The World's 50 Best Restaurants

The World's 50 Best Restaurants is an influential annual ranking of international fine-dining establishments, compiled and published by William Reed Business Media. First conceived in 2002 as a feature for the British magazine Restaurant, the list has evolved into a major institution within global gastronomy, often likened to the Oscars of the food world. Its annual awards ceremony, held in a different global city each year, garners significant media attention and can dramatically alter the fortunes of featured chefs and their restaurants.

History and background

The list was created in 2002 by a small team at Restaurant magazine in the United Kingdom, initially intended as a promotional feature. Its rapid ascent to prominence was fueled by the concurrent rise of the international celebrity chef phenomenon and a growing public fascination with high-end culinary arts. In 2009, the intellectual property and organization of the awards were acquired by William Reed Business Media, which expanded the brand into a global franchise. The awards ceremony has been hosted in prestigious locations worldwide, including London, New York City, Melbourne, Bilbao, and Valencia, reflecting its international stature and the global nature of contemporary fine dining.

Selection process and criteria

The selection is determined by an anonymous voting panel called The Academy, which is composed of over 1,000 food writers, critics, chefs, restaurateurs, and well-traveled gourmets from 27 global regions. Each region has a chairperson appointed by the organization, who then selects a voting panel. Voters are required to have dined at the restaurants they nominate within the past 18 months, and they cast votes for their best personal dining experiences, not based on any prescribed set of criteria like Michelin stars or service style. This subjective, experience-based approach, often criticized for its lack of transparency, is central to the list's identity. The voting system is independently adjudicated by the professional services consultancy Deloitte.

Notable restaurants and chefs

The list has been instrumental in propelling chefs and restaurants from around the world to superstar status. El Bulli in Catalonia, under chef Ferran Adrià, achieved a historic five-year reign at number one, cementing the global influence of molecular gastronomy. Other multiple top-ranked establishments include Noma in Copenhagen (led by René Redzepi), The French Laundry in California (Thomas Keller), and Osteria Francescana in Modena (Massimo Bottura). The list has also spotlighted culinary talent from emerging scenes, such as Central in Lima (Virgilio Martínez), Gaggan Anand in Bangkok, and Geranium in Copenhagen (Rasmus Kofoed).

Impact and criticism

Appearing on the list, particularly within the top ten, can lead to immediate and dramatic increases in reservations, international recognition, and commercial success for a restaurant. It has played a key role in shaping culinary tourism, directing global attention to specific cities and regions. However, the ranking has faced sustained criticism for a perceived bias towards European and Nordic cuisine, a lack of gender and geographical diversity among its top spots, and the opacity of its voting process. Critics, including prominent chefs like Joël Robuchon and Sven Elverfeld, have also argued that it fosters unhealthy competition and reduces the complex art of hospitality to a simplistic numerical list.

List of number-one restaurants

The following restaurants have been ranked number one in the history of the list: * 2002–2006: El Bulli (Roses, Spain) – Chef Ferran Adrià * 2007–2009: The Fat Duck (Bray, United Kingdom) – Chef Heston Blumenthal * 2010: Noma (Copenhagen, Denmark) – Chef René Redzepi * 2011–2012: Noma (Copenhagen, Denmark) – Chef René Redzepi * 2013: El Celler de Can Roca (Girona, Spain) – Chefs Joan, Josep, and Jordi Roca * 2014–2017: Noma (Copenhagen, Denmark) – Chef René Redzepi * 2018: Osteria Francescana (Modena, Italy) – Chef Massimo Bottura * 2019–2021: Mirazur (Menton, France) – Chef Mauro Colagreco * 2022: Geranium (Copenhagen, Denmark) – Chef Rasmus Kofoed * 2023–2024: Central (Lima, Peru) – Chef Virgilio Martínez

Category:Gastronomy lists Category:Restaurant awards Category:William Reed Business Media