The ranking is based on the opinions of an academy made up of more than 1,000 international chefs, food writers, and “travelling gourmets” – which, for the first time, involved a 50-50 gender split for 2019.
Best restaurant: Mirazur
Run by Argentinian-Italian chef Mauro Colagreco, Mirazur is located in the resort town of Menton, on the French Riviera, close to the Italian border. The victory adds to a remarkable year that began with Mirazur being awarded its third Michelin star.
Colagreco and his team took to the stage at Marina Bay Sands with a banner stitched from the flags of the nations that have shaped them: France, Argentina, Italy and Brazil.
Earlier this year, World’s 50 Best Restaurants also announced that, moving forward, restaurants that have been named No. 1 on the list in the past were no longer eligible for the annual ranking and would instead enter a hall of fame.
This controversial decision means that last year’s winner, Massimo Bottura’s Osteria Francescana, isn’t even featured on this list.
The world’s 50 best restaurants
Scroll down to see the 50 best restaurants in the world in 2019, ranked:
1. Mirazur (Menton, France)
2. Noma (Copenhagen, Denmark) *Highest-ever new entry*
3. Asador Etxebarri (Axpe, Spain)
4. Gaggan (Bangkok) *best restaurant in Asia*
5. Geranium (Copenhagen, Denmark)
6. Central (Lima, Peru) *best restaurant in South America*
7. Mugaritz (San Sebastian, Spain)
8. Arpege (Paris, France) Alain Passard’s place
9. Disfrutar (Barcelona, Spain) *last year’s highest new entry*
10. Maido (Lima, Peru)
11. Den (Tokyo, Japan) *Art of Hospitality Award*
12. Pujol (Mexico City, Mexico) *Best Restaurant in North America*
13. White Rabbit (Moscow, Russia)
14. Azurmendi (Larrabetzu, Spain) *Highest Climber Award*
15. Septime (Paris, France)
16. Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée (Paris, France)
17. Steirereck (Vienna, Austria)
18. Odette (Singapore)
19. Twins Garden (Moscow, Russia) *new entry*
20. Tickets (Barcelona, Spain)
21. Frantzén (Stockholm, Sweden)
22. Narisawa (Tokyo, Japan)
23. Cosme (New York City)
24. Quintonil (Mexico City, Mexico)
25. Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen (Paris, France)
26. Boragó (Santiago, Chile)
27. The Clove Club (London, UK)
28. Blue Hill at Stone Barns (Pocantico Hills, New York)
29. Piazza Duomo (Alba, Italy)
30. Elkano (Getaria, Spain)
31. Le Calandre (Rubano, Italy)
32. Nerua (Bilbao, Spain)
33. Lyle’s (London, UK)
34. Don Julio (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
35. Atelier Crenn (San Francisco)
36. Le Bernardin (New York City)
37. Alinea (Chicago)
38. Hiša Franko (Kobarid, Slovenia)
39. A Casa do Porco (São Paulo, Brazil)
40. Restaurant Tim Raue (Berlin, Germany)
41. The Chairman (Hong Kong, China)
42. Belcanto (Lisbon, Portugal)
43. Hof van Cleve (Kruishoutem, Belgium)
44. Test Kitchen (Cape Town, South Africa) *Best restaurant in Africa*
45. Sühring (Bangkok, Thailand)
46. De Librije (Zwolle, Netherlands)
47. Benu (San Francisco)
48. Ultraviolet (Shanghai, China)
49. Leo (Bogotá, Colombia)
50. Schloss Schauenstein (Fürstenau, Switzerland)
Other notable awards on the night included: Mexican-born Daniela Soto-Innes was named World’s Best Female Chef. Spanish-American chef José Andrés won the Icon Award, in recognition of his work as founder of World Central Kitchen, a non-profit dedicated to providing meals in the wake of natural disasters.
Read more: Best restaurants in Auckland
Read more: Best restaurants in Brisbane
