South America is in the spotlight as Central in Lima, Peru, is named the world’s best restaurant 2023 at the World’s 50 Best restaurant awards held last night in Valencia, Spain.
Food city Bangkok wasn’t left with Asia’s No.1 Le Du being Asia’s highest new entry at No.15, closely followed by new entry Gaggan Anand at No.17.
The awards ceremony, held at Les Arts Opera House, honours the pinnacle of gastronomic talent from 24 territories across five continents. Odette in Singapore is the best restaurant in Asia at No.14, with executive chef Julien Royer also receiving the Chefs' Choice Award. The other new Asian entry on the World’s 50 Best list was Sézanne in Tokyo at No.37. Other Asian restaurants include Tokyo’s Den is No.21 and Florilège No. 27, and Hong Kong’s The Chairman at No.50.
Central, the flagship Lima restaurant of chefs Virgilio Martinez and Pía León, was also named the best restaurant in South America. Central is an ode to Peru, with a menu that celebrates the biodiversity of the country’s indigenous ingredients — guided by its research arm, Mater Iniciativa — along with its traditions and history, whilst championing sustainability. It is followed by Disfrutar (No.2) in Barcelona and Diverxo (No.3) in Madrid.
South America further strengthens its position in global gastronomy, with the continent boasting nine restaurants, including two new entries: Pía León’s Kjolle (No.28) in Lima and El Chato (No.33) in Bogotá. Two Dubai restaurants make the list for the first time, with Trèsind Studio (No.11) named the best restaurant in Middle East & Africa, ahead of Orfali Bros Bistro (No.46).
The Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award went to Copenhagen’s Alchemist (No.5). Pía Salazar of Nuema, Quito, Ecuador, is the recipient of The World's Best Pastry Chef Award. The Cuenca-born chef is helping put Ecuador on the culinary map with her experimental creations, turning fruit and vegetables into sweet masterpieces, like coconut with umami-rich yeast and black garlic, or leek and vanilla with cedrón, a herb resembling lemon verbena.
The World's Best Sommelier Award is presented to Miguel Ángel Millán, sommelier of Madrid’s Diverxo. The winner of the Highest New Entry Award is Table by Bruno Verjus (No.10). Atomix (No.8) is awarded the Highest Climber Award and named the best restaurant in North America. The Sustainable Restaurant Award went to Cape Town’s Fyn (No.75). Other awards given out were to the Champions of Change winners Nora Fitzgerald Belahcen, founder of Moroccan social enterprise
Amal, and Othón Nolasco and Damián Diaz, the duo behind food-security project No Us Without You LA. Elena Reygadas is the The World’s Best Female Chef, Andoni Luis Aduriz of Mugaritz is the winner of the Icon Award, and New York restaurant Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi won the One To Watch Award.
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards 2023, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, marks the 21st year of the global gastronomic ranking. Visit theworlds50best.com.
