50 Best restaurants in the world 2021 edition
Following an unavoidable hiatus last year, the World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards has returned with its list of winners.
Noma, owned by Danish chef René Redzepi, took the top spot this year. This three-Michelin-starred restaurant first opened in Copenhagen’s Christianshavn neighbourhood in 2003 and was named the World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2010.
While accepting this year’s mega prize, Redzepi spoke about his first big win 11 years ago. “In the wake of this victory, all dreams were seemingly open. It also gave us a chance to be a part — one part — of a transformation of an entire region’s food culture.”
“If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s how fragile our dreams can be, how incredibly grueling and difficult this industry can be,” he said about the hardships he had faced in his field.
In 2019, a new rule was implemented that prohibited previous winners of the top prize from reclaiming the trophy. A move that prevented Eleven Madison Park in New York, The Fat Duck near London, Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy, and the 2019 winner, Mirazur in Menton, France, from competing.
These fine-dining behemoths, however, are listed separately as the ‘Best of the Best.’
Check out the complete list of winners here:
1. Noma (Copenhagen, Denmark)
2. Geranium (Copenhagen, Denmark)
3. Asador Etxebarri (Axpe, Spain)
4. Central (Lima, Peru) *Best Restaurant in South America*
5. Disfrutar (Barcelona, Spain)
6. Frantzén (Stockholm, Sweden)
7. Maido (Lima, Peru) (up three places)
8. Odette (Singapore) *Best Restaurant in Asia*
9. Pujol (Mexico City, Mexico) *Best Restaurant in North America*
10. The Chairman (Hong Kong) *Highest Climber Award*
11. Den (Tokyo, Japan)
12. Steirereck (Vienna, Austria) *Art of Hospitality Award*
13. Don Julio (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
14. Mugaritz (San Sebastian, Spain)
15. Lido 84 (Gardone Riviera, Italy) *Highest New Entry Award*
16. Elkano (Getaria, Spain)
17. A Casa do Porco (São Paulo, Brazil)
18. Piazza Duomo (Alba, Italy)
19. Narisawa (Tokyo, Japan)
20. DiverXO (Madrid, Spain)
21. Hiša Franko (Kobarid, Slovenia)
22. Cosme (New York City)
23. Arpège (Paris, France)
24. Septime (Paris, France)
25. White Rabbit (Moscow, Russia)
26. Le Calandre (Rubano, Italy)
27. Quintonil (Mexico City, Mexico)
28. Benu (San Francisco, California)
29. Reale (Castel di Sangro, Italy)
30. Twins Garden (Moscow, Russia)
31. Restaurant Tim Raue (Berlin, Germany)
32. The Clove Club (London, UK)
33. Lyle’s (London, UK)
34. Burnt Ends (Singapore) *New entry*
35. Ultraviolet (Shanghai, China)
36. Hof van Cleve (Kruishoutem, Belgium)
37. SingleThread (Healdsburg, California)
38. Boragó (Santiago, Chile) *Sustainable Restaurant Award*
39. Florilege (Tokyo, Japan) *New entry*
40. Sühring (Bangkok, Thailand)
41. Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen (Paris, France)
42. Belcanto (Lisbon, Portugal)
43. Atomix (New York City) *New entry*
44. Le Bernardin (New York City)
45. Nobelhart & Schmutzig (Berlin, Germany) *New entry*
46. Leo (Bogotá, Colombia)
47. Maaemo (Oslo, Norway)
48. Atelier Crenn (San Francisco, California)
49. Azurmendi (Larrabetzu, Spain)
50. Wolfgat (Paternoster, South Africa) *Best restaurant in Africa*