World’s 50 Best Restaurants – 2019 Edition

World 50 best are out and there is so much to discuss!!! first up the lists (with links to my visits to those restaurants, and below my thoughts, which are a lot! Also, the 51-120 list, the concept of the Best of he Best and my thoughts on those.

The top 50

1. Mirazur (Menton, France)
2. Noma (Copenhagen, Denmark)
3. Asador Etxebarri (Atxondo, Spain)
4. Gaggan (Bangkok, Thailand)
5. Geranium (Copenhagen, Denmark)
6. Central (Lima, Peru)
7. Mugaritz (San Sebastian, Spain)
8. Arpège (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 Athénée (Paris, France)
17. Steirereck (Vienna, Austria)
18. Odette (Singapore)
19. Twins Garden (Moscow, Russia)
20. Tickets (Barcelona, Spain)
21. Frantzén (Stockholm, Sweden)
22. Narisawa (Tokyo, Japan)
23. Cosme (New York City, USA)
24. Quintonil (Mexico City, Mexico)
25. Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen (Paris, France)
26. Boragó (Santiago, Chile)
27. The Clove Club (London, United Kingdom)
28. Blue Hill at Stone Barns (Pocantico Hills, USA)
29. Piazza Duomo (Alba, Italy)
30. Elkano (Getaria, Spain)
31. Le Calandre (Rubano, Italy)
32. Nerua (Bilbao, Spain)
33. Lyle’s (London, United Kingdom)
34. Don Julio (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
35. Atelier Crenn (San Francisco, USA)
36. Le Bernardin (New York City, USA)
37. Alinea (Chicago, USA)
38. Hiša Franko (Kobarid, Slovenia)
39. A Casa do Porco (São Paulo, Brazil)
40. Restaurant Tim Raue (Berlin, Germany)
41. The Chairman (Hong Kong)
42. Belcanto (Lisbon, Portugal)
43. Hof Van Cleve (Kruishoutem, Belgium)
44. Test Kitchen (Cape Town, South Africa)
45. Sühring (Bangkok, Thailand)
46. De Librije (Zwolle, Netherlands)
47. Benu (San Francisco, USA)
48. Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet (Shanghai, China)
49. Leo (Bogotá, Colombia)
50. Schloss Schauenstein (Fürstenau, Switzerland)

Other awards

Best Pastry Chef: Jessica Préalpato (Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée, Paris)
Best Female Chef: Daniela Soto-Innes (Cosme, New York City)
Icon Award: José Andrés (ThinkFoodGroup, Washington D.C.)
One to Watch: Lido 84 (Gardone Riviera, Italy)
BBVA Scholarship Winner: Andersen Lee
Sustainable Restaurant Award: Schloss Schauenstein (Fürstenau, Switzerland)
Chefs’ Choice Award: Alain Passard
Highest Climber: Azurmendi (Larrabetzu, Spain)
Art of Hospitality Award: Den (Tokyo, Japan)

Best of the Best: Starting this year, the old top 1 are out on contention and now are part of the Best of the Best. Although a great way to get new restaurants on the list and clear up the usual suspects, it will reduce its notoriety and also will not let us know whether they are still on top of the game or not.

El bulli
French Laundry
Noma (old version)
The Fat Duck
El cellar de Can Roca
OSteria Francescana
Eleven Madison Park

Thoughts

I think a lot of my thoughts relate to the top list compared to the 51-120 list. so I will go in between

As a Colombian, and a woman, i couldnt be happier for Leo to be on the top 50 list. but is it deserved? for me not really when you have Chefs Table, Momofuku ko, Indian Accent, Mani and Saison below, all restaurants which i enjoyed more.
I do not understand the love for Sud 777. I found it to be an ok restaurant, nothing amazing and yet it is above some amazing restaurants, and 3 michelin star ones?
Diverxo and Saison should be Higher, no doubt about that.
Very happy that L’astrance went way down, I had a terrible experience there.
And Very pleased that La Colombe is still on the list, even if it is 114, such an experience was had there.
I love Cosme, I am obsessed with Cosme and love how high it is. It might be a bit too high, given that Pujol was already represented for Enrique Olvera, but its a solid restaurant (Alinea for example could be higher). I also find it funny that the no. 1 restaurant in the USA is a Mexican restaurant
Don Julio is amazing and deserves all the awards!
Lyle’s was a bit of a let down for me, so i am surprised its so high up. I had much better experiences at lower restaurants on the list.

The 51-120 list