The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, were revealed last night. The glitzy awards ceremony took place at Wynn Las Vegas. This event brought together the best chefs, restaurateurs, and hospitality industry icons from around the world.
This is the 22nd edition of the annual ranking. Furthermore, it features restaurants from 26 territories across five continents, including eight exciting new entries and re-entries. Notably, Spain emerged as a culinary powerhouse, securing the top two spots and featuring a total of five restaurants on the list.
No.1: Disfrutar, Barcelona
Disfrutar has been crowned The World’s Best Restaurant 2024, also taking home the title of The Best Restaurant in Europe 2024. Chefs Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch, and Mateu Casañas met at the legendary El Bulli before opening Disfrutar in 2014. They offer imaginative dishes executed with exceptional technical skill and playful presentation. Guests can choose between two parallel 30-course menus: The Classic and The Festival. Highlights include Thai-style cuttlefish with coconut multi-spherical, squab with kombu spaghetti, almond, and grape, the indulgent caviar-filled Panchino doughnut, and a brilliant frozen gazpacho sandwich.
Also read: A weekend in Barcelona
No.2: Asador Etxebarri, Atxondo
Asador Etxebarri, situated in a tranquil Basque village surrounded by mountains and lush greenery, is a magical destination restaurant. Chef Victor Arguinzoniz creates extraordinary dishes that emphasise natural flavours and prioritise top-quality ingredients. Every dish, from the anchovy on toast and succulent red Palamós prawn to the milk ice cream with beetroot, is prepared using the grill. Both the à la carte and 14-course tasting menus showcase the chef’s dedication to the art of grilling. Asador Etxebarri has consistently ranked high in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, only missing it once since 2009.
No.4: Diverxo, Madrid
Diverxo is helmed by Chef Dabiz Muñoz, whose cuisine is described as hedonistic, creative, and unpredictable. Muñoz delights in pushing gastronomic boundaries as much as possible. He offers unique combinations such as Pyrenean-matured nigiri, Japanese paella, and roasted caviar with vindaloo curry and Greek yogurt. The dining experience is further enhanced by the bold decor and the exceptional wine selection curated by The World’s Best Sommelier 2023, Miguel Ángel Millán.
No.14: Quique Dacosta, Dénia
Quique Dacosta celebrates the fish, seafood, and rice dishes of the Levant. With over 30 years of experience, Chef Quique Dacosta’s food is both visually stunning and innovative. His 2024 tasting menu, “Por Amor al Arte II” (For the Love of Art II), is designed to evoke emotions and stimulate the senses with a harmonious and sensitive approach to Valencian cuisine. Moreover, his menus artfully combine the traditional with the modern.
No.28: Elkano, Getaria
Elkano, located in the heart of Getaria and surrounded by the Cantabrian Sea, is renowned for its signature grilled turbot. Aitor Arregui, who inherited the restaurant from his father Pedro, continues the legacy with the same grilling technique that made Elkano famous worldwide. This restaurant which combines three generations of wisdom and a flaming hot grill to create the most sought-after seafood joint in the Basque Country.
The tasting menu includes traditional Basque dishes. These include kokotxas (fish stew) and seasonal spring mushrooms, attracting chefs and food enthusiasts from around the globe.
See the full list below.
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