Presented in Rome, at The Space Cinema Moderno multiplex, Gambero Rosso’s 2026 Italian Restaurant Guide marked a historic turning point in the catering industry of our country. For the first time ever, the prestigious Restaurant of the Year award goes to a trattoria, La Madia di Brione, in Lombardy, where chef Michele Valotti has transformed the very concept of traditional cuisine. His proposal represents an avant-garde that has its roots in the territory, a perfect balance between research and authenticity.
A complete map of Italian flavors
This year the guide reviews approximately 2,600 addresses along the entire Peninsula, from cities of art to provincial squares, from secondary streets to hidden villages. “We have built a real map of Italian flavors and territories, with an incredible level of coverage,” declared Lorenzo Ruggeri, managing director of Gambero Rosso. Over 100 professionals worked on this edition, experiencing their task as a true mission.
Human sustainability at the center
The central theme that emerges from the 2026 edition is human sustainability. The happiness of customers increasingly passes through that of workers, a concept that redefines the way of understanding hospitality in our country. The guide highlights both the great trattorias and the most refined signature cuisines with equal intensity, demonstrating how gastronomic excellence can manifest itself in different forms.
Bottura’s return to the top
Fifty-five restaurants have won the Tre Forchette, the highest recognition for signature cuisine. At the absolute top of the ranking, with 97 points out of 100, are three legendary names of Italian gastronomy: Massimo Bottura’s Osteria Francescana in Modena, Piazza Duomo with Enrico Crippa in Alba and Niko Romito’s Ristorante Reale in Castel di Sangro. Bottura’s return to the top of the rankings represents the confirmation of a talent that continues to redefine the boundaries of Italian cuisine in the world.
New entries and special prizes
Five new restaurants join the Tre Forchette club: Contrada Bricconi, Il Luogo Aimo e Nadia, Villa Maiella, Zia Restaurant and Marotta. Special recognition goes to Jacopo Ticchi of the Da Lucio restaurant, winner of the Tasting Menu award. His proposal breaks the formalities and puts the need to share the pleasure of the table back at the center.
Enthusiasm skyrockets among the best trattorias in Italy, distinguished by the Tre Gamberi: seven new entries enrich this category. New this year is the inclusion of farmhouses, which increasingly hide large trattorias or refined bistros. The guide also dedicates a special section to Italian restaurants abroad: Clara in Bangkok by chef Christian Martena wins the award for Best Italian restaurant abroad.
The best restaurants in Italy
Here is the list of restaurants awarded with the Tre Forchette, starting from those that obtained the most points:
97 points:
96 points:
95 points:
94 points:
93 points:
92 points:
91 points:
90 points:
