By Karim Hammam
The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2026 list was unveiled during an awards ceremony in Peru, with Spain's wood-fired grill Asador Etxebarri claiming the number one position.
Asador Etxebarri, Atxondo, Spain
Chef Bittor Arguinzoniz's 18th-century stone farmhouse in the Basque Country rose from last year's runner-up to the top spot. The intimate restaurant serves a 14-course wood-fire tasting menu where every dish, including milk ice cream, is prepared on custom-made grills. Signature items include red Palamós prawns.
Gaggan, Bangkok, Thailand
Chef Gaggan Anand's progressive Indian menu secured second place, blending French, Thai, and Japanese influences in a theatrical, multi-course experience. Diners eat with their hands amid neon lights and music, and phones are banned to encourage presence.
Alchemist, Copenhagen, Denmark
Rasmus Munk's immersive restaurant took third place, guiding guests through themed rooms for dozens of "impressions" rather than traditional courses. The dome-ceilinged dining room features synchronized projections, and the menu includes unconventional ingredients such as lamb brain and jellyfish.
Quintonil, Mexico City, Mexico
The family-run restaurant led by chef Jorge Vallejo and front-of-house manager Alejandra Flores ranked fourth. Many ingredients travel just 30 meters from an urban garden to the plate, with highlights like charred avocado tartare with escamoles and Pibil duck.
Wing, Hong Kong, China
Chef-owner Vicky Cheng's fine-dining Chinese restaurant climbed to fifth from 11th last year. The tasting menu pays homage to eight great Chinese cuisines, featuring dishes such as dry-aged crispy Cantonese chicken and a fruit trolley service for dessert.
The full top 50 includes restaurants from Hong Kong, Lima, Copenhagen, Madrid, Paris, New York, Bangkok, Singapore, São Paulo, Seoul, Munich, and other global cities.
