This year's ranking marks the first time an Egyptian restaurant has won the top spot at the Middle East & North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants.
Surrounded by breathtaking views of the pyramids, Khufu's is no stranger to world wonders. Now, the contemporary Egyptian restaurant has earned a place on the global gastronomic stage as The Best Restaurant in the Middle East & North Africa 2026, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna.
Led by chef Mostafa Seif, Khufu's is the first restaurant in Egypt to be awarded the coveted No.1 spot on the Middle East & North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants list, which was revealed at a live awards ceremony on Tuesday 3 February in Abu Dhabi.
Kinoya in Dubai ranked No.2 on the list, making it the highest placed restaurant in the UAE, with Trèsind Studio, also in Dubai, rounding out the top three.
Previously awarded the Resy One To Watch Award, as part of The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025, Khufu's has today cemented its position as a rapidly rising star.
"I want to thank Giovanni for leading us, pushing us, always forcing us to try to be better. All we want is to present Egyptian cuisine to the world," says Seif.
Khufu's is centred around traditional recipes and ingredients with a modern touch
"Egypt is our home. It's for us. It's the greatest country in the world. We're just happy that we've been able to get our cuisine out there. Thank you to 50 Best, thank you to all the people who supported us and thank you to the team who helped us get there," continues Seif.
Founded in 2022 by Giovanni Bolandrini, the mind behind Pier88 restaurant group, Khufu's offers a gastronomic journey, travelling deep into Egyptian heritage. Seif's menu showcases historical flavours, paying homage to ancient traditions and iconic Egyptian dishes and revamping them with contemporary twists.
Following his graduation from the Culinary Arts Academy in 2013, Seif developed a passion for combining the rural Egyptian cuisine of his childhood with technical practices. A native of Cairo's restaurant scene, his contemporary approach won him the ultimate accolade of Top Chef Middle East in 2018, and he is widely known as one of the architects of New Egyptian Cuisine, bringing a deeply personal and nationally inspired approach to the table.
When asked what this achievement means for Egyptian cusine, Bolandrini says: "It means everything. We were forgotten in the land of the pharaohs [...] nobody knew that there was Egypt on the map."
Five years ago in an interview with a journalist, Bolandrini said his dream was to put Egypt on the culinary map. "You have a tradition of 110 million years, you have a story, you have history, and nobody is looking at us. So my dream is that one day we will be there. Well, the day is here," says Bolandrini.
In the golden surrounds of Giza, Khufu's plays host to guests from all over the world, showcasing exemplary Egyptian hospitality and cuisine to a global audience. Storytelling is at the heart of the restaurant, where the kitchen and front-of-house teams work in harmony to represent Egypt's deep history.
Set within the perimeter of the pyramids, the restaurant welcomes guests from across the globe every day
Seif explains that the main goal at Khufu's is to represent Egyptian cuisine to those who might be unfamiliar: "The first objective when opening Khufu’s was to make food that Giovanni would like. Because Giovanni is very specific, and he didn't like Egyptian food, and I wanted to do something that would please any foreigner or any visitor that doesn't know the Egyptian food."
While Khufu's is rooted in the traditions of the past, Bolandrini, Seif and the team also have their eyes set firmly on the future.
"We can do so much better than this. What’s next? We have a lot to improve. We’re in a country that still needs improvement," says Bolandrini.
While the team recognises the challenges of the region, they remain positive about what's to come: "We're just happy that that people can appreciate and and really taste what we want to deliver to the world," says Mark Ayoub, operations director at Khufu's.
Until then, the Middle East & North Africa's restaurant community gathers under the stars in Abu Dhabi to celebrate not only Khufu's' momentous achievement, but the dazzling future ahead of them.
See the full list of The Middle East & North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants 2026, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, hosted in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT).
