Esca — Mexico City
It takes a moment to realize you’ve arrived at Esca, which hides behind wide wooden doors, but don’t be fooled—that’s the intention. Once inside this beautiful casona in the heart of Colonia Roma, the setting is clearly part of the experience: breezy, dappled with sunlight, unhurried. Since opening its doors in August of last year, Esca has become a place where lunch plans slowly fade into dinner. The menu is inspired by Italy’s coastal regions yet rooted in Mexican ingredients and spices, with one overarching promise: “We let the catch speak for itself,” says chef de cuisine Tobias Petzold, who leads alongside owner Rolly Pavia. This standout seafood shines in cold appetizers—like a “canned tuna” you’ll have to see to believe—crudos, pastas, and dainty mains like a tuna ventresca with smoked eggplant and onion confit. Once the bar opens around 6 p.m., the mood shifts dramatically, becoming sultrier and livelier, fueled by imported wines available only here and a cocktail menu that is likewise rooted in seafood and local ingredients. —Atenea Morales
New York City’s Carbone is synonymous with A-listers and fashionable figures, with mere mortal foodies refreshing their emails over and over again in the hopes of securing a coveted reservation. Now, a palpable sense of excitement—and smugness—hangs in London’s air, as the city has gained its own outpost of the scene-y eatery. Upstairs, tables are laden in crisp tablecloths, and the bar casts a golden light over rich cerulean and scarlet decor; below, a buzzy cocktail lounge flows into a sultry, subterranean dining space with its recognizable checkered floor; diners on the terrace, meanwhile, people-watch over this corner of Grosvenor Square. The front-of-house team struts between banquettes in velvety Zac Posen-designed tuxedos as heaping bread baskets hit tables, and Parmesan wheels are ceremoniously picked at until they crumble in chunks onto side plates. Yes, the signature spicy rigatoni vodka is on the menu, and the gargantuan melt-in-the-mouth meatballs are not to be missed either. Discreet stomach rubbing and wine-swirling often ensue before the main event lands in the center of the table: in my case, the veal Parmesan with its tomato-and-cheese toppings glowing under the light of an Art Deco table lamp. Just when you’re ready to admit defeat, the team will persuade you to indulge one final time with a spread of desserts on a shimmering silver platter beside you. Say yes. This is the kind of restaurant where you can lose hours in a mesmerizing, sweet-scented crimson blur and still not be ready to leave. —Connor Sturges
Must — Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
Abidjan is a fast-moving commercial hub set along the Atlantic coastline, where business, culture, and nightlife intersect. In Cocody, one of its busiest districts, Must has quickly become an in-demand table since opening in February 2026. Set on a rooftop with aerial views of the city, right on the Rue des Jardins, Must draws a steady mix of local business leaders, creatives, and visiting internationals, reflecting Abidjan’s blend of business and lifestyle. The interiors combine clean lines with warm materials, and the menu leans Mediterranean, with lots of local seafood. There’s grilled sea bream, lobster in butter sauce, and slow-cooked lamb, all deftly led by Peruvian chef Luis Carranza Marquez. Live music, a pianist or saxophonist perhaps, often plays in the background, just enough to shift the mood as the evening unfolds. It’s early days for Must, but the attention to detail, from service to atmosphere, suggests this is a place set to last. —Sharon Machira
