Danish restaurant wins The World's Best title

Danish restaurant Noma has regained its title as The S.Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurant, after nine years on the list and three consecutive wins in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

The results were announced at The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards, sponsored by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, in London, last night.

Noma chef-owner René Redzepi is recognised for his highly original, sometimes visceral version of new Nordic cuisine. His food strives to reflect the Danish landscape and culture with signature dishes such as ‘Blackcurrant Berries and Roses’. His meticulous attention to detail, innovative approach to foraging and experimentation with fermentation has helped his restaurant be recognised yet again.

Spain’s El Celler de Can Roca moves to the No.2 spot, with its very own Jordi Roca winning the inaugural title of The World’s Best Pastry Chef, sponsored by Cacao Barry.

Spain has seven restaurants on the list, three of which are in the top ten. Mugaritz is now at No.6, with fellow San Sebastian establishment Arzak remaining at No.8. New entry Azurmendi from Larrabetzu, near Bilbao, debuts at No.26 and also picks up the Sustainable Restaurant Award, sponsored by Zacapa.

Italy has three restaurants on the list with Massimo Bottura’s Osteria Francescana remaining at No.3 for the second year running. For the first time the UK has two restaurants within the top ten with Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at No.5 (climbing two places) and Brett Graham’s The Ledbury at No.10 (up three spots from last year).

The Diners Club Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Fergus Henderson from St. John in London. France boasts five restaurants on the list with Mirazur moving up 17 places to No.11.

With seven restaurants on the list overall and two restaurants in the top ten, the USA matches Spain and France with the highest number of restaurants featured. Eleven Madison Park in New York moves up one spot at No.4 to claim the Best Restaurant in North America, sponsored by Acqua Panna title. Another title scooped by the USA is the One To Watch, sponsored by Dekton® by Cosentino, won by Saison, in San Francisco. Last year’s One To Watch, South Africa’s The Test Kitchen, enters the top 50 at No.48.

South America also has reason to celebrate with Helena Rizzo’s Mani rising 10 spots to No.36 and Rizzo took home the Veuve Clicquot World’s Best Female Chef Award. Alex Atala’s D.O.M in São Paulo is placed at No.7 this year to once again pick up the accolade of being named Best Restaurant in South America, sponsored by Acqua Panna. Atala also received the coveted Chefs’ Choice Award, sponsored by Gaggenau which is voted for by the chefs on the list. The Highest Climber Award, sponsored by Lavazza, goes to Central in Lima Peru, now at No.15, having climbed an impressive 35 places.

Asia now has seven restaurants in the world ranking including the Best Restaurant in Asia, sponsored by Acqua Panna; Nahm in Bangkok, Thailand, which comes in at No.13 (up 19 places). Gaggan, also in Bangkok, is ranked No.17, scooping the Highest New Entry Award, sponsored by LesConcierges.

No Middle East located restaurants made the top 50; however, Zuma Dubai and La Petite Maison have made their appearances in the top 100, at 77 and 81, respectively.

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The World's 50 Best Restaurants, sponsored by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, are announced annually at London’s Guildhall, and organised by Restaurant magazine.

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants group editor William Drew said: “It has been another exciting year for the awards and we are thrilled to have once again welcomed the world’s best chefs to London for a night of celebration within the industry. The appetite for reaching new gastronomic heights continues to grow and grow and we are honoured to play a small part in that process. It’s fantastic to witness the strength and breadth of talent that exists across all corners of the globe.”

Following is the full list of the top 50:

50. Waku Ghin Singapore
49. Coi San Francisco, USA
48. The Test Kitchen Cape Town, South Africa
47. The Fat Duck Bray, UK
46. Le Calandre Rubano, Italy
45. Hof Van Cleve Kruishoutem, Belgium
44. The French Laundry Yountville, USA
43. Schloss Schauenstein Fürstenau, Switzerland
42. Geranium Copenhagen, Denmark
41. Quique Dacosta Dénia, Spain
40. Daniel New York, USA .
39. Piazza Duomo Alba, Italy
38. L’Astrance Paris, France
37. Restaurant André Singapore
36. Mani São Paulo, Brazil
35. Martín Berasategui Lasarte-Oria, Spain.
34. Asador Etxebarri Atxondo, Spain
33. Nihonryori RyuGin Tokyo, Japan
32. Attica Melbourne, Australia
31. L’Atelier SG de Joël Robuchon Paris
30. Per Se New York, USA
29. De Librije Zwolle, Netherlands
28. Aqua Wolfsburg, Germany
27. Le Chateaubriand Paris, France
26. Azurmendi Larrabetzu, Spain
25. L’Arpège Paris, France
24. Amber Hong Kong, China
23. Restaurant Frantzén Stockholm, Sweden
22. Vila Joya Albufeira, Portugal
21. Le Bernardin New York, USA
20. Pujol Mexico City, Mexico
19. Fäviken Järpen, Sweden
18 Astrid y Gastón Lima, Peru
17. Gaggan Bangkok, Thailand
16. Steirereck Vienna, Austria
15. Central Lima, Peru
14. Narisawa Tokyo, Japan
13 Nahm Bangkok, Thailand
12. Vendôme Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
11. Mirazur Menton, France
10. The Ledbury London, UK
9. Alinea Chicago, USA
8. Arzak San Sebastián, Spain
7. D.O.M. São Paulo, Brazil
6. Mugaritz San Sebastián, Spain
5. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal London, UK
4. Eleven Madison Park New York, USA
3. Osteria Francescana Modena, Italy
2. El Celler de Can Roca Girona, Spain
1. Noma Copenhagen, Denmark