Napoli on the Road, a pizzeria based in Chiswick, has been named the world's best at the 50 Top Pizza World 2026 awards held in Naples. This win saw it surpass New York's Una Pizza Napoletana, which had held the top spot for the past two years.
Michele Pascarella, owner of Napoli on the Road, expressed that the win "feels a little surreal." Pascarella, originally from Maddaloni near Naples, moved to the UK at 19 and started Napoli on the Road as a mobile van before establishing the restaurant.
The recognition follows Pascarella's previous achievement of winning Pizza Maker of the Year at the same awards in 2023. His restaurant has also consistently placed in the top five of the Top 50 Pizza Europa awards since 2024.
London's pizza scene is described as growing quickly, with chefs experimenting with dough styles and toppings. Tom Kemble of Spring St Pizza noted that London pizzerias tend to use a wider range of flours and preferments compared to New York counterparts.