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

The culinary world turned its eyes to Lima, Peru, on Tuesday evening as the highly anticipated results of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 were unveiled. Taking the ultimate crown this year is Asador Etxebarri, the renowned temple of open-fire cooking nestled in the Basque Country of Spain. The coveted top spot marks a new chapter for the establishment, shuffling the upper echelon of international gastronomy and setting a fresh benchmark for global fine dining.

The ceremony, which celebrated the pinnacle of international culinary achievement, saw significant movement across the top tiers of the list. Bangkok’s innovative tasting counter Gaggan claimed the No. 2 position, while Copenhagen’s immersive, theatrical 50-course experience, Alchemist, secured No. 3. Mexico City’s celebrated Quintonil landed 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 for the United States, coming in at No. 11 overall and standing as the sole U.S. restaurant to break into the top 50 rankings this year.

Alongside the main list, the evening honored exceptional talent across a diverse array of specialty awards. 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. Additional accolades 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’s Junghyun Park was honored by his peers with the Estrella Damm Chefs’ Choice Award, and culinary legend Ferran Adrià received the prestigious SevenRooms Icon Award.

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list has a rich and evolving history. Launched in the early 2000s by the U.K.-based media company William Reed, the first list was published in Restaurant magazine in 2002. The ranking gained massive global traction throughout the 2010s, with the top spot frequently claimed by legendary institutions such as Noma in Copenhagen, El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, and Osteria Francescana in Modena.

To prevent stagnation and give new culinary destinations a chance to shine, the organization made a pivotal structural change in 2019. Under the policy, former No. 1 restaurants are retired into a dedicated "Best of the Best" hall of fame, opening up the crown to new contenders. Since this shift, the top ranking has 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 following a high-profile closure and subsequent reopening.

Over the years, the brand has expanded far beyond its flagship global list, introducing 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. The organization has also launched dedicated lists for bars, hotels, and wineries. Today, the entire brand rivals the global influence and reputation of the Michelin Guide, though it remains a frequent subject of intense industry debate regarding its polling methodology and perennial criticisms of commercial influence.

These criticisms have occasionally spilled into the public eye. Earlier this year, prominent Slovenian chef Ana Roš of Hiša Franko announced she would skip the ceremony entirely, a protest that earned public praise from industry figures such as Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio.

Despite the controversies, the organization relies on a rigorous voting structure designed to capture a broad international perspective. The polling is conducted anonymously among more than 1,100 industry professionals, food writers, and well-traveled gourmets, with at least 25 percent of the voting body turning over annually to ensure fresh perspectives. Each voter casts a ballot for 10 restaurants in order of preference—up to six within their home region and at least four outside it—resulting in a direct tabulation of votes.

In recent years, the organization has made concerted efforts to clarify its voting and ranking policies, emphasizing that any establishment can qualify and that the definition of "best" remains entirely up to the individual voter. The 50 Best has also broadened its award categories to highlight sustainability, hospitality, and community impact, including the Champions of Change initiative, which celebrates unsung heroes driving positive change within their local food systems.

The release of the top 50 list follows last week’s unveiling of the "back half" of the rankings, covering positions 51 through 100. In that bracket, Healdsburg, California’s SingleThread represented the United States at No. 93. Recognizing the shifting geographical representation, the organization launched North America’s 50 Best Restaurants in the fall of 2025, where Atomix similarly claimed the top spot, followed by notable spots like Montreal’s Mon Lapin and Ontario’s Restaurant Pearl Morissette.

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)