London Pizzeria Crowned World's Best
Napoli on the Road beats hundreds of global contenders to take top spot at 50 Top Pizza World Awards 2026, with founder Michele Pascarella hailing the win as 'like the Oscars but for pizza'
Napoli on the Road, a London pizzeria, has been crowned the world's best at the 50 Top Pizza World Awards 2026, beating out hundreds of contenders from around the globe. The win was announced in Naples, the original birthplace of pizza.
The pizzeria was founded by chef Michele Pascarella, who launched the business in 2016 from a three-wheeled Piaggio Ape fitted with a wood-fired oven. Since then, Napoli on the Road has grown into restaurants in Chiswick, Richmond, and Soho, with the latter branch offering a pizza tasting menu inspired by Pascarella's childhood in Caserta, Italy.
Una Pizza Napoletana in New York, the reigning champion, dropped to second place, while Confine in Milan took third place. The top 3 ranking is based on almost 1,000 anonymous inspectors, who visited each restaurant twice and judged them on their pizza, ingredients, service, and hospitality.
## What changed The 50 Top Pizza World Awards 2026 results mark a significant change in the rankings, with Napoli on the Road taking the top spot from Una Pizza Napoletana, which had held the position for two consecutive years. The win is a testament to the quality and consistency of Napoli on the Road's pizzas, ingredients, and service.
## Why it matters The win is a significant achievement for Napoli on the Road and its founder, Michele Pascarella. It recognizes the pizzeria's commitment to serving high-quality pizzas and providing excellent service and hospitality. The award also highlights the growing reputation of London as a hub for excellent pizza, with Napoli on the Road joining a growing list of top-rated pizzerias in the city.
The win was celebrated by Pascarella, who said, '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 is a culmination of Pascarella's hard work and dedication to his craft, and it is likely to further establish Napoli on the Road as a leading destination for pizza lovers in London and beyond.
