Unveiled: The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2019

The Oscars of the gastronomy world is done and dusted, and the results are in. The World’s Best Restaurant of 2019 is three-Michelin-star Mirazur from Menton, France. The restaurant jumped two spots from No.3 last year, and also takes home the honour of being The Best Restaurant in Europe 2019. The win for Mirazur marks the first time a French restaurant has attained the top position in World’s 50 Best’s 18-year history. Situated in a stunning locale on the French side of the Riviera, the restaurant is helmed by Chef Mauro Colagreco who takes inspiration from his Argentine and Italian heritage as well as the French region for a menu that combines freshly picked produce from his backyard farm and local seafood.

The who’s who of fine dining, including Massimo Bottura of three-Michelin-star Osteria Francescana and revered chef Heston Blumenthal, gathered at Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, tonight (25 June 2019, Tuesday) at the awards ceremony that was held for the first time in Singapore.

Flying the Singapore flag high once more is Odette, which jumped to No. 18 from No. 28. The modern French restaurant helmed by Chef Julien Royer climbed to the top this year as Asia’s Best Restaurant 2019, knocking progressive Indian restaurant Gaggan off its top spot after a four-year triumph. Yet, Gaggan still emerged the winner on the global scale, bagging the 4th position on the World’s 50 Best list, and the title of Best Restaurant in Asia. Another new entry from Asia is Suhring from Bangkok, which offers a modern interpretation of German cuisine.
Other big winners in Asia include Tokyo’s Den at No.11, which also bagged the Art of Hospitality Award, and Narisawa, which maintains its position at No. 22. In China, Hong Kong’s The Chairman made its debut at No. 41 while Shanghai’s Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet fell 24 spots to No.48. New entries the world over include Copenhagen’s Noma (No.2 and the Highest New Entry), Moscow’s Twins Garden (No.19), and São Paulo’s A Casa Do Porco (No.39).

Cover story: Julien Royer, chef-owner of Odette, believes in a collaborative kitchen culture

People

Responding to previous criticisms of the list lacking inclusivity, this year marks the first time the voting Academy is gender-balanced with a 50/50 split of both men and women. This is made up of over 1,000 notable names spread across the world, which include journalists, gourmands, and chefs.

This year, the programme also honours the all-time greats over the 17-year history of the World’s 50 Best. In a statement released early this year, World’s 50 Best said: “All restaurants that have topped the annual poll of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, over its 17-year history will now ascend into this group. ” Restaurants that have clinched the No. 1 spot are no longer eligible for the annual ranking, a move that enables a broader field of restaurants to enter the global gastronomy stage.

Other award winners announced on tonight included the World’s Best Female Chef and the American Express Icon Award, which went to Daniela Soto-Innes and Jose Andres respectively. In their speeches, both Innes and Andres highlighted their desire to giving a voice to  people — Innes as a Mexican woman who fronts a diverse team, and Andres as an immigrant and humanitarian.

Here is the full list of World’s 50 Best Restaurants for 2019:

1. Mirazur (Menton, France)

2. Noma (Copenhagen, Denmark)

3. Asador Extebarrri (Atxondo, Spain)

4. Gaggan (Bangkok, Thailand)

5. Geranium (Copenhagen, Denmark)

6. Central (Lima, Peru)

7. Mugaritz (San Sebastian, Spain)

8. Arpege (Paris, France)

9. Disfrutar (Barcelona, Spain)

10. Maido (Lima, Peru)

11. Den (Tokyo, Japan)

12. Pujol (Mexico City, Mexico)

13. White Rabbit (Moscow, Russia)

14. Azurmendi (Larrabetzu, Spain)

15. Septime (Paris, France)

16. Alain Ducasse Au Plaza Athenee (Paris, France)

17. Steirereck (Vienna, Austria)

18. Odette (Singapore)

19. Twins Garden (Moscow, Russia)

20. Tickets (Barcelona, Spain)

21. Frantzen (Stockholm, Sweden)

22. Narisawa (Tokyo, Japan)

23. Cosme (New York, USA)

24. Quintonil (Mexico City, Mexico)

25. Alleno Paris Au Pavillon Ledoyen (Paris, France)

26. Borago (Santiago, Chile)

27. The Clove Club (London, UK)

28. Blue Hill at Stone Barns (New York, USA)

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 (Bueno Aires, Argentina)

35. Atelier Crenn (San Francisco, USA)

36. Le Bernardin (New York, USA)

37. Alinea (Chicago, USA)

38. Hisa Franko (Kobarid, Slovenia)

39. A Casa Do Porco (Sao 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. The Test Kitchen (Cape Town, South Africa)

45. Suhring (Bangkok, Thailand)

46. De Librije (Zwolle, Netherlands)

47. Benu (San Francisco, USA)

48. Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet (Shanghai, China)

49. Leo (Bogota, Colombia)

50. Schloss Schauenstein, (Frustend, Switzerland)