Representing the UK in The World's 50 Best Restaurants list, Ikoyi and KOL are two of London's finest restaurants.
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024 have been announced at an annual ceremony, revealing that two London restaurants have made the cut - representing the UK's diverse culinary scene on an international level.
First up, previous winner of the American Express One To Watch Award at The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2021: Ikoyi. As well as being given its second Michelin star a few years ago, this West African restaurant has now been voted 42nd in the world, to the delight of chef-director duo Jeremy Chan and Iré Hassan-Odukale. The former brings all his experience working at the likes of Dinner by Heston Blumenthal to create innovative menus centred around British micro-seasonal ingredients, enhanced by spices from sub-Saharan West Africa.
Michelin star Mexican restaurant KOL has been awarded the UK's highest spot, coming in at number 17 overall. The Marylebone favourite has shot up six places since last year, with chef Santiago Lastra dedicating the award to his "brilliant team first and foremost, and also to Mexico - to its traditions, people, and culture that never ceases to inspire us - and to [our] farmers and foragers for all the opportunities to explore Britain's landscape and produce." Combining a unique take on Mexican family-style dishes with seasonal British ingredients, lesser-known Central and Eastern European wine, and a downstairs mezcaleria, it's unsurprising this place broke the top 20 in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024 list.
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