The World's 50 Best Restaurants
The World's 50 Best Restaurants isn't just a list; it's a global culinary compass, shaping dining trends and launching chefs into superstardom. Since its inception, this annual ranking has become a hotly anticipated event, celebrated and debated across the gastronomic world. But what goes into crafting such an influential guide, and what truly makes a restaurant "the best"? The list is compiled by a global academy of over 1,000 independent experts, including chefs, critics, and gourmets, ensuring a diverse and experienced perspective. Unlike many awards, there are no specific judging criteria, allowing voters to highlight establishments that truly offer their best personal dining experiences. A "Best of the Best" hall of fame was introduced to celebrate past number one winners, making them ineligible to compete again and continually spotlighting new culinary talent.
AI Summary
The World's 50 Best Restaurants isn't just a list; it's a global culinary compass, shaping dining trends and launching chefs into superstardom. Since its inception, this annual ranking has become a hotly anticipated event, celebrated and debated across the gastronomic world. But what goes into crafting such an influential guide, and what truly makes a restaurant "the best"?
- The list is compiled by a global academy of over 1,000 independent experts, including chefs, critics, and gourmets, ensuring a diverse and experienced perspective.
- Unlike many awards, there are no specific judging criteria, allowing voters to highlight establishments that truly offer their best personal dining experiences.
- A "Best of the Best" hall of fame was introduced to celebrate past number one winners, making them ineligible to compete again and continually spotlighting new culinary talent.
The World's 50 Best Restaurants
Originally a feature within the British magazine Restaurant in 2002, "The World's 50 Best Restaurants" quickly evolved into a standalone global phenomenon. Produced by the UK media company William Reed, this annual ranking has captured the imagination of food lovers and industry professionals alike, becoming a significant benchmark in fine dining.
Beyond the main 1–50 ranking, the organization celebrates culinary excellence through a series of special prizes. These include the 'One To Watch' for rising stars, the prestigious 'Icon Award', and the 'Chefs' Choice Award' — a true peer recognition honor, voted on by the previous year's top 50 head chefs themselves.
The awards ceremony has grown into a major event, with results unveiled via social media and the official website, creating a buzz across the culinary world. It's more than just a list; it's a barometer of global gastronomic trends, showcasing a rich tapestry of cuisines from every corner of the planet.
Behind the Scenes: The Academy
So, who decides which restaurants make the cut? The list is the result of a meticulously structured poll involving over 1,000 independent experts from around the globe. This diverse collective forms "The World's 50 Best Restaurants Academy" — a sophisticated network of culinary connoisseurs.
The Academy is thoughtfully designed to be gender-balanced and spans 27 distinct regions worldwide. Each region has a respected chairperson, an "Academy Chair," who then assembles a panel of 40 voters. This panel is a careful blend of leading chefs and restaurateurs, influential food journalists and critics, and well-traveled gourmets — all deeply immersed in their regional food scenes.
To maintain freshness and objectivity, at least 25% of the panellists from each region are typically rotated out each year. This ensures new perspectives are always flowing into the voting process, keeping the list dynamic and reflective of current culinary excellence.
Perhaps surprisingly, there are no predefined criteria for voting. The organization deliberately gives its 1,080 voters complete freedom to choose establishments where they've simply enjoyed their absolute best restaurant experiences. It's about personal excellence, not a rigid checklist.
And to ensure transparency and integrity, the entire voting process and its results are subject to rigorous independent adjudication by Deloitte. This meticulous oversight adds a layer of credibility to what could otherwise be seen as a subjective exercise.
Expanding Horizons
Recognizing the vastness of global gastronomy, William Reed expanded its reach with regional lists. Since 2013, "Asia's 50 Best Restaurants" and "Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants" have celebrated local talent. More recently, in February 2022, "Middle East & North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants" joined the family, highlighting even more diverse culinary landscapes.
The "Best of the Best" Rule
In 2019, a significant rule change was introduced to continuously refresh the top of the list and celebrate new talent. A "Best of the Best" category was created — a hall of fame for restaurants that have achieved the ultimate honor of reaching the No.1 position on the global list. Once a restaurant earns this title, it's no longer eligible to compete in future rankings.
This means that legendary restaurants, once crowned the world's best, are essentially elevated to an iconic status, clearing the path for new culinary giants to emerge. It ensures that the top spot remains a fiercely contested battleground for emerging talent and established brilliance alike.
However, there can be exceptions. For example, the acclaimed Danish restaurant Noma, a four-time winner (in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2014), was deemed eligible again in 2021. Why? Because it had closed its original doors in 2016 and reopened in a new location, with a reimagined concept, and even changes in ownership. This was seen as a truly 'new' restaurant, ready to compete once more for the top spot.
The "Best of the Best" club now stands as a testament to unparalleled culinary achievement — a permanent showcase of the restaurants that have truly defined their eras. These are the institutions that have pushed boundaries, inspired generations, and left an indelible mark on the world of gastronomy.
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The World's 50 Best Restaurants
The World's 50 Best Restaurants logo
The World's 50 Best Restaurants is a list produced by the UK media company William Reed, which originally appeared in the British magazine Restaurant in 2002. The list and awards are no longer directly related to Restaurant, though they are owned by the same media company.
