For chefs, restauraters and Michelin star hunters, The World’s 50 Best Restaurants is one of the biggest awards of the year for the dining industry.
The prestigious accolade was announced in Singapore, with a slew of pre-ceremony awards having already been released – including New York-based chef Daniela Soto-Innes, who was crowned The World’s Best Female Chef, while Italian restaurant Lido 84 won the Miele One To Watch Award 2019.
On June 25, Alain Passard of Arpège in Paris, was voted by his peers as the winner of the Chefs’ Choice Award and Schloss Schauenstein in Fürstenau, Switzerland, took home the coveted Sustainable Restaurant Award.
And that's a wrap! Raise your glasses (or bottles!) to everyone in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2019, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna. #Worlds50Best #Singapore @SanPellegrino pic.twitter.com/buO3vteKSl
— The World's 50 Best (@TheWorlds50Best) June 25, 2019
But what about the pick of the bunch? These are the top trio of restaurants we’ll be putting on our ‘must eat at before we die’ bucket lists…
The big three…
1. Mirazur, Menton, France
Take a tour of Mirazur, The World's Best Restaurant 2019, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna. @maurocolagreco @SanPellegrino pic.twitter.com/yHIcqAzs0R
— The World's 50 Best (@TheWorlds50Best) June 26, 2019
Perched on the French Riviera, Mirazur snagged the Best In World and Best In Europe double-whammy. In the kitchen – which has a full three Michelin stars – is Argentine chef Mauro Colagreco, who makes incredible use of his three cascading vegetable gardens.
What to order: The oyster with tapioca, shallot cream and pear, or the salt-crusted red beetroot with caviar cream.
2. Noma, Copenhagen, Denmark
A pioneer of the foraging movement and famed for defining new Danish cuisine, René Redzepi’s original Noma closed in 2017, only to reopen in a new location in 2018 – hence why it’s claimed the Highest New Entry prize. Redzepi is all about celebrating produce, cutting out fussiness and bringing pure flavours.
What to order: There are only three menus (20 courses apiece) – Seafood Season, available January 9-June 1; Vegetable Season, June 25-September 21; and Game and Forest Season, October 15- December 21. Just pick your season.
3. Asador Etxebarri, Atxondo, Spain
As seen in Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan’s The Trip To Spain, Asador Extebarri is the ultimate barbecue joint – everything is grilled over charcoal, with meticulously chosen firewood. They have very firm rules too, like: "We only offer our tasting menu," and, "We don’t have vegetarian or vegan menus."
Best of all is: "If you don’t eat seafood we suggest you think about your reservation."
What to order: There’s a choice of earth, ocean or fire – but it’s a choice for the chefs – you get what you’re given (but hope for the prawns).
The full list:
- Mirazur (Menton, France). Chef: Mauro Colagreco. Last year's rank: 3 - "Best in world and best in Europe"
- Noma (Copenhagen, Denmark). Chef: René Redzepi. Last year’s rank: N/A.
- Asador Etxebarri (Axpe, Spain). Chef: Victor Arguinzoniz. Last year’s rank: 10.
- Gaggan (Bangkok, Thailand). Chef: Gaggan Anand. Last year’s rank: 5.
- Geranium (Copenhagen, Denmark). Chef: Rasmus Kofoed. Last year’s rank: 19.
- Central (Lima, Peru) - "Best in South America"
- Mugaritz (San Sebastian, Spain)
- Arpège (Paris, France)
- Disfrutar (Barcelona, Spain)
- Maido (Lima, Peru)
- Den (Tokyo, Japan) - "Art of Hospitality award"
- Pujol (Mexico City, Mexico)
- White Rabbit (Moscow, Russia)
- Azurmendi (Larrabetzu, Spain) - "Highest climber"
- Septime (Paris, France)
- Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée (Paris, France)
- Steirereck (Vienna, Austria)
- Odette (Singapore)
- Twins Garden (Moscow, Russia).
- Tickets (Barcelona, Spain)
- Frantzén (Stockholm, Sweden).
- Narisawa (Tokyo, Japan)
- Cosme (New York City, USA)
- Quintonil (Mexico City, Mexico)
- Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen (Paris, France)
- Boragó (Santiago, Chile)
- The Clove Club (London, United Kingdom)
- Blue Hill at Stone Barns (Pocantico Hills, USA)
- Piazza Duomo (Alba, Italy)
- Elkano (Getaria, Spain). New entry
- Le Calandre (Rubano, Italy)
- Nerua (Bilbao, Spain). New entry
- Lyle’s (London, United Kingdom)
- Don Julio (Buenos Aires, Argentina). New entry
- Atelier Crenn (San Francisco, USA). New entry
- Le Bernardin (New York City, USA)
- Alinea (Chicago, USA)
- Hiša Franko (Kobarid, Slovenia)
- A Casa do Porco (São Paulo, Brazil)
- Restaurant Tim Raue (Berlin, Germany)
- The Chairman (Hong Kong). New entry
- Belcanto (Lisbon, Portugal). New entry
- Hof Van Cleve (Kruishoutem, Belgium)
- Test Kitchen (Cape Town, South Africa) - "Best in Africa"
- Sühring (Bangkok, Thailand)
- De Librije (Zwolle, Netherlands)
- Benu (San Francisco, USA)
- Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet (Shanghai, China)
- Leo (Bogotá, Colombia)
- Schloss Schauenstein (Fürstenau, Switzerland)
Best Pastry Chef: Jessica Préalpato (Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée, Paris)
Best Female Chef: Daniela Soto-Innes (Cosme, New York City)
Icon Award: José Andrés (ThinkFoodGroup, Washington D.C.)
One to Watch: Lido 84 (Gardone Riviera, Italy)
BBVA Scholarship Winner: Andersen Lee
Sustainable Restaurant Award: Schloss Schauenstein (Fürstenau, Switzerland)
Chefs’ Choice Award: Alain Passard
Highest Climber: Azurmendi (Larrabetzu, Spain)
Art of Hospitality Award: Den (Tokyo, Japan)
