News & Trending Mortgage & Loans News

Top 13 Retirement-Friendly Cities To Live In if You Love To Dine Out

These foodie-friendly cities make it easy to spend your retirement enjoying the best in good eating.

fancy cappucino at restaurant
Updated Oct. 1, 2024
Fact checked

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

Looking for a laid-back city where you can enjoy a stress-free retirement with plenty of opportunities for eating out?

FinanceBuzz recently assessed 50 of America’s biggest cities to determine the most laid-back based on well-being, economic factors, liveability, and leisure activities.

Here are 13 top cities for fine diners who love to spend their mornings at cozy coffee shops and end their nights with five-star sushi.

If you’re over 50, take advantage of massive travel discounts and trip-planning resources

Over 50 and love traveling? Join AARP today — because if you’re not a member, you could be missing out on huge travel perks. When you start your membership today, you can get discounts on hotels and resorts, airfare, cruises, car rentals, and more.

How to become a member today:

  • Go here, select your free gift, and click “Join Today”
  • Create your account (important!) by answering a few simple questions
  • Start enjoying your discounts and perks!

An AARP membership not only unlocks discounts that could save you hundreds on your next trip, but you’ll also have access to deals on vacation packages, guided tours, and exclusive content to help plan your next getaway.

Important: Start your membership by creating an account here and filling in all of the information (do not skip this step!). Doing so will allow you to take up to 25% off your AARP membership, making it just $12 per year with auto-renewal.

Become an AARP member now

Seattle, Washington

Tommy/Adobe Seattle Skyline with Space needle

Seattle nabbed the top spot on our list of the country’s most laid-back cities even though it doesn’t take top place in terms of either sushi shops or coffee shops per capita.

That’s because the city has hundreds of dine-out options for retirees who love fresh fish, locally grown fruits and vegetables, and coffee beans roasted in-house.

Riverside, California

jonbilous/Adobe twilight view of the city of Riverside

It probably doesn’t come as a surprise that a major hub just an hour from the Pacific coast has the most sushi shops per capita of any city on our list.

Riverside falls in the middle of our list of laid-back US cities (it comes in 20th out of 50, just after Buffalo, New York) — but in terms of sushi shops, the city can’t be beat.

Miami, Florida

espiegle/Adobe Miami Florida Skyline from palm trees

Since it’s located right along the coast, Miami is able to serve up fresh fish daily.

From mahi-mahi to lobster and crabs to snapper, you’ll find plenty of sustainably harvested, local fish to savor at one of Miami’s hundreds of sushi restaurants.

Earn a $250 travel bonus with this incredible card

There's a credit card that's making waves with its amazing bonus and benefits. The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card has no annual fee and you can earn 25,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

You can earn additional points just by using this card for your everyday purchases — unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases. The 25,000 bonus points can be redeemed for a $250 statement credit toward travel or dining purchases.

If you want to travel and dine out more, the Travel Rewards card can help you get where you want to go.

The best part? There's no annual fee.

Click here to apply now.

Hartford, Connecticut

SeanPavonePhoto/Adobe hartford connecticut usa

Thanks in part to its proximity to Yale, Hartford has a reputation as a stately, historic city. But don’t think Hartford’s charm lies in its past. The city has more sushi restaurants per capita than any city on our list, save Riverside.

Hartford also has more coffee shops per capita than any other city we examined — including cities famous for their coffee shops, like Portland and Seattle.

Orlando, Florida

Creative Studio 79 - stock.adobe.com Orlando Florida

Orlando’s mild winters and warm summers attract crowds of retirees eager to escape harsher weather for good.

If you decide to migrate to Central Florida, you can look forward to enjoying delicious food of all kinds alongside sunshine, theme parks, and plenty of golf courses.

Salt Lake City, Utah

SeanPavonePhoto/Adobe salt lake city in utah

Salt Lake City is known more for its high-altitude skiing and breathtaking national parks than its food scene, but the inland city has nearly as many sushi shops per capita as Orlando.

Plus, while Utah has a reputation as being relatively coffee-free, the data says otherwise: SLC takes third overall when it comes to the most coffee shops per capita.

