London is easily one of the best food cities in the world. Its seams are practically bursting with brilliant cafes, great gastropubs, swanky small plates places and bougie restaurants. Plus, the Big Smoke is now home to a grand total of 88 Michelin stars, the fifth-most of any city on the planet.
It comes as no surprise, then, that the capital is now officially home to the best restaurant in the world, according to a recent awards ceremony. Every year, Food & Wine polls more than 400 chefs, travel experts, writers and wine aficionados on their top culinary travel experiences for its Tastemakers Awards. The results are then turned over to its Global Advisory Board, which compiles lists of the best bars, hotels, airlines, cruise lines and, importantly for food fanatics, the world’s top restaurants.
London’s Ikoyi, on the Strand, nabbed the international culinary crown in 2026. Named after the affluent Lagos suburb where co-founder Iré Hassan-Odukale was born, Ikoyi debuted on the London scene in 2017. In the years since, it has transitioned away from its west African concept, and now focuses on ‘spice-based cuisine’, though a handful of Nigerian-inflected dishes remain on the 14-ish course set menu.
Dining at Ikoyi will set you back a pretty penny, but, as Time Out’s food & drink editor Leonie Cooper will tell you, it’s well worth the hefty price tag.
‘A meal at Ikoyi is an otherworldly experience,’ she says. ‘From the flavours (phenomenal) to the cost (astronomical), everything at this intimate, intoxicating restaurant will be carved upon your memory. The multi-course tasting menu changes regularly, but dishes such as mussel and saffron crème caramel are works of art, with head chef Jeremy Chan acting as Ikoyi’s very own Rembrandt.’
Check out Leonie’s five-star review of Ikoyi here.
The restaurants which make the Tastemakers’ top 10 ranking are selected ‘not simply for technical perfection, but also for their special points of view. They reflect the movement of ideas, ingredients, and influence across borders. And, naturally, all of them are worth planning entire trips around,’ according to Food & Wine.
The 10 best restaurants in the world for 2026
- Ikoyi, London, UK
- Maido, Lima, Peru
- Ciel Dining, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Arami, La Paz, Bolivia
- Potong, Bangkok, Thailand
- Naar, India
- Botanico, Mexico City, Mexico
- Roscioli, Rome, Italy
- The Lunch Lady, Vancouver, Canada
- Saint Peter, Sydney, Australia
Check out Time Out’s list of the 50 best restaurants in London.
Did you see that this Shoreditch bistro is officially the best vegetarian restaurant in London in 2026?
Plus: this unassuming spot is the best French restaurant in the city.
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