The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2021 - the complete list

Gavin Hanly 05 October 2021

The World's 50 Best Restaurant list is the restaurant world's nearest equivalent to the Oscars. Every year hundreds of restaurant experts - all 'well-travelled restaurant commentators, chefs or restaurateurs’ vote for their favourite restaurants. We take a closer look at the top ten restaurants from the 2021 World's list to find out what's so great about them, as well as the full rundown from 1-100.

World's 50 best restaurants 2021: The top 10

1 - Noma

Where in the world? Copenhagen, Denmark

What's so great about it? Having previously topped the list four times, Noma has done it again. It's probably the restaurant most associated with the World's 50 Best and is certainly the one that, when it first nabbed the spot in 2010, brought both the list and restaurant global fame. Having closed the original Noma down and reopened just by the edge of Christiania, René Redzepi and his team created a new space and approach (which means that, unlike other no 1 restaurants, they got another go at the top spot). Menus change according to the season - focusing on seafood in winter and spring, game and forest produce from October to December and then purely vegetarian and vegan during the summer.

How much: Evening meal from £320 without wine, Lunch £469 with juice, £561 with wine

For more info: Noma website

2 - Geranium

Where in the world? Copenhagen, Denmark

What's so great about it? This three Michelin star restaurant in Copenhagen is from Rasmus Kofoed, with a new take on Scandinavian cooking. Plus there are some stunning views.

How much: Dinner menu from £320 (three hours), Lunch £320 or £206 for the 2-hour version

For more info: Geranium website

3 - Asador Extebarri

Where in the world? Atxondo, Spain

What's so great about it? Located between Bilbao and Spanish food mecca San Sebastian, this is wood-fired barbecue like you've never had it before. Its chef Victor Arguinzoniz is a local and his kitchen is all built by himself. Victor has his own buffalo grazing nearby and serves up produce from his garden too. Victor also picked up the Chef's Choice Award at this year's ceremony.

How much: A booking is €209 (taken off the total bill)

For more info: Asador Extebarri website

6 - Central

Where in the world? Lima, Peru

What's so great about it? Chef Virgilio Martinez - who also owns Lima in London - is all about discovering and championing local ingredients, whether from the lower Andes or the coastline of Peru. Each dish on the menu features the altitude its key ingredient can be found. How about Valley of the Trees, featuring carob, avocado and cactus from 230m? Central has also taken the top slot in Latin America's 50 Best Restaurant list.

How much: Various menus, from around £85 per person

For more info: Central website

5 - Disfrutar, Barcelona

Where in the world? Barcelona, Spain

What's so great about it? Founders Mateu Casañas, Oriol Castro and Eduard Xatruch all met whilst working at elBulli. Here in their restaurant in the heart of Barcelona, they're all about the element of surprise, so you won't see a menu before you arrive. It's molecular gastronomy, but where taste hasn't been sacrificed at the alter of 'just because we can'.

How much: From €165 for the classic tasting menu

For more info: Disfrutar website

6 - Frantzen

Where in the world? Stockholm, Sweden

What's so great about it? Since moving into its new digs, Bjorn Frantzen's restaurant has been wowing diners, giving them a wholly immersive experience. Roam your way through the restaurant's floors as you progress through your meal. If you're gazing from afar you can torment yourself on their Instagram feed goggling at dishes like roasted guinea fowl with sea urchin hot sauce, finger lime, chrysanthemums, pine shoots and ikura on offer.⠀

How much: The tasting menu is about £320

For more info: The Frantzen website

7 - Maido

Where in the world? Lima, Peru

What's so great about it? Maido in Lima is a Nikkei restaurant serving up a fusion of Peruvian and Japanese food. Chef Mitsuharu Tsumura from Lima trained up first in America and then Japan. Expect dishes like dulce de leche churros with cinnamon ice cream and the 50-hour wagyu shortrib is not to be missed.

How much: From around £75 (£65 for vegetarian)

For more info: Maido website

8 - Odette

Where in the world? Singapore

What's so great about it? French chef Julien Royer has been cooking up a storm at this restaurant in Singapore's National Gallery - winning a slew of awards before securing this top 10 position. Londoners might recognise the GM Steven Mason from his stint at The Ledbury. It serves modern French food inspired by Royer's years in Asia.

How much: Lunch from about £130, dinner from about £190

For more info: The Odette website

9 - Pujol

Where in the world? Mexico City

What's so great about it? Enrique Olvera's Mexico City restaurant propelled him to fame before he opened his NYC places Cosme and Atla. Here he celebrates rustic Mexican cuisine but through his own contemporary lens. Make sure to have the 1500 day aged mole.

How much: Average cost about £90 a head

For more info: The Pujol website

10 - The Chairman

Where in the world? Hong Kong, China

What's so great about it? What do you get when you mix traditional Cantonese techniques and traditions with a modern ingredient-driven approach to cooking? The huge success that is Danny Yip's The Chairman. Good luck getting a reservation - but if you do, be sure to order the Shaoxing wine-doused flower crab.

