Spain tops the list of the 50 best restaurants in the world

European restaurants have triumphed with four of the top five spots on the annual ‘The World’s 50 Best Restaurants’ list.

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Spain tops the latest list of best restaurants in the world. The ’50 Best’ brand has published its annual list that recognizes the best gastronomy from all over the planet, and it has been a good year for Europe.

Of the top five, four are European restaurantsthree of them from different regions of Spain. In the first position, where the Danish restaurant Noma and the Spanish restaurant El Bulli, now closed, hold the record of having won five times, there is a new participant. Enjoyin Barcelonais he new champion of the list.

Located in the heart of L’Antiga Esquerra de l’Eixamplethe historic university neighborhood of Barcelona, Enjoy offers tasting menus made by Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch and Mateu Casañas. The three chefs met at the famous The Bulliwhich closed in 2011 after almost 50 years of service in the Catalan region near Roses.

Enjoy it was founded just 10 years ago, in 2014, and quickly established itself for its two elaborate 30-course tasting menus, the “classic” and the “festival.” They also offer a special chef’s table menu called “living table” for up to six diners.

The restaurant has climbed positions in recent years, remaining third in 2022 and second in 2023to finally take first place this year.

Dining at Mejorar is not cheap: the two original tasting menus currently cost 290 euros. That’s before including the wine pairing, for €160, and not to mention the “living table” option, which amounts to €1,050 if you want to try it all yourself.

But great prices, great meals. The list highlights the Thai-style cuttlefish with coconut multisphere and the squab with kombu, almond and grape spaghetti, which appear on the classic menu, before hailing the “famous and indulgent Panchino fritter stuffed with caviar and the brilliant sandwich of frozen gazpacho”.

Spain’s successes on the list do not end there. In it second place The list includes Etxebarri Grilla haute cuisine restaurant located in the Basque region of the country, near Atxondo, about 40 kilometers from Bilbao.

Far from the hustle and bustle of urban life, Asador Etxebarri offers diners the opportunity to relax in the lush mountain vegetation typical of the landscape Basque Country. Here, Víctor Arguinzoniz is the head chef and his team offers both an a la carte menu and a 14-course tasting menu that relies heavily on the grill as a specialty of the region.

Since it first entered the list in 2009, it has only dropped off once and was highlighted as third best restaurant of the world two consecutive timesin 2019 and 2021.

Arguinzoniz, who was born in the town, is a barbecue master and his grill produces some of the best meat, fish and vegetables that diners can find anywhere. It’s no surprise that the place has also consistently ranked in the top three steakhouses.

In third place is the Parisian restaurant Table by Bruno Verjus. According to the restaurant’s clever name, the dining room is made up of a long table where diners sit on stools to enjoy the two-Michelin-star cuisine of… you guessed it, Bruno Verjus.

I enter for the first time on the list he last yearplacing in the top 10 on his first appearance. It’s no small thing. What makes Table such a provocative affair is the way everything is made to order, highlighting the Colors of the Day, a daily dish that changes to follow the more seasonal herbs and vegetables on offer.

The ingredients are at Vanguard of Verjus’ work, whether it’s lobster from Île d’Yeu, white asparagus from Alsace or wild salmon from Ardour, its 400-euro daily menu lets these beautiful foods shine.

Rounding out Europe’s dominance of the Top 50 Restaurants list is DiverXO in fourth place. Located in the north of Madrid, near the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, DiverXO is run by head chef Dabiz Muñoz. With three Michelin starsMuñoz’s menu is characterized by its casual fish dishes.

He tasting menu of 450 euros features fun theatrical combinations like “Pyrenean ripened nigiri, Japanese paella, or roasted caviar with vindaloo curry and Greek yogurt.” If you go, don’t skip the wine pairing of the Best Sommelier in the World 2023, Miguel Ángel Millán.

Complete the top five positions Maidoa Japanese-Peruvian fusion restaurant located in Limethe capital of the South American country.