London has outperformed Paris, Barcelona, Rome, and New York in Time Out's Best Cities for Food list, securing fourth place globally. The UK capital trails behind Lima in first, Bangkok in second, and Mexico City in third, with Barcelona rounding out the top five.
London's Culinary Boom
According to Time Out, London is experiencing a peak in culinary chic, driven by a surge in lavish yet playful Italian restaurant openings. A staggering 96% of Londoners described eating out in the city as 'good' or 'amazing,' the highest rating among local residents surveyed.
Italian Influence and Pub Pizza
Italian cuisine is highlighted as one of London's defining trends for 2026. Notable mentions include Soho's Osteria Vibrato for its creamy white risotto, London Fields' Auguste for succulent Abruzzian skewers, Chelsea's Martino's for indulgent comfort food, and Bethnal Green's Tiella for perfect passatelli in brodo. Pub pizza residencies from Dough Hands, Short Road, Hot Saint, and Little Earthquakes are reshaping London's dining culture, turning traditional pubs into destination dining spots.
High-End Dining and Prices
Despite the acclaim, only 42% of Londoners find dining out affordable, with six in ten believing the city's food scene excels in upmarket restaurants. Time Out also praised Camille, a French bistro in Borough Market, for its innovative use of offal, such as cassoulet with pig snouts.
Recent Accolades
The report follows the recent recognition of Bouchon Racine, a French bistro above a pub in Clerkenwell, which was named the UK's best restaurant at The National Restaurant Awards 2026, surpassing the two Michelin-starred The Ritz.
Global Rankings
Lima was crowned Time Out's Best City for Food in 2026, celebrated for its exciting new openings and bold use of native Peruvian ingredients. Bangkok came second for its dynamic food scene, while Mexico City took third for its global flavours and inventive Mexican cooking. New York placed 15th, and neither Paris nor Rome made the top 20. Paris was also beaten by Marseille, which ranked 18th.
The full list includes Ho Chi Minh City, Melbourne, Beijing, Athens, Lisbon, Cape Town, Osaka, Bengaluru, Naples, Hong Kong, Buenos Aires, Copenhagen, and Medellin. The rankings are based on surveys of over 24,000 residents worldwide, combined with Time Out's network of editors and food experts.