How much: A la carte prices, a set dinner for four is about £80 a head.

For more info: The Chairman website

World's 50 best restaurants 2021: 11 - 50

UK entries are in bold below:

11 - Den, Tokyo
12 - Steirereck, Vienna, Austria
13 - Don Julio Buenos Aires, Argentina
14 - Mugaritz, San Sebastián, Spain
15 - Lido 84, Gardeone Riviera, Italy
16 - Elkano, Getaria, Spain
17 - A Casa do Porco São Paulo, Brazil
18 - Piazza Duomo, Alba, Italy
19 - Narisawa, Tokyo
20 - Diverxo, Madrid
21 - Hisa Franko, Slovenia
22 - Cosme, New York
23 - Arpege, Paris, France
24 - Septime, Paris
25 - White Rabbit, Moscow
26 - Le Calandre, Rubano, Italy
27 - Quintonil, Mexico City
28 - Benu, San Francisco, USA
29 - Reale, Italy
30 - Twins Garden, Moscow, Russia
31 - Restaurant Tim Raue, Berlin
32 - The Clove Club, London
33 - Lyles, London
34 - Burnt Ends, Singapore
35 - Ultraviolet, Shanghai, China
36 - Hof Van Cleve Kruishoutem, Belgium
37 - Singlethread, USA
38 - Boragó, Santiago, Chile
39 - Florilege, Tokyo, Japan
40 - Sühring, Bangkok, Thailand
41 - Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen, Paris, France
42 - Belcanto, Lisbon, Portugal
43 - Atomix, New York, USA
44 - Le Bernardin, New York, USA
45 - Nobelhart and Schmutzig, Berlin, Germany
46 - Leo, Bogotá, Colombia
47 - Maaemo, Oslo, Norway
48 - Atelier Crenn - San Francisco, USA
49 - Azurmendi, Larrabetzu, Spain
50 - Wolfgat, Paternoster, South Africa

World's 50 best restaurants 2021: 51 - 100

UK entries in the top 51 - 120 are in bold below:

51. Nihonryori RyuGin, Tokyo, Japan
52. Uliassi, Senegallia, Italy
53. Nerua, Bilbao, Spain
54. St. Hubertus. San Cassiano, Italy
55. Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare, New York, USA
56. Sud 777, Mexico City, Mexico
57. Brae, Birregurra, Australia
58. Alchemist, Copenhagen, Switzerland
59. Schloss Schauenstein, Fürstenau, Switzerland
60. Mikla, Istanbul, Turkey
61. D.O.M., Sao Paolo, Brazil
62. Mingles, Seoul, South Korea
63. Sorn, Bangkok, Thailand
64. Core, London, UK
65. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, London, UK
66. The Jane, Antwerp, Belgium
67. Oteque, Rio de Janiero, Brazil
68. Alcalde, Guadalajara, Mexico
69. De Librije, Zwolle, Netherlands
70. Alinea, Chicago, USA
71. Vea, Hong Kong
72. Le Du, Bangkok, Thailand
73. Il Ristorante Luca Fantin, Tokyo, Japan
74. Quique Dacosta, Denia, Spain
75. Sazenka Tokyo, Japan
76. La Cime, Tokyo, Japan
77. Willem Hiele, Koksidje, Belgium
78. Brat, London, UK
79. Aponiente, El Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain
80. El Chato, Bogota, Colombia
81. La Colombe, Cape Town, South Africa
82. Indian Accent, New Delhi, India
83. Epicure, Paris, France
84. Le Clarence, Paris, France
85. Lasai, Rio de Janiero, Brazil
86. Restaurant David Toutain, Paris, France
87. Ikoyi, London, UK (One to Watch)
88. Belon, Hong Kong, China
89. Amass, Copenhagen, Denmark
90. Mil, Cusco, Peru
91 La Grenouillère, La Madelaine-Sous-Montreuil, France
92. Fyn, Cape Town, South Africa
93. Gaa, Bangkok, Thailand
94. Arzak, San Sebastian, Spain
95. Kjolle, Lima, Peru
96. Astrid y Gaston, Lima, Peru
97. Attica, Melbourne, Australia
98. Alo, Toronto, Canada
99. L’Effervescence, Tokyo, Japan
100. Amber, Hong Kong

Special awards

One to watch - Ikoyi (London)
Art of hospitality - Steirereck
Best chef - Victor Arguinzoniz of Asador Etxebarri
Best sustainable restaurant - Borago, Santiago, Chile
Best pastry chef - Will Goldfarb, Room4dessert
Icon Award - Dominique Cren, Atelier Crenn, Petit Crenn and Bar Crenn, USA
Best female chef - Pía León Kjolle, Central and Mil, Peru
Champions of Change - Kurt Evans (USA), Viviana Varese (Italy), Deepanker Khosla (Thailand)

The Best of the Best (hall of fame)

Now that previous chart-toppers aren't allowed to win the top spot again (Noma excepted because it's a new restaurant) they move into this list: