London can now claim to be home to the world's finest pizza. Napoli on the Road, the Chiswick-based pizzeria founded by Italian chef Michele Pascarella, took the top prize at the 50 Top Pizza World Awards 2026, beating hundreds of competitors from across the globe.
The announcement was made in Naples, the city where pizza was born, and Pascarella's journey to this moment has been anything but conventional. He launched Napoli on the Road in 2016 from a three-wheeled Piaggio Ape fitted with a wood-fired oven, serving pizzas at London's street markets and farmers' markets. A decade later, the venture has grown into full restaurants in Chiswick, Richmond, and Soho, with the latter offering a tasting menu inspired by Pascarella's childhood in Caserta, southern Italy.
A decade of dedication
Speaking at the ceremony in Naples, Pascarella expressed his disbelief: "I'm in shock. I probably need to have a few drinks and a sit down to process this. I can't explain how big this is. It's like the Oscars but for pizza."
The award marks a significant milestone for the London food scene, which has increasingly gained recognition for its high-quality Italian offerings. The city now boasts two pizzerias in the top 50, with 50 Kalò – London also making the list at number 23.
Last year's winner, Una Pizza Napoletana in New York, run by Anthony Mangieri, slipped to second place after two consecutive years at the top. Milan's Confine, led by Francesco Capece and Mario Ventura, took third.
The 50 Top Pizza rankings, now in their tenth year, are compiled from the assessments of nearly 1,000 anonymous inspectors. Each restaurant is visited twice and evaluated on the quality of its pizza, ingredients, service, and hospitality.
The full list reflects a global appreciation for Neapolitan-style pizza, with entries from as far afield as Tokyo, São Paulo, and Sydney. European pizzerias feature prominently, including several in Italy, as well as establishments in Madrid, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Lisbon, and Bratislava.
For Londoners, the win is a point of pride, but it also underscores the city's broader culinary evolution. As European cities continue to compete on the global stage, this recognition adds to the continent's cultural credentials.
Pascarella's success story is a testament to the enduring appeal of traditional techniques combined with entrepreneurial spirit. From a humble three-wheeler to the world's best, his journey mirrors the aspirations of many small food businesses across Europe.
The full 50 Top Pizza World 2026 ranking includes:
- 1. Napoli on the Road – London, England
- 2. Una Pizza Napoletana – New York, USA
- 3. Confine – Milan, Italy
- 4. I Masanielli – Francesco Martucci – Caserta, Italy
- 4. Seu Pizza Illuminati – Rome, Italy
- 5. Pizzeria Sei – Los Angeles, USA
- 5. Tony's Pizza Napoletana – San Francisco, USA
- 6. Leggera Pizza Napoletana – São Paulo, Brazil
- 7. RistoPizza by Napoli sta ca – Tokyo, Japan
- 8. Baldoria – Madrid, Spain
- 9. The Pizza Bar on 38th – Tokyo, Japan
- 10. Razza – Jersey City, USA
Other notable entries include 50 Kalò – London at 23, nNea in Amsterdam at 36, and Forno d'Oro in Lisbon at 49. The list also features pizzerias in Germany, France, and Slovakia, highlighting the widespread love for pizza across Europe.
As the pizza world looks to Naples for its annual benchmark, this year's result is a reminder that excellence can emerge from the most unexpected places. For Michele Pascarella, the road from a Piaggio Ape to the top of the global pizza rankings has been long, but the destination is sweet.
