The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025: Who takes the top spot - and how does Europe fare?

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants has announced this year’s recipients of ‘The World’s Best Restaurant’ - one of the world’s most prestigious food awards.

The awards ceremony took place last night in Turin, Italy, where the crowd gathered to celebrate the top restaurants and chefs for 2025. A panel of more than 1,000 experts, split into 27 regions around the world, came together to decide on the final ranking.

So, what is the World’s Best Restaurant this year?

The accolade went to Maido in Lima, Peru – which was placed at number 5 in the 2024 awards and now unseats last year’s winner , Disfrutar in Barcelona, Spain, to the top spot.

Maido’s Lima-born chef Mitsuharu Tsumura cooks a fusion of Latin American and Japanese flavours, and said: “We talk a lot about sustainability of the environment, but we rarely talk about human sustainability. I think this industry can be an example of how we can bring people together with the power of food.”

Every year, the panel awards special prizes to chefs, front-of-house staff, and activists who are leading the charge in hospitality in 2025.

This year's special awards went to the Best Female Chef, Pichaya 'Pam' Soontornyanakij of Potong, Bangkok and Mindy Woods in Byron Bay, winner of the Champions of Change 2025 award.

The World's Best Pastry Chef award went to Parisian chef Maxime Frederic, while the Estrella Damm Chefs' Choice Award went to Alberta Adrià, head chef of Enigma in Barcelona.

The highest-ranking restaurants on each continent were given a special mention.

Maido, as the best restaurant in the world, takes care of South America. Incidentally, Peru was well represented in the Top 50 list, as three other Lima-based establishments joined Maido: Kjolle (9); Mérito (26); Mayta (39).

Tresind Studio in Dubai (ranked number 27 in this year's awards) was named the best restaurant in the Middle East. The best restaurant in Asia is Gaggan in Bangkok, at number 6, while the best restaurant in North America is Quintonil in Mexico City (number 3).

The best restaurant in Europe is Asador Etxebarri in Spain (number 2 this year and last year). Spain also has DiverXO in Madrid in the global Top 5, retaining its number 4 spot.

Elsewhere in the Top 20, Denmark’s Alchemist (Copenhagen) ranks number 5 and climbs three spots compared to last year;  France’s Paris-based Table by Bruno Verjus drops to number 8 from its number 3 ranking in 2024, and Plénitude (also in Paris) has the 14th spot this year, up four compared to last year; and the UK’s Ikoyi, which was ranked 42nd in 2024, jumps up to number 15.

Italy is the European country with the most restaurants in 2025’s Top 20 list, with Lido 84 in Lake Garda, Reale in Castel di Sangro and Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler in Brunico all ranking 16th, 18th and 20th respectively.

Here is the full Top 50 restaurant list (European entries in bold):

1. Maido, Lima, Peru

2. Asador Etxebarri, Atxondo, Spain

3. Quintonil, Mexico City, Mexico

4. DiverXO, Madrid, Spain

5. Alchemist, Copenhagen, Denmark

6. Gaggan, Bangkok, Thailand

7. Sezanne, Tokyo, Japan

8. Table by Bruno Verjus, Paris, France

9. Kjolle, Lima, Peru

10. Don Julio, Buenos Aires, Argentina

11. Wing, Hong Kong

12. Atomix, New York, USA

13. Potong, Bangkok, Thailand

14. Plénitude, Paris, France

15. Ikoyi, London, UK

16. Lido 84, Lake Garda Italy

17. Sorn, Bangkok, Thailand

18. Reale, Castel di Sangro, Italy

19. The Chairman, Hong Kong

20. Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler, Brunico, Italy

21. Narisawa, Tokyo, Japan

22. Serene, Bangkok, Thailand

23. Boragó, Santiago, Chile

24. Elkano, Getaria, Spain

25. Odette, Singapore

26. Mérito, Lima, Peru

27. Tresind Studio, Dubai, UAE

28. Lasai, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

29. Mingles, Seoul, South Korea

30. Le Du, Bangkok, Thailand

31. Le Calandre, Rubano, Italy

32. Piazza Duomo, Alba, Italy

33. Steirereck, Vienna, Austria

34. Enigma, Barcelona, Spain

35. Nusara, Bangkok, Thailand

36. Florilège, Tokyo, Japan

37. Orfali Bros, Dubai, UAE

38. Frantzen, Stockholm, Sweden

39. Mayta, Lima, Peru

40. Septime, Paris, France

41. Kadeau, Copenhagen, Denmark

42. Belcanto, Lisbon, Portugal

43. Uliassi, Senigallia, Italy

44. La Cime, Osaka, Japan

45. Arpege, Paris, France

46. Rosetta, Mexico City, Mexico

47. Vyn, Skillinge, Sweden

48. Celele, Cartagena, Colombia

49. Kol, London, UK

50. Restaurant Jan, Munich, Germany