Asador Etxebarri Crowned World’s Best Restaurant at 2026 Ceremony in Lima

The culinary world turned its eyes to South America tonight as the 50 Best Restaurants 2026 were officially announced during a glittering awards ceremony in Lima, Peru. Taking the coveted number-one spot on the global list was Asador Etxebarri, the renowned Basque Country sanctuary of

wood-fired gastronomy. Known for its mastery of smoke and flame, the Spanish institution climbed to the pinnacle of international fine dining, shifting the landscape of the upper echelons of the prestigious ranking.

Tonight’s reveal shuffled much of the top tier compared to previous years. Bangkok’s innovative tasting counter Gaggan claimed the No. 2 position, while Copenhagen’s immersive, 50-course sensory experience Alchemist landed at No. 3. Mexico City’s beloved Quintonil followed closely behind at No. 4, and Hong Kong’s refined Wing rounded out the top five at No. 5. Meanwhile, New York City’s Atomix maintained a strong presence, standing as the sole United States restaurant to break into the top 50 list.

Beyond the main rankings, a series of specialty awards honored exceptional talents across the global hospitality sector. Singapore’s Lesley Liu was awarded the Best Sommelier Award, sponsored by Vik, while the Ghana Food Movement earned the Champions of Change award, sponsored by illycaffe. Melbourne’s Yiaga was named the One to Watch, and Doris Lam received the 50 Best Restaurants Scholarship Award. In the kitchen and pastry categories, Jessica Rosval of Al Gatto Verde was honored as Best Female Chef, sponsored by Lexus, and Thailand-based Dej Kewkacha took home the title of Best Pastry Chef, sponsored by Sosa. Additionally, Atomix’s Junghyun Park received the peer-voted Estrella Damm Chefs’ Choice Award, and culinary legend Ferran Adrià was celebrated with the prestigious SevenRooms Icon Award.

The prestigious list originates from the U.K.-based media company William Reed, which launched the World’s 50 Best Restaurants rankings through Restaurant magazine in 2002. The brand gained massive international fame throughout the 2010s, with the top spot frequently claimed by legendary establishments such as Noma in Copenhagen, El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, and Osteria Francescana in Modena.

In 2019, the organization introduced a pivotal change by moving past winners into a separate "Best of the Best" hall-of-fame list. This structural shift ensured that historical champions could no longer dominate the top ranking, thereby opening the crown to a new generation of culinary destinations. Since this policy change took effect, subsequent No. 1 spots have been awarded 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 under a specific rule for establishments that had formally closed and reopened.

Over the years, the 50 Best brand has expanded its global footprint far beyond the flagship restaurant list. It now encompasses a robust portfolio of regional rankings, including Latin America’s 50 Best, Middle East and North Africa’s 50 Best, and Asia’s 50 Best, alongside parallel properties like 50 Best Bars, 50 Best Hotels, and 50 Best Wineries. Today, the entire brand rivals the global recognition and influence of long-standing institutions like the Michelin Guide, though it frequently navigates intense scrutiny and debate regarding its voting methodology and industry influence.

Critics have occasionally voiced concerns over the transparency of the awards. Earlier this year, prominent chef Ana Roš of Hiša Franko in Slovenia publicly announced she would skip the ceremony entirely—a stance that drew public praise from industry figures such as Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio.

Despite such criticisms, the organization relies on an anonymous voting panel consisting of more than 1,100 industry professionals, specialized food writers, and experienced international gourmets. To maintain freshness and geographic representation, at least 25 percent of the voting academy turns over annually. Each voter is required to nominate 10 restaurants in order of preference, casting up to six votes for establishments within their home region and at least four for those outside it. The final rankings are determined through a direct tabulation of these votes.

The organization has consistently made efforts to clarify its policies, noting that any establishment is eligible to qualify and that the definition of what makes a restaurant "best" remains entirely subjective to each voter. Furthermore, the 50 Best platform has broadened its scope to recognize various facets of modern hospitality, celebrating female leadership, sustainability practices, sommeliers, pastry arts, and community-driven initiatives through the Champions of Change accolades.

The release of the top 50 list follows the announcement of the "back half" of the rankings, positions 51 through 100, which were revealed the previous week. California’s SingleThread in Healdsburg represented the U.S. within that bracket at No. 93. Given the relatively small representation of U.S. and Canadian restaurants on the global stage—with Atomix standing alone in the top 50 for the second consecutive year—the organization launched North America’s 50 Best Restaurants in the fall of 2025. Atomix also claimed the top spot on that regional list, followed by Montreal’s Mon Lapin and Restaurant Pearl Morissette in Lincoln, Ontario.

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026:

1. Asador Etxebarri, Axpe, Spain
2. Gaggan, Bangkok, Thailand
3. Alchemist, Copenhagen, Denmark
4. Quintonil, Mexico City, Mexico (Best in Latin America)
5. Wing, Hong Kong, China
6. The Chairman, Hong Kong, China
7. Kjolle, Lima, Peru
8. Kadeau, Copenhagen, Denmark
9. DiverXO, Madrid, Spain
10. Plénitude, Paris, France
11. Atomix, New York, USA
12. Sorn, Bangkok, Thailand
13. Mérito, Lima, Peru
14. Sühring, Bangkok, Thailand
15. Odette, Singapore
16. Tuju, São Paulo, Brazil (Highest new entry)
17. Mingles, Seoul, South Korea
18. Nusara, Bangkok, Thailand
19. Jan, Munich, Germany
20. Piazza Duomo, Alba, Italy
21. Meet the Bund, Shanghai, China (New entry)
22. Boragó, Santiago, Chile
23. Vyn, Simrishamn, Sweden
24. Al Gatto Verde, Modena, Italy (New entry)
25. Lasai, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
26. Masque, Mumbai, India (New entry)
27. Reale, Castel di Sangro, Italy
28. Trèsind Studio, Dubai, U.A.E.
29. Enigma, Barcelona, Spain
30. Steirereck, Vienna, Austria
31. Celele, Cartagena, Colombia
32. Potong, Bangkok, Thailand
33. Elkano, Getaria, Spain
34. La Coquillage, Saint-Méloir-Des-Ondes, France (New entry)
35. La Colombe, Cape Town, South Africa (Re-entry)
36. Ru Yuan, Hangzhou, China (New entry)
37. Nuema, Quito, Ecuador (New entry)
38. Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler, Brunico, Italy
39. Schloss Schauenstein, Fürstenau, Germany
40. Jordnær, Copenhagen, Denmark (New entry)
41. Onjium, Seoul, South Korea (New entry)
42. Bozar, Brussels, Belgium (New entry)
43. Le Calandre, Rubano, Italy
44. Don Julio, Buenos Aires, Argentina
45. Mayta, Lima, Peru
46. El Chato, Bogotá, Colombia
47. Le Louis XV – Alain Ducasse à l’Hôtel de Paris, Monte Carlo, Monaco
48. Ikoyi, London, United Kingdom
49. Naar, Kasauli, India
50. Saint Peter, Sydney, Australia (New entry)