London's Napoli on the Road has been named the best pizza restaurant in Europe at the 50 Top Pizza Awards 2026, marking the third consecutive year the pizzeria has claimed the top spot. Chef Michele Pascarella, who hails from Naples and began making pizza at age 11, runs the three London locations.
Third consecutive win for Napoli on the Road
According to the 50 Top Pizza Awards, Napoli on the Road has held the number one position in Europe since 2024. The restaurant's flagship pizza, the Ricordi d'Infanzia, was also named the best pizza in the world in 2025. The £19.50 dish features a Neapolitan base with slow-cooked beef ragù, Parmigiano fondue, grated Parmigiano, basil, and extra virgin olive oil.
Pascarella moved to the UK at age 19, working at restaurants including Sartori in Soho before launching a wood-fired pizza van, which inspired the restaurant's name. His first brick-and-mortar site opened in September 2019, followed by a Richmond location in June 2023 and a Soho branch in February 2026. Reviews describe the pizza as 'unforgettable', 'special', 'the best', and 'perfect'.
What to try at the Soho location
Metro's food writer visited the new Soho joint and highlighted several menu items. The Triple Crunch (£22) is steamed, fried, then baked pizza topped with tomato sauce, fior di latte, Calabrian salami, chilli jam, and parsley. The Cime e Salsiccia (£24) is a pizza sandwich with darker flour, cime di rapa cream, smoked mozzarella, sausage burger, and nori seaweed powder. For potato lovers, the gateau di patate (£10) layers crispy and mashed potatoes with rosemary raclette and grated cheese.
The Ricordi d'Infanzia remains a must-order: 'Smothered in a rich, slow-cooked beef ragu, it's by no means the easiest pizza to eat... but it's worth the mess,' the review notes. The Cheesewick pizza (£22) offers a five-cheese option with buffalo ricotta, fior di latte, stracciatella, Parmesan chips, dry blue Stilton, and piennolo cherry tomato jam, which the writer praised despite not being a blue cheese fan.
Other top London pizzerias
Napoli on the Road wasn't the only London pizzeria recognised. 50 Kalò, a Neapolitan spot near Embankment that originated in Naples in 2014 and opened in London in 2018, ranked in the top five. Its menu includes a margherita, cacio e pepe pizza, and salsiccia e friarielli (white base with fior di latte, sausage, friarielli, garlic, chilli flakes, and olive oil), with prices from £10.95.
L'Antica Pizzeria in Hampstead placed 28th, and Connie's Pizzeria in Peckham ranked 48th. The top 20 pizzerias will compete for the title of 100 best pizzerias in the world, offering a chance for Napoli on the Road and 50 Kalò to earn further accolades.