In addition to the main 1–50 ranking, the organisation awards a series of special prizes for individuals and restaurants, including the One To Watch Award, the Icon Award, the Best Female Chef Award and the Chefs' Choice Award, the latter based on votes from the fifty head chefs from the restaurants on the previous year's list. In specific regions the organisation also pre-announces a 51–100 list, showcasing more venues in the area. Often working as a barometer of global gastronomic trends, the list showcases a variety of cuisines from all over the world.
History
The World's 50 Best Restaurants
The World's 50 Best Restaurants list first appeared as a feature in the British magazine Restaurant in 2002. Shortly afterwards, an awards night was established to celebrate the release of the list. The results are published via the World's 50 Best Restaurants social media channels and on the World's 50 Best Restaurants website on the awards night.
The World's 50 Best Restaurants list is the result of a poll of over 1,000 independent experts, who each cast votes for establishments where they have enjoyed their best restaurant experiences. The World's 50 Best Restaurants Academy is gender-balanced and contains 27 regions around the world. Each region has a chairperson (Academy Chair), and that chairperson assembles 40 people (including themselves) to vote. This panel is an equal mix of leading chefs and restaurateurs in that region, food journalists and critics, and well-travelled gourmets. Under usual circumstances, at least 25% of the panellists from each region change each year.
The World's 50 Best Restaurants' voting process and results are subject to independent adjudication by Deloitte.
There are no criteria for voting. The organisation allows the 1,080 voters to make up their own minds, and collates their votes to create the list.
Since 2013, William Reed has also published regional restaurant lists Asia's 50 Best Restaurants and Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants, and launched Middle East & North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants in February 2022.
A rule introduced in 2019 disqualifies previous winners from competing. Noma qualified again in 2021 because it closed in 2016 and reopened in a new location and concept.
Best restaurants
The World's 50 Best Restaurants
El Bulli
Noma's former storefront
<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>1st</th><th>2nd</th><th>3rd</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2002</td><td>El Bulli</td><td>Gordon Ramsay</td><td>The French Laundry</td></tr><tr><td>2003</td><td>The French Laundry</td><td>El Bulli</td><td>Le Louis XV</td></tr><tr><td>2004</td><td>The French Laundry</td><td>The Fat Duck</td><td>El Bulli</td></tr><tr><td>2005</td><td>The Fat Duck</td><td>El Bulli</td><td>The French Laundry</td></tr><tr><td>2006</td><td>El Bulli</td><td>The Fat Duck</td><td>Pierre Gagnaire</td></tr><tr><td>2007</td><td>El Bulli</td><td>The Fat Duck</td><td>Pierre Gagnaire</td></tr><tr><td>2008</td><td>El Bulli</td><td>The Fat Duck</td><td>Pierre Gagnaire</td></tr><tr><td>2009</td><td>El Bulli</td><td>The Fat Duck</td><td>Noma</td></tr><tr><td>2010</td><td>Noma</td><td>El Bulli</td><td>The Fat Duck</td></tr><tr><td>2011</td><td>Noma</td><td>El Celler de Can Roca</td><td>Mugaritz</td></tr><tr><td>2012</td><td>Noma</td><td>El Celler de Can Roca</td><td>Mugaritz</td></tr><tr><td>2013</td><td>El Celler de Can Roca</td><td>Noma</td><td>Osteria Francescana</td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td>Noma</td><td>El Celler de Can Roca</td><td>Osteria Francescana</td></tr><tr><td>2015</td><td>El Celler de Can Roca</td><td>Osteria Francescana</td><td>Noma</td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>Osteria Francescana</td><td>El Celler de Can Roca</td><td>Eleven Madison Park</td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td>Eleven Madison Park</td><td>Osteria Francescana</td><td>El Celler de Can Roca</td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>Osteria Francescana</td><td>El Celler de Can Roca</td><td>Mirazur</td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>Mirazur</td><td>Noma</td><td>Asador Etxebarri</td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>Noma</td><td>Geranium</td><td>Asador Etxebarri</td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>Geranium</td><td>Central</td><td>Disfrutar</td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>Central</td><td>Disfrutar</td><td>DiverXO</td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>Disfrutar</td><td>Asador Etxebarri</td><td>Table by Bruno Verjus</td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>Maido</td><td>Asador Etxebarri</td><td>Quintonil</td></tr></tbody></table>
Best of the Best
The World's 50 Best Restaurants
In 2019, the Best of the Best category was created, a hall of fame for restaurants that have reached the pinnacle of the No.1 position in The World's 50 Best Restaurants list. With the creation of this list, No.1 winners are no longer eligible to be voted on new editions of the list.
The new iteration of Noma was eligible for The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2021 list due to three key changes from the original restaurant: its location, concept and ownership. As such, it was considered a new restaurant and eligible for the No.1 position in 2021. The previous version of Noma topped the 50 Best list on four occasions, in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014.
The following restaurants have been named No.1 in the World's 50 Best Restaurants since the list's inception and were therefore no longer eligible for voting:
• El Bulli (2002, 2006–2009) • The French Laundry (2003–2004) • The Fat Duck (2005) • Noma (2010–2012, 2014, 2021) • El Celler de Can Roca (2013, 2015) • Osteria Francescana (2016, 2018) • Eleven Madison Park (2017) • Mirazur (2019) • Geranium (2022) • Central (2023) • Disfrutar (2024) • Maido (2025)