The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list once again highlights the global culinary elite, showcasing innovation, creativity, and excellence from kitchens around the world. No doubt London, a perennial powerhouse in the fine dining scene, is of course well represented in this year’s rankings, with several establishments earning spots among the world’s best.
London’s representation in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024 list is more than a matter of prestige – it’s a reflection of the city’s ever-evolving culinary landscape. The restaurants listed not only showcase the city’s openness to global influences but also its embrace of innovation, and its commitment to excellence. And to put more plainly, it’s a pretty good place to be if you’re a foodie or a gastronomical expert of sorts.
Here are the London restaurants featured in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024 list:
Kol (#17)
Location: Marylebone
Chef: Santiago Lastra
Cuisine: Mexican fine dining with British ingredients
Kol is led by Mexican-born chef Santiago Lastra, who brings a unique approach by blending the essence of Mexican cuisine with seasonal British produce. The restaurant is celebrated for its creative tasting menus, where traditional Mexican dishes are reimagined using local ingredients-eschewing imports like avocados or limes in favour of what the UK offers.
Signature dishes include the langoustine taco with sea buckthorn and carnitas tacos with rhubarb salsa. The interiors are warm and inviting, adorned with Mexican ceramics and art, creating a vibrant yet refined atmosphere. Kol’s innovative spirit and attention to detail have not only earned it a Michelin star and but a cozy spot in the top 20 world’s best restaurants.
Ikoyi (#42)
Location: 180 Strand
Chefs: Jeremy Chan and Iré Hassan-Odukale
Cuisine: Modern, West African-inspired fine dining
Ikoyi, co-founded by Jeremy Chan and Iré Hassan-Odukale, offers a tasting menu rooted in West African spices and British micro-seasonal ingredients. Rather than aiming for authenticity, Ikoyi crafts highly original dishes that blend African flavours with global techniques and umami-rich elements.
The result is a menu that surprises and delights, with dishes like suya with kombu paste and jollof rice with crab and miso. The restaurant’s minimalist, warm interior complements its innovative food, and Ikoyi has been awarded two Michelin stars for its boundary-pushing cuisine.
With Kol and Ikoyi earning spots among the world’s best, London continues to set the pace for international dining. Whether you’re a local foodie or a visiting gastronome, these restaurants promise not just a meal, but an experience that lingers long after the last bite.
For more information and the full list, visit The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.