Hastings restaurant ranked 'The World's Best Pizzeria' - "We hope this recognition shines a brighter spotlight on Hastings, the town we are so proud to call home"

Monellis Sourdough Pizza in Hastings Old Town was the top choice compiled by travel website Worth a Journey.

It was ranked number one of The World’s 100 Best Pizzerias 2026 and also scooped the top spot in the UK.

Second place was Savoy Kaminarimon in Tokyo, Japan, and third was La Pizza Napoletana Regalo in Osaka, Japan. The list names 100 pizzerias in 29 countries. Italy had the most entries with 11.

Frankie Ruffolo and Francesca Elia own Monellis. Frankie said: "My wife Francesca and I are genuinely surprised, deeply honoured and incredibly proud to see Monellis ranked as the best pizzeria in the world by Worth a Journey.

"What makes this recognition particularly meaningful is the evaluation process described by the organisation.

"Worth a Journey states that its rankings are based on an independent algorithm analysing millions of data points from venues worldwide, supported by in-person visits and consistent evaluation criteria. Unlike rankings influenced by nominations or commercial interests, the organisation states that no business can pay to enter or improve its position."

He added: "But behind Monellis, there is a story that goes far beyond pizza.

"Monellis is, above all, a love story. A story of two people, husband and wife, sharing not only their lives but also their passion, dreams and determination to create something genuinely special together.

"We both come from Puglia, in southern Italy, where food has always meant much more than simply eating. It is about family gathering around a table, sharing stories, laughter, music and precious moments together. Those memories, traditions and emotions are exactly what we wanted to bring to Hastings."

At the heart of restaurant's pizzas is an amazing family story. The sourdough mother yeast dates back to 1923 when Frankie's grandmother, Nonna Emma, began a tradition that has now travelled through three generations and across countries to find its home at Monellis.

Frankie said: "We have always believed that a restaurant should never be just a place to eat, but somewhere people feel welcomed, valued and, even if only for a limited time, part of a family.

"When we opened Monellis in Hastings Old Town in December 2019, just three months before the pandemic, we could never have imagined the journey ahead.

"We faced uncertainty, challenges and countless sacrifices, but we never lost sight of what mattered most: remaining true to ourselves, our roots and our belief that quality and genuine hospitality should never be compromised.

"To think that our tiny, independent, family-run pizzeria has now been recognised on a world stage is incredibly emotional for both of us.

"It is a reminder that you don't need to be big to create something meaningful. Sometimes all you need is a dream, the courage to follow it, and someone beside you who believes in that dream just as much as you do.

"We are immensely grateful to our wonderful customers, many of whom have become friends over the years, and to our dedicated team, who share our commitment and passion every day.

"Above all, we hope this recognition shines a brighter spotlight on Hastings, the town we are so proud to call home."

A Worth a Journey spokesman explained the criteria the successful pizzerias had to meet.

He said: "The list is computed by our own algorithm. For each category it works through millions of data points from hundreds of thousands of venues worldwide and corrects for local customs and the quirks of the category.

"The same rules apply to every venue in every country.

"For pizzerias, pizza has to be the main dish (Neapolitan, Roman, al taglio, New York slice, New Haven, Detroit, deep dish, pinsa).

"Italian restaurants where pizza is one part of the menu, fast-food and delivery chains, delivery-only kitchens, bakeries, bars and food halls are not eligible, and a brand is listed with one pizzeria per city. No venue can pay to enter a list or rise on it. We charge no entry fees, accept no nominations, sell no listings and hold no stake in any venue we rank."

Worth a Journey says it also visits the pizzerias in person.