The toughest restaurant reservation in the world is still Rao’s in New York, where there is no public booking system and the tables are held by regulars. We re-checked the ten restaurants from our 2015 list. Noma has closed, reopened in Copenhagen in August 2026 and moved to newsletter-only booking. Sukiyabashi Jiro lost its Michelin listing. And Talula’s Table still sells its two tables a year ahead.
Toughest reservations: how each one works now
| Rank | Restaurant | City | How to book |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rao’s | New York | No public booking; regulars hold the tables |
| 2 | Talula’s Table | Kennett Square, Pennsylvania | Two tables, booked a year ahead |
| 3 | Sukiyabashi Jiro | Tokyo | Hotel concierge only, 10 counter seats |
| 4 | Noma | Copenhagen | Newsletter sign-up, seasonal release |
| 5 | El Celler de Can Roca | Girona | Online only, up to 11 months ahead |
| 6 | The French Laundry | Yountville, California | Prepaid, monthly release on Tock |
| 7 | The Fat Duck | Bray, England | Phone or booking system |
| 8 | Schwa | Chicago | Monthly release, 26 seats |
| 9 | Minibar | Washington, D.C. | Not re-verified |
| 10 | Yam’Tcha | Paris | Not re-verified |
We rank by how hard it is for an ordinary person with no connections to get a table. The order is our judgement.
1. Rao’s, New York
Rao’s opened in 1896 in East Harlem, at 455 East 114th Street, and was started by Joshua Anthony Rao, whose sons later ran it. It is a semi-private club in practice: long-time regulars keep standing tables, and open slots are offered to their friends. Our 2015 report put a yearly table for four at as much as $25,000, a figure we have not re-verified. The only way in is knowing someone on the inside. A sister restaurant operates in Miami Beach.
2. Talula’s Table, Kennett Square
The market-and-restaurant has only two tables at night: one seating eight to twelve and a nook table for four to eight. Reservations are taken for the date exactly one year ahead, which has earned it a reputation as the hardest reservation in the United States. Check its site often, as cancellations get posted.
3. Sukiyabashi Jiro, Tokyo
The Ginza sushi counter seats ten and was the first sushi restaurant to win three Michelin stars. Michelin removed it from the guide in November 2019 because it takes no reservations from the public, only through a luxury hotel concierge. Jiro Ono stepped aside in 2023 in favour of his son Yoshikazu Ono. The 2011 film Jiro Dreams of Sushi made the restaurant famous. His other son Takashi runs a two-star branch in Roppongi Hills. We dropped the old $200 envelope claim, which we could not confirm.
4. Noma, Copenhagen
René Redzepi and Claus Meyer opened Noma in 2003, and it was named the world’s best restaurant in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2021. The restaurant announced it would stop regular service, with its last regular dinner in Kyoto in December 2024, and ran as a food lab and pop-ups. It reopened in Copenhagen in August 2026 with a new leadership team and a micro-seasons menu. Its first season ran from 5 August to 31 October 2026, bookable through a newsletter, with reservations released on 24 June at 6pm CEST. Watch the mailing list for the next release.
5. El Celler de Can Roca, Girona
The three-Michelin-star restaurant of Joan, Josep and Jordi Roca opened in 1986 and moved into its current building in 2007. It was named the world’s best restaurant in 2013 and 2015. Booking is only through its website, up to 11 months in advance. A new booking period opens at midnight on the first day of each month, a card is needed to hold the table, and a cancellation under 10 days costs 100 euros per person. The cellar holds around 60,000 bottles.
6. The French Laundry, Yountville
Thomas Keller has owned the three-star restaurant since 1994. It is in a building dating from 1900, once a French steam laundry, and seating is limited. Tables are booked on Tock in monthly releases and are prepaid. Because Tock’s release dates change, check the official page for the current schedule.
7. The Fat Duck, Bray
Heston Blumenthal opened it on 16 August 1995 in a 16th-century building. It won its third star in 2004, lost its stars in 2016 while closed for a renovation and regained all three in 2017. The tasting menu has included nitro-scrambled egg and bacon ice cream. We did not verify its current prices or call line, so use the official booking page.
8. Schwa, Chicago
Michael Carlson’s 26-seat restaurant in Wicker Park has no support staff, and chefs serve diners directly. Third-party listings show it open in 2026 and listing a Michelin star, with reservations released on the first of the month for the following month, but confirm these with the restaurant.
9. Minibar by Jose Andres, Washington, D.C.
Our original piece described a 12-seat counter serving a tasting menu of more than 20 courses, with reservations released by season. We could not re-verify the current format, so check the restaurant before planning a trip.
10. Yam’Tcha, Paris
Adeline Grattard’s Paris restaurant combines French and Chinese cooking and pairs dishes with tea. We could not re-verify its present opening hours or booking rules, so we have left them out.
Keep reading
- Best restaurants in California: The French Laundry is our number one there.
FAQ
What is the hardest restaurant reservation in the world?
Rao’s in New York, because tables are held by regulars and open slots go to their friends.
Is Noma open in 2026?
Yes. It reopened in Copenhagen in August 2026 after ending regular service in December 2024. Booking is through its newsletter.
How far in advance can you book El Celler de Can Roca?
Up to 11 months ahead, online only, with a new booking period opening on the first of each month.
How do you get a table at Sukiyabashi Jiro?
Through the concierge of a luxury hotel. It does not take reservations from the public.
Which US restaurant takes bookings a year ahead?
Talula’s Table in Kennett Square, which takes reservations for the date exactly one year out.
How we put this list together
We checked each restaurant’s reservation method against its own site where available and recent coverage, and ranked by how hard it is for an unconnected diner. Where we could not re-verify, we say so.
Last updated: October 2026.
