For all the gourmets, gourmands and food junkies there are two pleasures: eating food and hunting for food.
So in this pursuit of hunting for gastronomical delights, let us gather around to uncover the crème de la crème of dining experiences in 2023.
The winners lineup at the Oscars of global fine dining
Championing the list of the world’s best restaurants is: Central, situated in Lima,Peru.
Founded by Virgilio Martinez in 2008 and later joined by Pía León in 2009, Central stands as a testament to their shared vision of crafting an unparalleled fine dining journey rooted deeply in Peruvian ingredients and culinary techniques.
In a transformative move in 2018, Central found its new home within a spacious edifice in Lima, granting diners the privilege of embarking on a gastronomic voyage through 15 different Peruvian ecosystems, sorted by altitude- from 15 metres under the Pacific Ocean to 4,200 metres up in the Andes.
The essence of Central is that the dishes served reflected the origin of its ingredients, from Dry Valley (shrimp, loche squash, avocado) to Amazonian Water (pacu fish, watermelon and coca leaf). Every dish is a symphony of flavours that reflects the salient features of the place where it originated from. Central’s menu is a living chronicle of its commitment to showcasing the roots of the ingredients.
The fact that they were titled the best restaurant in the world for the year 2023, by a panel of 1080 global gastronomic experts, is a standing ovation to their culinary team and their dedication to redefining dining as an immersive, educational, and delightful experience. Central shows that dining is an art, if well executed.
Following closely on Central’s heels is Disfrutar.
Situated in Barcelona, open since December 2014, Disfrutar, (‘enjoy’ in English), is certainly one for the books. Not only because they put a spin on traditional notions of fine dining, but also because they challenge it.
The triad of Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch,and Matueu Casañas are necessary components of fine dining. The alchemy of their culinary souls result in unrivalled innovative and immersive fine dining. The culinary marvels that materialise on the dining tables of this restaurant are orchestrated by these three chefs where they work in unison to create food that use modern methods and high-quality ingredients that go beyond the usual ideas of fancy dining.
In this Barcelonian restaurant, the food is the chef’s kiss and the concepts are unprecedented.
What are the chances of more than one of the ten best restaurants in the world being in the same country? Apparently, it is 3.
A little spin, a turn and a football kick away from Disfrutar will have you in a house of madness. The good kind of madness.
DiverXO situated in Madrid, Spain was acclaimed as the third best restaurant in the world.
This is not your average dining experience, nor is it your above average dining experience. It is a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience.
DiverXo is an extraordinary restaurant created by the highly imaginative chef Dabiz Muñoz. Known for his bold and creative cooking style, he has turned DiverXo into a whimsical and fantastic dining destination.
Muñoz’s journey to success began in his childhood when he dreamt of having a hugely popular restaurant where people would wait for hours just to dine there. Despite his father’s scepticism, Muñoz pursued his dream.
He trained at a renowned restaurant in London and Madrid before becoming the main lead of DiverXo in 2007.
His daring approach to food earned him an impressive achievement – he became the second-youngest person in the world to achieve three Michelin stars at the age of 33. To symbolise his triumph over the ones who doubted him, Muñoz playfully incorporates flying pig imagery throughout the restaurant, demonstrating his ability to accomplish the seemingly impossible.
Navigating through Muñoz’s menu is like getting a front-row seat to what goes on in his brain. He does not believe in dichotomies, therefore he believes that there is no clear cut point where savoury stops and sweet begins. All his food is therefore a continuation of flavours, ones that surprise the palates.
Food served at DiverXO syncopates, creates new and flavourful rhythms and familiarises you with the unfamiliar.
The third contender from Spain is Asador Etxebarri. Ranked as world’s 4th best restaurant in the year 2023, it is located in a serene Basque village nestled amid mountains and nature, roughly between Bilbao and San Sebastain: in other words it is a perfect dining spot.
Here the focus is on the quality of ingredients, and the heart of the culinary process revolves around the grill. Chef and proprietor Victor Arguinzoniz’s touch of flames infuses every dish, whether it is something as simple as anchovies on toast or a complex creation like milk ice cream with beetroot.
Number five on the list is Alchemist. This restaurant which is found in Copenhagen adds a touch of gold to their dishes. A visit to Alchemist promises a dining adventure that defies previous restaurant experiences.
A walk through the restaurant is divided into distinct acts; each transporting guests through various settings, artistic forms, and exceptional craftsmanship.
Spearheaded by head chef Rasmus Munk, this theatrical experience elevates food into a multi-dimensional encounter. What Alchemist aims for is to live up to their name, and in order to do that they “transform and transcend the nature of food and dining”.
What does the global culinary map look like?
An overall account of the world’s top 50 restaurants show that in addition to the three mentioned here, Spain has three more entries.
In Europe, Italy and France demonstrated strong performance, securing five restaurants in Italy and four in France within the top 50 ranking. London also made an impact with three impressive entries.
The crown bearer in Asia was Bangkok where it stood out as a notable contender,with two previously unlisted restaurants Le Du (ranked at 15) and Gaggan Anand (ranked at 17) making impressive debuts within the top 20.
The U.S. contributed with two New York restaurants ranking in the top 50. Atomix significantly rose from 33rd place to 8th, earning the title of the ‘Highest Climber’ and best restaurant in North America. In the meantime, Le Bernardin secured the 44th spot.
2023’s top 50 eateries are from 24 different regions and spread across five continents. What is intriguing is that 12 of them were first timers.
These culinary marvels make it amply clear that dining is a transcendent experience that unites cultures, satisfies, ignites imaginations and creates memories.