December 7, 2025
Italian cuisine has been crowned the world's best for 2025/2026 by TasteAtlas, the renowned global food guide, reclaiming the title after Greece took the top spot last year.
The latest edition of TasteAtlas's "100 Best Cuisines in the World" highlights Italy's enduring dominance, building on its long-standing reputation as a culinary powerhouse.
What Makes Italian Cuisine the Global Favorite?
Italy's triumph goes beyond taste—it's rooted in simplicity and excellence. Dishes feature just a few premium ingredients, expertly prepared to highlight their natural flavors.
Think sun-ripened tomatoes, fragrant fresh basil, premium extra-virgin olive oil, and handcrafted cheeses. These create a pure, authentic profile that's universally appealing and adaptable across cultures.
Italy's food is inseparable from its heritage. Regional specialties reflect generations of tradition: Naples birthed pizza, while varied pastas showcase local produce and family legacies that continue to innovate.
Dining rituals matter too—generations-old techniques, shared family meals, and contemporary twists from chefs keep Italian cuisine timeless yet fresh.
Its global reach, via authentic restaurants worldwide, has made Italian flavors a daily staple, inspiring endless adaptations of classics.
The Icon of Italian Mastery: Neapolitan Pizza
No dish embodies this better than Neapolitan pizza. With minimal ingredients, it comes in two timeless varieties:
- Pizza Marinara: Tomato sauce, garlic, and oregano.
- Pizza Margherita: Adding mozzarella and basil, echoing Italy's flag colors—red, white, and green.
Both prove that restraint can yield extraordinary taste.
Greece Secures a Strong Second Place
Greece ranks second, a close runner-up after claiming first place in last year's rankings. With its Mediterranean character centered on fresh vegetables, olive oil, lemon, and herbs such as oregano and thyme, Greek cuisine is known for flavors that are bright, balanced, and comforting—without heavy seasonings or complex techniques.
This ranking underscores the fierce yet friendly rivalry between these two Mediterranean powerhouses, with timeless traditions and fresh ingredients captivating food lovers worldwide. Well, Greeks are nothing if not gracious—we're happy to take turns sharing the crown with Italy, even though we basically invented pasta and pizza back in the day. Opa! 🇬🇷🍕
Italian waiter triggered by Greek woman asking for ketchup with her spaghetti carbonara (VIDEO)
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