Sure, the reveal event of iPhone 13, the launch of Instagram Reels and Covid-19 vaccine rollout undeniably got us thrilled with joy but as food aficionados, nothing got us more excited this year than the announcement of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2021 revealed on October 5, 2021.
For many, the prestigious list is pretty much an equivalent of the Emmy Awards for the culinary world, featuring star-studded restaurants from 26 countries. With almost two years battling with dine-in ban and challenges caused by the pandemic, the release of this year’s list is a rain of hope for better days and an emblem for resilience and strength of the F&B family throughout these tough times.
As always, the annual list is full of scrumptious surprises. For the first time ever, one city ranked both #1 and #2 on the list; Noma by world-renowned chef, René Redzepi without a doubt topped the first place with its trailblazing New Nordic cuisine followed by Geranium by Chef Rasmus Kofoed with ingenious Scandinavian cuisine, both from Copenhagen, Denmark – the new top culinary destination. Watch out Paris and Bologna, Copenhagen is coming in hot – and delicious.
Our beloved Central by husband-wife team, Chefs Virgilio Martínez and Pía León (also The World’s Best Female Chef 2021) from Lima, Peru, to our delight, still secures an esteemed spot on the top ten since 2015 (#6 on 2018, 2019 and #5 in 2017, etc.).
Back to Asia, Odette from Singapore made the top ranking at #8 and The Chairman from Hong Kong at #10. Sühring from Thailand also came in at #40.
Without further ado as we believe excitement has been built up at this point, here’s a full list of the winners for World’s 50 Best Restaurants for 2021 to help you plan your culinary itinerary until next year’s announcement.
No.1 Noma (Copenhagen, Denmark)
No.2. Geranium (Copenhagen, Denmark)
No.3 Asador Etxebarri (Atxondo, Spain)
No.4 Central (Lima, Peru)
No.5 Disfrutar (Barcelona, Spain)
No.6 Frantzén (Stockholm, Sweden)
No.7 Maido (Lima, Peru)
No.8. Odette (Singapore)
No.9 Pujol (Mexico City, Mexico)
No.10 The Chairman (Hong Kong, China)
No.11 Den (Tokyo, Japan)
No.12 Steirereck (Vienna, Austria)
No.13 Don Julio (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
No.14 Mugaritz (San Sebastian, Spain)
No.15 Lido 84 (Gardone Riviera, Italy)
No.16. Elkano (Getaria, Spain)
No.17. A Casa do Porco (São Paulo, Brazil)
No.18. Piazza Duomo (Alba, Italy)
No.19. Narisawa (Tokyo, Japan)
No.20. Diverxo (Madrid, Spain)
No.21. Hiša Franko (Kobarid, Slovenia)
No.22. Cosme (New York City, USA)
No.23. Arpège (Paris, France)
No.24. Septime (Paris, France)
No.25. White Rabbit (Moscow, Russia)
No.26. Le Calandre (Rubano, Italy)
No.27. Quintonil (Mexico City, Mexico)
No.28. Benu (San Francisco, USA)
No.29. Reale (Castel di Sangre, Italy)
No.30. Twins Garden (Moscow, Russia)
No.31. Restaurant Tim Raue (Berlin, Germany)
No.32. The Clove Club (London, UK)
No.33. Lyle’s (London, UK)
No.34. Burnt Ends (Singapore)
No.35. Ultraviolet (Shanghai, China)
No.36. Hof Van Cleve (Belgium)
No.37. SingleThread (Healdsburg, USA)
No.38. Borago (Santiago, Chile)
No.39. Florilège (Tokyo, Japan)
No.40. Suhring (Bangkok, Thailand)
No.41. Alléno (Paris, France)
No.42. Belcanto (Lisbon, Portugal)
No.43. Atomix (New York City, USA)
No.44. Le Bernardin (New York City, USA)
No.45. Nobelhart & Schmutzig (Berlin, Germany)
No.46. Leo (Bogotá, Colombia)
No.47. Maaemo (Oslo, Norway)
No.48. Atelier Crenn (San Francisco, USA)
No.49. Azurmendi (Larrabetzu, Spain)
No.50. Wolfgat (Paternoster, South Africa)