50 Best Restaurants in World

By Richard Vines

April 23 2007 -- El Bulli, Ferran Adria's gastronomic temple in northern Spain, is the best restaurant in the world, followed by the U.K.'s Fat Duck, both for the second year in a row, Restaurant magazine announced tonight in London.

Pierre Gagnaire, in Paris, was third, followed by the French Laundry, in Yountville, California; Tetsuya's, in Sydney; and Bras, in Laguiole, France. All top six are unchanged from last year, when El Bulli overtook the Fat Duck. El Bulli and Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck are known for innovative cuisine.

The highest climber is Noma, in Copenhagen. The highest new entry is Alinea, in Chicago. The best in Asia goes to Bukhara, in New Delhi. The S.Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants are picked by 22 panels of food writers, critics and chefs.

"Ferran Adria is often talked about as the most influential chef since Escoffier,'' Restaurant Editor Joe Warwick said in a telephone interview. ''You can see that in this list. It includes several restaurants -- like Alinea in Chicago, Noma in Copenhagen and, of course, the Fat Duck --influenced by his style.''

Not a single London restaurant made the top 10 of the annual awards, which were announced in a ceremony at the city's Science Museum.

The Fat Duck is situated at Bray, about 30 miles west of London. The top restaurants in the British capital were Nobu in 17th place, Hakkasan (19th) and Gordon Ramsay Royal Hospital Road (24th).

Paris Leads With Nine

Paris is the city with the largest number of eateries in the top 50, with a total of nine; London has six and New York four, Warwick said. France is the top country, with the U.S. second, the U.K. third, and Spain and Italy tied for fourth.

Alice Waters, the founder of Chez Panisse, in Berkeley, California, received the Lifetime Achievement award. The Breakthrough award went to Ramsay's Maze restaurant, in London, which was voted No. 54.

The Readers' Choice award went to Pied a Terre, London, where chef Shane Osborn holds two Michelin stars.

1. El Bulli Spain 

2. The Fat Duck U.K. 

3. Pierre Gagnaire France 

4. The French Laundry U.S. 

5. Tetsuya's Australia 

6. Bras France 

7. Mugaritz Spain 

8. Le Louis XV Monaco 

9. Per Se U.S. 

10. Arzak Spain 

11. El Celler de Can Roca Spain 

12. Gambero Rosso Italy 

13. L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon France 

14. Hof van Cleve Belgium 

15. Noma Denmark 

16. Le Calandre Italy 

17. Nobu London U.K. 

18. Jean Georges U.S. 

19. Hakkasan U.K. 

20. Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athenee France 

21. L'Astrance France 

22. Can Fabes Spain 

23. L'Ambroisie France 

24. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay U.K. 

25. Troisgros France 

26. Le Bernardin U.S. 

27. Martin Berasategui Spain 

28. Le Gavroche U.K. 

29. Le Cinq France 

30. Charlie Trotter's U.S. 

31. Dal Pescatore Italy 

32. Daniel U.S. 

33. Rockpool Australia 

34. St. John U.K. 

35. Chez Dominique Finland 

36. Alinea U.S. 

37. Bukhara India 

38. DOM Brazil 

39. Oaxen Skaergaardskrog Sweden 

40. Chez Panisse U.S. 

41. Enoteca Pinchiorri Italy 

42. Cracco Peck Italy 

43. L'Arpege France 

44. The River Cafe U.K. 

45. Oud Sluis The Netherlands 

46. Combal Zero Italy 

47. Le Quartier Francais South Africa 

48. Taillevent France 

49. Bocuse France 

50. Les Ambassadeurs France

Lifetime Achievement Alice Waters 

Breakthrough Award Maze, London 

Readers' Choice Pied a Terre, London