As travelers, we often have the opportunity to eat at some pretty amazing places. As a foodie, I find myself trying to visit new, unique and highly rated restaurants around the world. Each year, a list of the world’s top 50 restaurants is published by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants
This year a friend pointed out that one of the restaurants we ate at in Thailand was rated #32 in the world. That got me thinking, how many of the top 50 restaurants have I been to? Out of the 50 listed below, I have had the opportunity to eat at 9. Some of them well worth the visit, others….a bit overrated.
As with any list, I wonder how some of these are selected and why others aren’t rated as highly. Out of the 9 top 50 restaurants I’ve visited, none are my favorite restaurants I’ve ever eaten at.
How many of these have you visited? Are any your top-rated or favorites?
No.1
EL CELLER DE CAN ROCA – GIRONA, SPAIN
No.2
NOMA – COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
No.3
OSTERIA FRANCESCANA – MODENA, ITALY
No.4
MUGARITZ – SAN SEBÁSTIAN, SPAIN
No.5 – ELEVEN MADISON PARK – NEW YORK, USA
I ate at Eleven Madison Park last year. It was delicious. I can understand why it’s on the list.
No.6
D.O.M – SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL
No.7
DINNER BY HESTON BLUMENTHAL, LONDON, ENGLAND
I joined a colleague at Dinner in 2011. It’s a very, very high-priced experience, but a great treat. Be prepared to shell out a small fortune for some amazing food.
No.8
ARZAK – SAN SEBÁSTIAN, SPAIN
No.9
STEIRERECK – VIENNA, AUSTRIA
No.10
VENDÔME – BERGISCH GLADBACH, GERMANY
No.11
PER SE – NEW YORK, USA
It only took me about a year to get reservations – but man, was it worth it. Per Se lives up to its reputation. Again, not a cheap meal – in fact, very expensive – but an experience like non-other.
No.12
FRANTZÉN / LINDEBERG – STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
No.13
THE LEDBURY – LONDON, ENGLAND
No.14
ASTRID Y GASTON – LIMA, PERU
No.15
ALINEA- CHICAGO, USA
No.16
L’ARPÈGE – PARIS, FRANCE
No.17
PUJOL – MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
No.18
LE CHATEAUBRIAND – PARIS, FRANCE
No.19
LE BERNARDIN – NEW YORK, USA
Le Bernadin is probably one of my all time favorite meals. I’ve been one time and it was unreal. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend you go.
No.20
NARISAWA – TOKYO, JAPAN
No.21
ATTICA – MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
No.22
NIHNRYORI RYUGIN – TOKYO, JAPAN
No.23
L’ASTRANCE – PARIS, FRANCE
No.24
L’ATELIER SAINT-GERMAIN DE JOËL ROBUCHON – PARIS FRANCE
No.25
HOF VAN CLEVE KRUISHOUTEM, BELGIUM
No.26
QUIQUE DACOSTA – DENIA, SPAIN
No.27
LE CALANDRE – RUBANO, ITALY
No.28
MIRAZUR – MENTON, FRANCE
No.29
DANIEL – NEW YORK, USA
No.30
AQUA – WOLFSBURG, GERMANY
No.31
BIKO – MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
No.32
NAHM – BANGKOK, THAILAND
I have been to Nahm two times. Both times I was underwhelmed with the experience. The service is exceptional, but the food is not what you’d expect from a top 50 restaurant. Additionally, I’ve been his restaurants in Australia and I think the food is better there!
No.33
THE FAT DUCK – BRAY, ENGLAND
I will be there next week – I’ll update my post following the visit
No.34
FÄVIKEN – JÄRPEN, SWEDEN
No.35
OUD SLUIS – SLUIS, NETHERLANDS
No.36
AMBER – HONG KONG, CHINA
No.37
VILLA JOYA – ALBUFEIRA, PORTUGAL
No.38
RESTAURANT ANDRE – SINGAPORE
I went to restaurant Andre, and blogged about it, this past December. It was good, and the food was very creative, but the prices were outrageous.
No.39
8½ OTTO E MEZZO BOMBANA – HONG KONG, CHINA
No.40
COMBAL.ZERO – RIVOLI, ITALY
No.41
PIAZZA DUOMO – ALBA, ITALY
No.42
SCHLOSS SCHAUENSTEIN – FÜRSTENAU, SWITZERLAND
No.43
MR & MRS BUND – SHANGHAI, CHINA
No.44
ASADOR ETXEBARRI – ATXONDO, SPAIN
No.45
GERANIUM – COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
No.46
MANI – SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL
No.47
THE FRENCH LAUNDRY – YOUNTVILLE, USA
The French Laundry is a great restaurant – it certainly deserves to be on the list of top 50 and in my mind, should be a lot higher – certainly above Nahm.
No.48
QUAY – SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
I visited Quay in December 2011. My expectations were very high and yet I was not as impressed as I thought I’d be. The food was very good, but the service was terrible.
No.49
SEPTIME – PARIS, FRANCE
No.50
CENTRAL – LIMA, PERU