Peru’s Central in Lima has been crowned the best restaurant in the world by the independent organization World’s 50 Best. Led by chef Virgilio Martinez, Central features a dynamic tasting menu that showcases Peru’s diverse landscape with ingredients such as potatoes from the Andes mountains and sea urchin from the ocean. This marks a shift in the restaurant world’s epicenter, previously held by Copenhagen, which had claimed the top spot for the past two years with Geranium and Noma.
The No. 2 restaurant on the list is Disfrutar in Barcelona, run by chefs Oriol Castro, Mateu Casañas, and Eduard Xatruch, all alumni of the famed El Bulli. Disfrutar offers mind-bending dishes like a gazpacho “sandwich.” Lima had a strong presence on the list, with four restaurants in the top 50, including Maido at No. 6, Kjolle at No. 28, and Mayta at No. 47. Spain also celebrated with six additional spots in the top 50.
In an exclusive interview with Bloomberg, Martinez credited World’s 50 Best for building a Latin American community in recent years. He expressed his gratitude for the recognition and highlighted the importance of visibility for Central and other restaurants in the region that celebrate their culture and art. Martinez also emphasized Peru’s commitment to bioculture and biodiversity, viewing their projects as more than just a business but as a means to promote these unique aspects of the country.
Dubai also had a significant presence on this year’s list, with two restaurants making it into the top 50. Trèsind Studio, a modern Indian dining room, claimed the No. 11 spot, while Orfali Bros. Bistro, an innovative restaurant run by Syrian brothers, ranked No. 46. The attention given to Dubai’s restaurants has resulted in a 74% increase in spending by the superrich on fine dining in the Middle East.
The awards ceremony took place in Valencia, Spain, in partnership with Visit Valencia. The decision to change the location from London was not commented on by William Drew, director of content for World’s 50 Best. The organization made a significant change in 2019, ruling that past No. 1 winners are no longer eligible to win, in an effort to bring new names to the top of the list.
Copenhagen saw a decline in its presence on the list, with only one restaurant, Alchemist, ranking in the top 50 at No. 5. This marks a fading of the era of Nordic cooking that has dominated the food world for the past decade, while South America and Mexico are gaining momentum.
Paris also experienced some changes, with two high-ranking restaurants dropping in the rankings. Le Clarence fell almost 40 spots to No. 67, and Arpège dropped to No. 62 from No. 31. To balance this, Table by Bruno Verjus, an idiosyncratic restaurant, claimed the Highest New Entry Award at No. 10.
For the United States, Atomix, a Korean tasting menu spot in New York, rose to No. 8, giving them a reason to celebrate. The U.K. also had a good showing this year, with three spots in the top 50. Alongside Ikoyi and Clove Club from last year, the unconventional Mexican restaurant Kol jumped to No. 23 from No. 73.
Dedicated awards were also presented during the ceremony. Elena Reygadas of Rosetta in Mexico City received the Best Female Chef award, while New York’s Tatiana, from Kwame Onwuachi, was given the Resy One to Watch award.
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list is compiled annually by votes from 1,080 industry experts. The rankings represent 27 regions around the world, with each region having 40 voters. The list is published by the U.K.-based company William Reed Business Media, and this year marked its 21st anniversary.
This year’s list showcased the global diversity of the culinary world, with restaurants from Peru, Spain, the United States, and other countries taking top honors. The recognition of Central as the best restaurant in the world highlights the growing influence of Latin American cuisine and the importance of celebrating diverse food cultures.
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