversity.
1. Toronto, Canada
Canada’s largest city, home to 4.7 million people, has always been a great metropolitan destination for those who love cities. It also offers access to the best side of Niagara Falls, the Hockey Hall of Fame, and it’s very own castle!
Most tourists don’t automatically think of Toronto when considering contenders for the world’s most diverse city. Last year BBC officially announced Toronto as the most diverse city in the world, with over half of Toronto residents having been born overseas. In 2006, over 47% of the Toronto population had a mother tongue language other that English or French, the most common being Cantonese, Mandarin, Tamil, Punjabi, Italian, Spanish, Tagalog and Portuguese.
To get a taste of the diverse food Toronto has to offer, the Annex is worth a visit, home to three Playa Cabana Restaurants, sake bars, noodle houses and countless sushi places and bars. Hipsters flock to Dundas West (or Little Portugal), the new up and coming hip district with cheap eats and unique food.
For something memorable, there is the iconic O.Noir where diners are served in pitch-black darkness by blind servers to heighten the senses. O.Noir serves a fusion of French and Italian with surprise dishes to test diners tastebuds.
2. Auckland, New Zealand
Auckland has always been the perfect stop for any traveler, and why not, with a bustling city, volcanoes, sailing, shopping, beaches and beautiful natural landscapes — all within easy reach.
Over 39% of the 1.4 million people living in Auckland were born overseas across over 220 recorded ethnic groups. Europeans make up the majority of Auckland’s population, however substantial numbers of Māori, Pacific Islander and Asian peoples, call Auckland home as well — making Auckland the world’s largest Polynesian city, as well as the most diverse.
Auckland has a thriving night market scene with different venues offering a diversity of affordable food and drinks. The Pakuranga night markets are perfect for a Saturday night adventure and to enjoy what Auckland has to offer.
For a unique Auckland experience, there is Cazador, a mixture of traditional wild game and middle eastern flavours. Cazador is not for the unadventurous, ‘our game, free-farmed meats and fresh produce are sourced from New Zealand hunters and producers’, with the menu updated regularly to reflect seasonal availability — a warning for the feint hearted, offal is often on the menu.
3. Sydney, Australia
Not to be outdone by New Zealand, Sydney also boasts 39% of its population having been born overseas. With 5 million people, Sydney is not only Australia’s most multicultural city it is also Australia’s most affluent and densely populated capital.
The Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach have been the traditional iconic draws, but travelers can also enjoy a diverse community across ethically concentrated suburbs where the languages spoken after English are predominantly Arabic, Cantonese, Greek and Italian. This makes Sydney, not only a great location to enjoy a thriving CBD and gorgeous beaches, but also a destination to enjoy a wide range of cultures.
A trip to Sydney would be remiss without visiting Haymarket (Chinatown), just off the city centre. This is a bustling district, and worth a visit to enjoy Sydney’s unique take on yum cha, multiple affordable food courts, and cream puffs worth queuing for from Emporer’s Puffs.
To get a taste of the diversity of Sydney cuisine, in one unique experience, try Bar H Dining. Bar H Dining serves a blend of Japanese, Chinese and indigenous ingredients to create a one-of-a-kind menu.
4. London
The London experience is not just about Shakespeare, the Queen, complaining about the weather, or drinking tea. London is an 8 million strong bustling metropolitan city with 37% of London residents born outside of the UK.
With a diverse culture contributed to by migration from predominantly Africa, India and the Caribbean — London should be known as a tourist destination for it’s multicultural Brick Lane markets and late night curries.
For adventurous foodies, the first stop should be any of London’s food markets, a good start will be Brixton. Brixton has traditionally had a diverse multi-ethnic culture with a sizeable Carribean heritage. Overtime this has grown to include Japanese, Thai, American and Italian cuisine.
London is full of unique dining experiences, but for a truly adventurous experience, try Archipelago. Archipelago would be best described as fusion of African and European cuisine, with hallmark exotic dishes including crocodile, wildebeest, crickets, and kangaroo- alongside standard dishes like chicken or fish.
5. New York, United States
New York, New York! We all know the song, even if it’s just from the Simpsons. The Big Apple has for years been the backdrop of modern popular culture, from television shows to movies and, of course, Broadway musicals.
New York is a large and thriving city of 8.5 million people, and it should come as no surprise it’s a diverse and multicultural city, with 36% of the population being foreign-born.
To enjoy the unique diversity of New York, get away from the tourist traps. East Village isn’t far away and until recently was the trendy place to go to experience unique cuisines. Now, foodies flock to Flushing for dumplings, teriyaki, shabu shabu and Korean BBQ — or Williamsburg for hipster eats.
In such a big city it’s hard to pick a must have experience, but, for a unique fusion of Caribbean and New English cuisine, visit Lolo’s Seafood Shack. Lolo’s is tucked away in Harlem, and offers limited seating, so get there early or risk a wait.
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zusa is the world’s first diversity business search app, free to download and use on iPhone and Android. zusa allows businesses to display their diversity demographics and to be searched by consumers through the use of personal filters and mobile location technology.
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