Tampa, Florida

SeanPavonePhoto/Adobe Tampa Florida Skyline

This Gulf Coast city is an excellent location for retirees who love beautiful ocean views, dynamic cityscapes, and — of course — having a wide range of spectacular restaurants to choose from.

While Tampa is more closely associated with Cuban food than anything else, it has more than enough sushi to accommodate all types of tases.

Atlanta, Georgia

SeanPavonePhoto/Adobe atlanta skyline featuring skyscrapers and a ferris wheel.

According to our study, Atlanta is the sixth-most laid-back city in the US. With 65.8 sushi shops and 128.3 coffee shops per 100,000 people, Atlanta residents won’t struggle to find a restaurant that serves exactly what they’re hungry for.

Providence, Rhode Island

SeanPavonePhoto/Adobe providence rhode island

Don’t let its small size fool you. Rhode Island has more than enough leisure activities to keep its population endlessly entertained.

With an average of 152 coffee shops per 100,000 residents, the city should be a top spot for anyone who enjoys kicking off the day with a comforting cup of coffee.

Unlock exclusive entertainment deals and VIP perks (without a credit card)

Ready to take your entertainment and travels to the next level? Experience the finer things in life with the SELECT card.

No, it's not a credit card, it’s an exclusive membership — and your passport to a world of elite benefits and unforgettable moments.

Imagine sipping complimentary cocktails in downtown Manhattan at KYU NYC or saving 20% on the best sushi in Hollywood Hills at Yamashiro.

Like to shop? Members receive VIP discounts like 15% off at Brooks Brothers, and up to 60% off at Tumi.

Enjoy special offers at luxury hotels like the Four Seasons and Omni Select. For example, you get 15% off at Hyatt Hotels worldwide.

But it’s not just about the hundreds (or thousands) you could save. There are so many features that make you feel like a VIP every day. Like SELECT’s white-glove concierge that assists with bookings, recommendations, or anything you need. And priority access to reservations to some of the year’s hottest events (many not open to the public).

Apply for the SELECT card today

Minneapolis, Minnesota

f11photo/Adobe Minneapolis downtown skyline Minnesota

Compared to Florida, Minnesota is prone to cold, dark winters, which might keep the state from drawing crowds of seniors eager to enjoy their retirement.

But Minneapolis took second place in our ranking of the most laid-back cities—higher than any Florida city—and its plentiful sushi restaurants and coffee shops should also put it on your radar.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

mandritoiu/Adobe rachel carson bridge in pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is third on our list of most laid-back cities. It has much to offer anyone who values leisure time, quality of life, and a healthy variety of top-notch dining options.

While the city doesn’t have nearly as many sushi shops as other foodie-friendly cities, it has a high number of coffee shops per capita.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Kevin Ruck/Adobe new orleans skyline

New Orleans is a storied city with a vibrant cuisine and rich history. According to our data, it’s also a haven for coffee lovers. (Sushi? Not so much.)

From upscale espresso bars to homey local chains, the Big Easy ensures residents enjoy their daily coffee fix.

Portland, Oregon

Josemaria Toscano/Adobe Portland Oregon Waterfront

Thanks to Starbucks, Seattle is more closely associated with coffee fans than Portland, but Portland actually takes the (coffee) cake when it comes to coffee availability.

Portland has an average of 120.4 coffee shops per 100,000 people, whereas Seattle has just 108.6.

Bottom line

Dasha Petrenko/Adobe friends toasting wine at restaurant

If you were a frugal saver throughout your working years, you might have skipped eating out in favor of cooking cheaper meals at home.

But now that you’ve retired, it’s time to let yourself go out to eat more in a city that loves fine dining as much as you do, starting with the 15 we listed above.

Easy-to-Earn Unlimited Rewards

Benefits

Card Details

  • $0 annual fee
  • Simple, flat-rate rewards
  • Flexible redemption options
  • Up to 75% preferred Rewards bonus potential
  • Apply Now
  • Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
  • 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
  • Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
  • Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.74% - 28.74% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
  • If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
  • Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
  • This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Bank of <span class='whitespace-nowrap'>America<sup>®</sup></span> Travel Rewards credit card
4.1
info
Apply Now

on Bank of America’s secure website

Read Card Review

Intro Offer

Earn 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases

Annual Fee

$0

+

Why we like it