It is a strong year for global dining, from Michelin-acclaimed chefs opening new culinary delights across countries to up and coming chefs quickly topping must-visit restaurants 2026 lists.
This year, restaurants are going back to basics, creating more intentional, thoughtful menus that reimagined classics while keeping culture, cuisine, and techniques alive. Food has always been a cornerstone of life, but now it’s moved past necessity towards ingenuity and into edible culture worth crossing waters for.
These dining experiences are serving up the best each country has to offer, from the freshest seafood of Capri to the delicate wagyu of Japan. It’s difficult to narrow down just nine of the best restaurants in the world, which is why we’ve done it for you!
Must visit restaurants 2026
Spilia, Mykonos
This is Mykonos’ worst-kept secret: tucked within the caves of Agia Anna and right next to its stunning beach, lies Spilia. It’s a cosy yet unforgettable restaurant, with nothing more than a salty breeze separating diners from the water.
While its unique setting first draws travellers in, it’s the food that makes them keep coming back. The menu offers traditional Greek dishes with a Spilia twist, featuring seafood sustainably sourced from the Aegean Sea. Spilia is a local mainstay, where no two visits feel the same: the morning’s fresh catch, a shifting crowd, a new sunrise, yet always the same Spilia quality in each bite.
Crowd-pleasers: lobster linguine and seafood platter.
Mirazur, Menton
With this year marking its 20th anniversary, Mirazur has had a lot to celebrate.
Led by chef Mauro Colagreco, a pioneer of circular gastronomy, Mirazur is a dining experience unlike most others. Set within a 1950s Art Deco building overlooking the sea, the restaurant draws from seasonal ingredients sourced from its gardens, the surrounding mountains, and the coast below.
Guests are in for a surprise with an ever-changing menu influenced by a promise to never eat the same thing twice. Each dish is visually stunning and equally tasty. Mirazur is a restaurant confident in its 3-Michelin-star status.
Crowd-pleasers: With its menu guided by the harvest of the day, you’ll need to come back each season to find out.
Amura, Cape Town
The newest venture of Michelin-starred chef Ángel León, Amura, opened its doors at Mount Nelson in 2025 and, only a year in, has already made TIME’s 2026 Greatest Places list.
It’s easy to see why. Inspired by Cape Town’s rich coastline and Chef León’s Spanish roots, the menu features familiar yellowfin tuna tartare and a raw‑fish‑focused tableside for a little taste of everything under the ocean.
The restaurant’s elegant yet whimsical interior is a nod to the chef’s philosophy on marine biodiversity and his time as a seafarer.
Crowd-pleasers: squid-ink croquettes with aioli and prawn toast with durban’s curry.
Must, Abidjan
Having only set up its tables this year, Must has rapidly earned a spot on many travellers’ bucket lists. Perched above the Cocody district, guests enjoy Mediterranean cuisine alongside panoramic skyline views.
Chef Luis Marquez has curated a menu that reflects Mediterranean flavours, with quality ingredients on every plate.
As for the decor, sleek dark interiors complemented by warm wood create an intimate rooftop setting perfect for ending the day.
Crowd-pleasers: grilled sea bream and slow-cooked lamb,
Jin Ting Wan, Singapore
Marina Bay Sands (MBS) has added a new travel‑worthy destination: Jin Ting Wan calls the 55th floor of MBS home. With ‘Ting’ referencing the dragonfly, this motif is woven into the restaurant’s Song‑Dynasty‑inspired design.
This fine‑dining restaurant celebrates classic Cantonese cuisine across the region, with staples like roasted ‘pipa’ duck with aged tangerine peel, and a refined tea‑tasting experience paired with delicate pastries. What makes this refined restaurant so appealing is that it never takes itself too seriously, serving up purse-shaped pastries and roasted ducks shaped like the stringed instrument pipa.
Crowd-pleasers: angus short rib with preserved vegetable wrapped in straw leaves and braised abalone with superior sauce.
Yakatabune Izanagi, Tokyo
Tokyo has always had a finesse in blending art and culture, and Yakatabune Izanagi is no exception. This restaurant was masterfully built on a yakatabune, a traditional Japanese houseboat, with Kyoto-style lanterns and large windows to take in the city’s skyline.
As it glides along Tokyo Bay’s glittering waters, you’ll experience a wagyu omakase, featuring premium Japanese beef. With an ‘Itamae’, a master chef cooking and preparing each dish right in front of you, it’s a fully immersive dinner experience.
If you’re fortunate enough to bag one of only 12 seats in this ‘floating kaisaki-style inn’, guests are asked to enjoy fine-traditional Japanese cuisine the right way: shoes off.
Crowd-pleasers: wagyu steak and wagyu tartar
Pi Sa, Phnom Penh
A second addition to Chef Sothea Seng’s culinary legacy, PiSa continues his journey in Phnom Penh, still showcasing Cambodian cuisine and techniques with a contemporary, refined twist.
Located in the French Quarter, its proximity to the old market ensures consistently fresh produce and offers guests a taste of the city’s local life. With green accents and natural rattan interiors, Pisa (meaning to eat in Khmer) invites guests to eat and enjoy.
Crowd-pleasers: marble goby fish and pan-fried crab cake.
Esca, Mexico City
Esca has been making a statement since opening in 2025, serving indulgent classic Italian cuisine in Colonia Roma. Its food is reminiscent of Italy’s coastlines, layered with subtle Mexican influences for a full-bodied dining experience. Its ambience and interiors draw inspiration from Capri’s white stones and a refined yet unhurried atmosphere. It’s an authentic Italian gastronomic journey right in Mexico City.
Crowd-pleasers: uni loaded bruschetta on carrot brioche with ricotta and a mascarpone agnolotti.
Brass Boer, Bonaire
Brass Boer is the newest restaurant by chef Jonnie Boer and maître‑sommelier Thérèse Boer, the Dutch powerhouse couple behind the three-Michelin-starred De Librije. With a team celebrated for redefining fine dining in the Netherlands, it’s no surprise that Brass Boer is one of the best restaurants in the world.
This oceanfront restaurant at Delfins Beach Resort brings exquisite European flavours to the Caribbean, with a three-course lunch menu that offers familiar favourites from De Librije as well as new dishes created with Brass Boer’s signature flair. Though currently undergoing renovation until August, you can still enjoy their pop-up at the Villa.
Crowd-pleasers: wahoo ceviche and fried lionfish with atjar and rougail.
Restaurants Worth Travelling For
Spanning across continents, these chefs are creating dishes worth building an itinerary around. These restaurants are shaping travel, becoming sought-after destinations in their own right.
What we like most about the restaurants on the list is that, beneath the picture-perfect views and Instagram-worthy decor, the food remains unpretentious and speaks for itself. Here, the sea, farm, and mountains are no longer just backdrops, but an integral part of what defines each dish. With top chefs behind each menu, the restaurants deliver quality and experiences worthy of being on the best restaurants in the world list
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