The culinary world turned its eyes to South America tonight as the 2026 World’s 50 Best Restaurants list was announced at a high-profile gala ceremony in Lima, Peru. Marking a major shift at the pinnacle of global gastronomy, the celebrated Basque Country sanctuary Asador Etxebarri was crowned with the coveted number one spot, claiming the new top ranking on the prestigious list.
Tonight’s announcement reshuffled much of the upper echelon of the global rankings. Bangkok’s progressive tasting counter Gaggan claimed the No. 2 position, while Copenhagen’s immersive and theatrical 50-course dining experience, Alchemist, landed at No. 3. Mexico City’s beloved Quintonil was awarded the No. 4 spot, earning the distinction of highest-ranked restaurant in Latin America, and Hong Kong’s innovative Wing rounded out the top five at No. 5. Meanwhile, New York City’s Atomix maintained a strong international presence, coming in at No. 11 and standing as the sole U.S. restaurant to break into the top 50 list this year.
Alongside the primary restaurant rankings, the ceremony distributed a series of specialty awards honoring distinct talents across the global hospitality sector. Singapore’s Lesley Liu was honored with the Best Sommelier Award, sponsored by Vik. The Ghana Food Movement received the Champions of Change award, sponsored by illycaffe, for its community-driven impact. Melbourne’s Yiaga was named the One to Watch, and the 50 Best Restaurants Scholarship Award was presented to Doris Lam.
Additional individual honors included Jessica Rosval of Al Gatto Verde being named Best Female Chef, sponsored by Lexus, and Thailand-based Dej Kewkacha taking home the Best Pastry Chef award, sponsored by Sosa. Atomix co-owner Junghyun Park was recognized by his peers with the Estrella Damm Chefs’ Choice Award, while legendary Spanish chef Ferran Adrià was bestowed with the prestigious SevenRooms Icon Award in recognition of his enduring influence on modern gastronomy.
The Evolution and Legacy of the 50 Best Rankings
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants franchise was established in the early 2000s by the U.K.-based media company William Reed, which published the inaugural list in Restaurant magazine in 2002. The awards gained immense global fame throughout the 2010s, with the top spot frequently occupied by culinary legends such as Noma in Copenhagen, El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain, and Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy.
In 2019, the organization introduced a structural change to keep the competition dynamic, moving past winners into a separate "Best of the Best" hall of fame. This policy change successfully opened the door for new destinations to claim the ultimate crown. Following the update, subsequent top rankings have gone to Geranium in Copenhagen in 2022, Central in Lima in 2023, Disfrutar in Spain in 2024, and Maido in Lima in 2025. Noma notably qualified as a winner once more in 2021 after temporarily closing and reopening its operations under a new model.
Over the years, the brand has expanded its portfolio significantly, introducing regional editions such as Latin America’s 50 Best, Middle East and North Africa’s 50 Best, and Asia’s 50 Best, alongside specialized lists for bars, hotels, and wineries. Today, the entire brand rivals the global recognition and influence of the Michelin Guide. However, as the original pioneer of global restaurant listicles, the World’s 50 Best has continually attracted intense scrutiny and debate regarding its voting methodology and accusations of political lobbying or "pay-to-play" dynamics. These ongoing controversies led prominent figures like chef Ana Roš of Hiša Franko in Slovenia to publicly announce she would not attend this year’s ceremony—a boycott that drew public praise from industry figures including Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio.
Voting Methodology and Global Reach
The rankings are compiled through a strictly structured polling system managed anonymously by more than 1,100 voters worldwide. This voting body comprises an equal mix of culinary industry professionals, specialized food writers, and experienced global gourmets. To maintain freshness and reduce bias, at least 25 percent of the voting panel turns over every year. Each participant is required to cast votes for 10 restaurants in order of preference, allocating up to six choices within their home region and at least four to establishments outside of it. The final list represents a direct tabulation of those individual preferences.
In response to past criticisms, the organization has taken steps to clarify its voting policies, emphasizing that any establishment is eligible for consideration and that the definition of what makes a restaurant "best" remains entirely subjective to the individual voter. The 50 Best has also broadened its award criteria to recognize broader industry values, celebrating diversity, inclusivity, sustainability, hospitality, and community leadership through initiatives like the Champions of Change awards.
Prior to tonight’s main event, the organization revealed the "back half" of the global list, covering positions 51 through 100. Healdsburg, California’s SingleThread represented the United States in that bracket, landing at No. 93. The relative scarcity of U.S. and Canadian entries on the global countdown prompted the organization to launch North America’s 50 Best Restaurants in the fall of 2025, where Atomix similarly claimed the top regional honor ahead of Canadian contenders like Montreal’s Mon Lapin and Ontario’s Restaurant Pearl Morissette.
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026:
- Asador Etxebarri, Axpe, Spain
- Gaggan, Bangkok, Thailand
- Alchemist, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Quintonil, Mexico City, Mexico
- Wing, Hong Kong, China
- The Chairman, Hong Kong, China
- Kjolle, Lima, Peru
- Kadeau, Copenhagen, Denmark
- DiverXO, Madrid, Spain
- Plénitude, Paris, France
- Atomix, New York, USA
- Sorn, Bangkok, Thailand
- Mérito, Lima, Peru
- Sühring, Bangkok, Thailand
- Odette, Singapore
- Tuju, São Paulo, Brazil
- Mingles, Seoul, South Korea
- Nusara, Bangkok, Thailand
- Jan, Munich, Germany
- Piazza Duomo, Alba, Italy
- Meet the Bund, Shanghai, China
- Boragó, Santiago, Chile
- Vyn, Simrishamn, Sweden
- Al Gatto Verde, Modena, Italy
- Lasai, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Masque, Mumbai, India
- Reale, Castel di Sangro, Italy
- Trèsind Studio, Dubai, U.A.E.
- Enigma, Barcelona, Spain
- Steirereck, Vienna, Austria
- Celele, Cartagena, Colombia
- Potong, Bangkok, Thailand
- Elkano, Getaria, Spain
- La Coquillage, Saint-Méloir-Des-Ondes, France
- La Colombe, Cape Town, South Africa
- Ru Yuan, Hangzhou, China
- Nuema, Quito, Ecuador
- Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler, Brunico, Italy
- Schloss Schauenstein, Fürstenau, Germany
- Jordnær, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Onjium, Seoul, South Korea
- Bozar, Brussels, Belgium
- Le Calandre, Rubano, Italy
- Don Julio, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Mayta, Lima, Peru
- El Chato, Bogotá, Colombia
- Le Louis XV – Alain Ducasse à l’Hôtel de Paris, Monte Carlo, Monaco
- Ikoyi, London, United Kingdom
- Naar, Kasauli, India
- Saint Peter, Sydney, Australia