In the 2025 edition of the prestigious World’s 50 Best Restaurants, Italy has five restaurants earning spots among the globe’s top dining destinations.
Italy’s innovative chefs remain celebrated on the international stage. The 2025 list places the country 7th overall by number of restaurants included.
Italian restaurants in the Top 50
#16 Lido 84 — Gardone Riviera
A beacon of joyful rule-breaking, Lido 84 is run by brothers Riccardo and Giancarlo Camanini. Perched on the shores of Lake Garda, this restaurant delivers quintessentially Italian dishes reimagined with bold techniques and an artistic touch. Its signature dish, the Rigatoni Cacio e Pepe en Vessie — pasta cooked inside a pig’s bladder — perfectly illustrates their craftsmanship. Lido 84 rose quickly on the global scene, entering the list at No.15 in 2021. It maintains a strong position at No.16 this year.
#18 Reale — Castel di Sangro
Chef Niko Romito’s minimalist approach at Reale focuses on the essence of Italian ingredients, especially plants. Located in a 16th-century monastery, this restaurant elevates simple dishes into profound experiences through rigorous research and precision. The bread should not be missed here, made from ancient Saragolla wheat.
#31 Le Calandre — Rubano
The Alajmo brothers’ Le Calandre is a landmark of Italian culinary innovation and soul. Massimiliano Alajmo’s constantly evolving tasting menus fuse art, tradition, and creativity. A case in point is the Cuttlefish Cappuccino reinvented as a tribute to Venetian glassmaking.
#32 Piazza Duomo — Alba
Enrico Crippa’s Piazza Duomo offers a journey through northern Italy’s traditions with a contemporary, multi-sensory approach. Seasonal menus highlight local ingredients, including the region’s prized white truffles. It is all served in a historic setting overlooking Alba’s picturesque Piazza Risorgimento.
#43 Uliassi — Senigallia
Set between marina and beach, the Uliassi siblings present a harmonious balance of sea and land flavours rooted in Marche’s culinary tradition. Mauro Uliassi’s innovative cuisine blends classical and modern techniques, consistently adding fresh creations to the menu year after year.
Italy’s overall 2025 ranking
With these five restaurants featured, Italy holds 7th place in the country ranking on the 2025 World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. 4 of the 5 restaurants placed in the 2024 list, with Le Calandre a new entrant coming in strong at position 31.
The entrants demonstrate the diversity of Italian cuisine, from minimalist plant-focused dishes in Abruzzo to lakeside reinterpretations of classic pasta in Lombardy, and from innovative northern Italian artistry to coastal seafood excellence.
