A trio of Czech tables ranks among the Top 1000 World’s Best Restaurants

A trio of Czech restaurants has been included in La Liste, a “global geography of taste" that recognizes the world’s top tables, with the newest edition for 2026 released on Tuesday.

The French-founded travel guide analyzed international and local press coverage, as well as customer reviews, to arrive at its Top 1000 World’s Best Restaurants ranking.

This year’s results “reveal a rapidly changing landscape: global gastronomy has never been more fragmented, mobile, and creative,” La Liste reviewers said in a press release.

“From the reinterpretation of heritage to Asia’s ascent, economic restructuring, and European technical rigor, the global center of taste is shifting and being redefined."

For Czechia, the ranking presented some surprises; not all of the most noteworthy restaurants and culinary talent reside in the capital.

Last year, only Prague’s acclaimed restaurant La Degustation Bohême Bourgeoise appeared in the La Liste 1000 ranking. This year, two restaurants outside of Prague have joined the list: Restaurant Papilio in Vysoké Újezd and Restaurant Essens, located in the South Moravian village of Hlohovec near Valtice.

La Degustation and Papilio both scored 77.00 points (tied), while Essens was ranked lower with 75.00 points (scores are out of a potential 100).

Speaking to Seznam Zprávy, Otto Vašák from Essens said, “I’m happy that this is reaching our work beyond the borders of the Czech Republic. If we are to be part of the European gastronomic scene, we also need to be in La Liste. I see these rankings mainly as keys to getting to know and establishing cooperation with top businesses in the world.”

The news comes ahead of the Michelin Guide's announcement. This year, the renowned gastronomic guide will cover the entire republic in its restaurant ratings for the first time, according to Czech Tourism. The awarded establishments will be announced on Dec. 11 in Mariánské Lázně.

The inclusion of Papilio and Essens on La Liste signals that their respective chefs, Jan Knedla and Otto Vašák, are strong contenders for Michelin honors, joining existing star-holders La Degustation and Field.