The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023 highlights the note that characterizes the international gastronomic scene, the talent, declined this year in the commitment aimed at safeguarding of environmental biodiversity. This is the case of the Central in Lima, which is crowned in the number one position of the list, also named the Best Restaurant in South America 2023. Chefs Virgilio Martinez and Pía León celebrate the biodiversity of the Peru’ indigenous ingredients, guided by its research arm, Mater Iniciativa.
“The commitment of Martinez, León and the entire Central team to research, respect national heritage and promote Peru’s unique biodiversity is unmatched, and we’re honoured to name Central as The World’s Best Restaurant”, said William Drew, director of 50Best content.
Central is followed by Disfrutar (No.2) in Barcelona and Diverxo (No.3) in Madrid.
There are five Italian restaurants in the list: Lido 84 in Gardone Riviera (7th), Reale di Castel di Sangro at number 16, Uliassi in Senigallia at 34, followed by Le Calandre (41st) in Rubano and Piazza Duomo (42nd ) in Alba.
Already crowned Latin America’s Best Pastry Chef 2022, Pía Salazar del Nuema in Quito, is the best pastry chef. Born in Cuenca, she is helping put Ecuador on the culinary map with her experimental creations, turning fruit and vegetables into sweet masterpieces, like coconut with umami-rich yeast and black garlic, or leek and vanilla with cedrón.
South America further strengthens its position in global gastronomy, with the continent boasting nine restaurants overall including two new entries: Pía León’s Kjolle, (No.28) in Lima and El Chato (No.33) in Bogotá. Asia follows with seven restaurants on the list, including Singapore’s Odette named The Best Restaurant in Asia (No.14) along with new entries Le Du (No.15) and Gaggan Anand (No.17) in Bangkok and Sézanne, Tokyo (No.37).
The Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award is presented to Copenhagen’s Alchemist (in fifth position). In this place, guests of head chef Rasmus Munk and his team are led through different locations, types of art and storytelling moments. Miguel Ángel Millán, sommelier of the Diverxo in Madrid, reconfirms himself as the winner of the Beronia World’s Best Sommelier.
The Highest New Entry Award is to Table by Bruno Verjus; the Atomix wins the Villa Massa Highest Climber award and is Best Restaurant in North America; Julien Royer of Singapore’s Odette wins the Estrella Damm Chefs’ Choice Award, given to a chef who has had a significant positive influence on the culinary community; the Flor de Caña Sustainable Restaurant Award is this year bestowed on Cape Town’s Fyn, where founding chef Peter Tempelhoff looks beyond borders, for a South Africa interpretation through techniques largely rooted in Japanese cooking.Among the pre-announced special prizes, the Champions of Change goews to Nora Fitzgerald Belahcen, Othón Nolasco and Damián Diaz; Elena Reygadas is The World’s Best Female Chef; the Icon Award goes to Andoni Luis Aduriz; Kwame Onwuachi’s New York restaurant Tatiana wins the Resy One To Watch Award.
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023 list is voted by 1,080 international restaurant industry experts and well-travelled gourmets who make up The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy.
In the Hall of Fame of the best restaurants in list since the first edition (not eligible for voting in 2023 and beyond), there is also Massimo Bottura’s Osteria Francescana, at the top in 2016 and 2018.