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The World’s 50 Best Restaurant list, a perennially problematic, would-be reformist index of high-end global dining has announced that the “best restaurant in the world” is Mirazur, in Menton on the Cote d’Azur, following a drawn-out run down, live in Singapore. It is the first time a French restaurant has won the prized accolade in its 18 year history.
Two London restaurants are among the top 50, after the new, longer long list of 51 — 120 “best restaurants in the world,” was released last week, with four London restaurants making the cut.
The highest placed London restaurant is The Clove Club. Isaac McHale, Daniel Willis, and Johnny Smith’s Michelin-starred Shoreditch restaurant, which last year fell seven places — from number 26 to 33 — has risen back up the 2019 list to number 27.
Willis told Eater this evening that he and the team was just happy to be there and wasn’t worried about where the restaurant placed. “We said to our team earlier today that no matter where we came, we wanted them to be proud of our achievements this year but at the same time to be recognised with all the best restaurants in the world, whatever place we came, is an amazing achievement,” he said.
Asked if he felt there was a shift in tone at this year’s ceremony, an event that has been criticised for an overly navel-gazey, fraternal feel in years past, Willis added: “It very much felt like this year the 50 best changed and moved forward in a progressive way. There are many perspectives on the best of the best list [the disqualification of previous number 1 restaurants] but personally I am just very happy for Mauro [Colagreco] and the whole team at Mirazur and welcome the change of the gender balance to the list of voters.”
Chef James Lowe and front-of-house John Ogier’s Lyle’s, also in Shoreditch, and also Michelin-starred, was 2018’s only London restaurant to place on the top 50 as a new entry. It’s in at number 33, up from 38 last year. The host, Annabel Crabb, announced that Lowe’s aim is “to give British food a contemporary identity.”
James Lowe told Eater “So thrilled for the team — it’s remarkable and incredibly humbling that people continue to visit the restaurant and continue to vote for us. I hope someone is looking after John [Ogier] out in Singapore — would be nice if he comes back in one piece for the opening at Flor [Lyle’s soon-to-open new bakery]!”
Ogier, in Singapore, told Eater: “All fucking good here. Very happy.”
Here’s the full list. For further reaction and analysis, head to Eater.com.
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)
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)