The 50 best restaurants in the world for 2026 revealed

The World’s Best Restaurant this year is Asador Etxebarri, a restaurant in Atxondo, Spain, nestled in the Basque region and which has become a revered destination restaurant, known for its eye-opening grilling technique.

That’s according to The 50, which announced its 2026 list of the world’s 50 best restaurants at an awards ceremony Wednesday evening in Lima, Peru.

In his speech in Spanish after his victory, chef Bittor Arguinzoniz said the award was “a true honor” and cited as inspiration “our mothers and grandmothers,” who he said were accomplished cooks.

At number 2, according to The 50, was Gaggan, located in Bangkok.

Formerly known as 50 Best, the company awards awards to the world’s best restaurants. The list is compiled based on votes from the 50 Best Restaurants Academy, which includes more than 1,100 international restaurant industry experts, representing 28 regions around the world. The expert panel includes food writers and chefs.

Besides restaurants, The 50 also ranks the world’s best bars, hotels and wineries.

The third best restaurant in the world in 2026 was Alchemist, in Copenhagen, Denmark, cited for its “extraordinary craftsmanship” and where diners should be “prepared for a meal like nowhere else.”

Rounding out the top five were Quintonil in Mexico City, Mexico, which placed fourth, and Wing in Hong Kong, at number five, cited for being proud of its Chinese heritage and offering diners “untold stories of Chinese culinary history.”

Quintonil was also named best restaurant in Latin America.

For anyone interested in food, the awards are akin to the film industry’s Oscars (and with almost as much fanfare).

Restaurants are only eligible for the top prize once among The 50. Winners are then entered into a separate “Best of the Best” program.

The first American entry on the 2026 list was Atomix in New York, which placed eleventh. The Korean restaurant was named the best restaurant in North America, while chef Junghyun Park received the Chef’s Choice Award and was praised for providing a “window into a culture.”

Last year, the ceremony was held in Turin, Italy, where Maido de Lima won first prize.

The 50 is one of several organizations that ranks high-end restaurants. Other groups include Michelin and LaListe.

The academy says it aims to highlight not just fine dining, but truly innovative cuisine. Last year’s winner, Maido, for example, was a Peruvian restaurant run by Mitsuharu “Micha” Tsumura, a descendant of Japanese immigrants to Peru and using Japanese cooking techniques.

Four of the top five restaurants in last year’s ranking were in Spanish-speaking countries, but other restaurants honored included Piazza Duomo in Alba, Italy, and Steirereck in Vienna, Austria.

• Source: CNN
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By Salome Grouard

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Updated November 5, 2026, 6:06 a.m. ET

PUBLISHED November 5, 2026, 12:44 a.m. ET

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This year, the top five included restaurants from Asia, North America and Europe.

“For the past 25 years, we have celebrated the people and places that shape hospitality,” said Rikki Tidball, who directs The 50’s awards program, in a speech that opened the gala.