World’s No. 1 restaurant crowned as contest comes under increasing scrutiny
Asador Etxebarri in Atxondo, Spain, is the world's top restaurant, according to the 50 Best Restaurants, which announced its 2026 list.
TL;DR
- Asador Etxebarri in Atxondo, Spain, was named the world's top restaurant by The World's 50 Best Restaurants.
- Gaggan in Bangkok and Alchemist in Copenhagen took the second and third spots, respectively.
- India and Mainland China saw restaurants return to the top 50 list.
- Chef Ferran Adrià received the SevenRooms Icon Award.
- Some chefs, like Ana Roš and Dave Pynt, have expressed concerns about the increasing importance of visibility within the ranking system.
- The 50 Best organization stated that its role is to provide a snapshot of expert opinions and applies voting rules consistently.