The UK’s New Top Restaurant Has Just Been Announced
Henry Harris’s Bouchon Racine has been named the UK’s best restaurant at the National Restaurant Awards 2026, topping the influential annual ranking of the country’s leading dining destinations. Keep reading to find out the top 100 list.
The new number 1
The French bistro, located above The Three Compasses pub in Farringdon, London, secured the coveted number one position after being a fixture in the list since opening in November 2022. Harris and business partner Dave Strauss have won widespread acclaim for their traditional French cooking, drawing inspiration from the bouchons of Lyon and classic Parisian bistros.
Restaurant editor Stefan Chomka said Bouchon Racine’s success demonstrates that “you don’t need a vast team or a huge budget to be named the best”, praising Harris’s focus on flavour and describing the restaurant as “a temple to great gastronomy”.
A temple to great gastronomy…
Stefan Chomka
The runners up
For the first time in the awards’ history, two restaurants shared second place. Somerset restaurant Osip, led by Merlin Labron-Johnson, tied with The Ritz London, where executive chef John Williams MBE continues to oversee one of the capital’s most celebrated kitchens.
The awards also recognised several leading figures across the hospitality industry. Adam Byatt was named Restaurateur of the Year, while chef Simon Rogan received the Outstanding Industry Contribution Award for his influence on British dining and his pioneering farm-led approach to cooking.
Nieves Barragán Mohacho enjoyed one of the night’s strongest performances. Her Shoreditch restaurant Legado was named Highest New Entry and Square Opening of the Year, while the chef herself collected the Chef of the Year award. The Spanish restaurant has attracted widespread praise for its focus on regional Spanish cuisine and authentic cooking.
The newcomers
The 2026 list featured 29 new entries, highlighting continued momentum across the UK restaurant sector. Among the newcomers were Tiella by Dara Klein, Vraic, Teal by Sally Abé, Tollington’s, Winsome and Bavette. Meanwhile, The Devonshire retained its title as Gastropub of the Year.
The awards highlighted London’s continued dominance, with 55 restaurants from the capital featuring in the top 100.
Regional awards reflected the strength of dining scenes beyond London. Ynyshir was named Best Restaurant in Wales, Timberyard in Edinburgh claimed both Best Restaurant in Scotland and Cocktail List of the Year, while Belfast’s The Muddlers Club took the title of Best Restaurant in Northern Ireland. Elsewhere, Maria Bradford of Shwen Shwen received the Trailblazer of the Year award, while Meedu Saad of Impala was recognised as Chef to Watch.
London favourites
The awards highlighted London’s continued dominance, with 55 restaurants from the capital featuring in the top 100. However, the list also showcased the growing breadth of talent across the UK, from rural destination restaurants to neighbourhood dining rooms helping redefine local hospitality.
The National Restaurant Awards, organised by Restaurant magazine, are voted for by chefs, restaurateurs and food writers from across the UK. Winners were announced at a ceremony held at The Magazine London last night.
The top 100 restaurants in the UK
- Bouchon Racine
- Osip/The Ritz
- Dorian
- The Ledbury
- Moor Hall
- Ynyshir
- Mountain
- Trinity
- Woven by Adam Smith
- Legado
- Planque
- Dongnae
- JÖRO
- AngloThai
- Impala
- Opheem
- Row on 5
- The Devonshire
- Humble Chicken
- Camille
- Kiln
- Restaurant 22
- Forest Side
- Ikoyi
- Timberyard
- Restaurant Myse
- BiBi
- Grace & Savour
- Skof
- Wildflowers
- A Wong
- Wilson’s
- Lyla
- L’Enclume
- The Kinneuchar Inn
36. The Dover
37. Erst
38. Restaurant Pine
39. Higher Ground
40. Henrock
41. One Club Row
42. Solstice
43. Perilla
44. The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant
45. Vraic
46. Da Terra
47. The Angel at Hetton
48. Kitchen Table
49. The Kitchin
50. Brat
51. Dogstar
52. Kol
53. Sabor
54. Tollington’s
55. Simpson’s in The Strand
56. Miga
57. Lilibet’s
58. The Sportsman
59. Frog by Adam Handling
60. Maré by Rafael Cagali
61. The French House
62. The Cottage in the Wood
63. Brawn
64. Kudu
65. The Palmerston
66. Bonheur by Matt Abe
67. Winsome
68. Briar
69. Osteria Vibrato
70. Dalla
71. The Black Swan Oldstead
72. 40 Maltby Street
73. Oma
74. Updown Farmhouse
75. The Cocochine
76. Paul Ainsworth at No 6
77. Chishuru
78. The Star Inn
79. Restaurant St Barts
80. Restaurant Interlude
81. The Kerfield Arms
82. Restaurant Sat Bains
83. Bavette
84. The Seahorse
85. The Quality Chop House
86. Chez Bruce
87. Core by Clare Smyth
88. The Fat Badger
89. Fallow
90. The Muddlers Club
91. Shwen Shwen
92. Trivet
93. Inver
94. Ambassadors Clubhouse
95. Teal by Sally Abé
96. St. JOHN
97. Luca
98. Upstairs by Tom Sheppard
99. Motorino
100. Tiella by Dara Klein
