Maldives or Vienna? You're better off in Birmingham, says New York Times

How do you fancy strolling around Vienna, sunning yourself in the Maldives or taking a rocket trip into space? You'd be better off visiting a curry house in Birmingham, according to The New York Times, which has named Britain's second city as one of its top 20 holiday destinations thanks to its dining scene.

Birmingham's placing at No 19 in the list has surprised some in the Midlands, but many Brummie foodies think the accolade well-deserved. As well as its famed "Balti triangle" of Indian restaurants, and three eateries with Michelin-starred chefs – Purnell's, Simpsons and Turners of Harborne – Birmingham's smaller cafés, bistros and bustling farmers' markets are a source of local pride.

One restaurant cited as proof of Birmingham's credentials is Lasan, located in the city's Jewellery Quarter. Its head chef Aktar Islam said he believed Birmingham was the best place in the UK in which to eat. "The great thing is that it's all concentrated, so you don't have to worry about travelling," he said. "We have some of the best chefs – Steve Loves, David Colcombe at Opus, Andy Waters at Edmunds – and we're all about a mile or so from each other."

A growth in small, independent food producers is also helping Birmingham's kitchens. Alex Claridge, who runs the vegetarian Warehouse Café, said economic problems had helped this part of the city's food scene. "We have got to the point where everything else is falling apart, so you might as well give it a go doing what you really love," he said.

"It's great for those of us trying to find good food producers because all these people who are really obsessive and eccentric in really loving one thing are coming together."