Michelin, The Good Food Guide, AA Rosettes, Hardens, Yelp, TripAdvisor – with so many different restaurant guides out there, we’ve never had it better when it comes to eating out. But one of the youngest guides has quickly risen to become internationally recognised, and can change the fortunes of a restaurant immeasurably with a mention. The World’s 50 Best Restaurants is only fifteen years old, but to come top of the list is one of the greatest accolades a chef can get.
Last year’s winner was Massimo Bottura and his Italian restaurant Osteria Francescana; before that it was El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain and institutions like Noma and El Bulli have won it several times. But as the list becomes more and more international, breaking out of Europe and into the Americas and Asia, new entries to the list are constantly appearing. This year the ceremony is being held in Melbourne, Australia, to reflect this.
‘We decided that as a truly international brand representing the best of gastronomy globally, we should reflect that in its choice of locations,’ says William Drew, group editor of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and Restaurant Magazine. ‘So after fourteen successful years in London, we embarked on a global tour. The first stop was New York in 2016, the second is Melbourne in 2017. Why Australia? Because the food and wine culture is so strong and exciting and there is a great appetite to welcome the culinary world. Why Melbourne? Because, for us, it’s the food capital of Australia.’