One Australian restaurant makes coveted World’s 50 Best Restaurants list
There’s a newcomer to the coveted list of the 50 Best Restaurants in the world, which is the only Australian one to make the cut.
Sydney’s Saint Peter, a seafood restaurant inside The Grand National Hotel, came in at No. 50 on the list, which was announced in a ceremony in Lima, Peru on Wednesday night (Thursday AEDT).
Sydney’s Saint Peter, a seafood restaurant inside The Grand National Hotel, came in at No. 50 on the list Instagram/@saintpeterpaddo
Helmed by award-winning chef Josh Niland, the concrete-clad space features a whole fish butchery and changes its menu daily to reflect that morning’s catch.
It also serves “a selection of standout regional Australian wines”, the judges noted.
Saint Peter also took out the title of Best Restaurant in Oceania 2026.
Spanish restaurant Asador Etxebarri, nestled in the Basque region and known for its flame grilling technique, took the top spot.
Spanish restaurant Asador Etxebarri, nestled in the Basque region and known for its flame grilling technique, took the top spot. Courtesy Asador Etxebarri via CNN Newsource
In remarks given in Spanish after winning, chef Bittor Arguinzoniz said the prize was “a real honour” and cited “our mothers and grandmothers” as inspiration, who, he said, were accomplished cooks.
The annual list is compiled based on the votes of the 50 Best Restaurants Academy, which is comprised of more than 1100 international restaurant industry experts, representing 28 regions around the world. The panel of experts includes food writers and chefs.
This year, the top five included restaurants in Asia, North America and Europe.
“For the past 25 years, we’ve celebrated the people and places shaping hospitality,” said Rikki Tidball, who heads up the awards program at The 50, in remarks that kicked off the gala event.
Bangkok restaurant Gaggan is famous for playful, progressive Indian cuisine. Courtesy Gaggan via CNN Newsource
Coming in at No. 2 was Gaggan, a restaurant in Bangkok, which is famous for playful, progressive Indian cuisine.
The Thai capital had a total of five restaurants on the list, with other parts of Asia also well represented.
Hong Kong had two restaurants, Wing and The Chairman, coming in at No. 5 and No. 6, respectively.
Two restaurants from Seoul (Mingles at No. 17 and Onjium at No. 41) made the list, while single entries from Shanghai (Meet the Bund at No.21) and Singapore (Odette at No. 15) also featured.
Alchemist is widely considered one of the world’s most unusual restaurants. Case in point: This famous eyeball seafood dish, called “1984.” Courtesy Alchemist via CNN Newsource
Copenhagen, Denmark had three restaurants make the list, including the No. 3 entry Alchemist.
Quintonil in Mexico City came in No. 4 on the list and was also named Best Restaurant in Latin America. A number of South American restaurants from Lima, Sao Paulo and Bogota also made the list.
In North America, the top entry was Atomix in New York City, which placed eleventh. The Korean restaurant was named the Best Restaurant in North America, while chef Junghyun Park was honoured with the Chef’s Choice Award and praised for providing a “window into a culture”.
Jorge Vallejo’s Quintonil in Mexico City came in No. 4 on the list and was also named Best Restaurant in Latin America. Supplied/Quintonil
London had just the one restaurant on the coveted list, with Ikoyi coming in at No. 48.
Formerly known as 50 Best, the company bestows awards for the best restaurants across the globe and says it aims to spotlight not just fine dining but cuisine that’s truly innovative.
The 50 Best Restaurants 2026
- Asador Etxebarri (Atxondo, Spain)
- Gaggan (Bangkok)
- Alchemist (Copenhagen, Denmark)
- Quintonil (Mexico City, Mexico)
- Wing (Hong Kong)
- The Chairman (Hong Kong)
- Kjolle (Lima, Peru)
- Kadeau (Copenhagen, Denmark)
- Diverxo (Madrid, Spain)
- Plénitude (Paris, France)
- Atomix (New York, USA)
- Sorn (Bangkok, Thailand)
- Mérito (Lima, Peru)
- Suhring (Bangkok, Thailand)
- Odette (Singapore)
- Tuju (São Paulo, Brazil)
- Mingles (Seoul, South Korea)
- Nusara (Bangkok, Thailand)
- Jan (Munich, Germany)
- Piazza Duomo (Alba, Italy)
- Meet the Bund (Shanghai, China)
- Boragó (Santiago, Chile)
- Vyn (Skillinge, Sweden)
- Al Gatto Verde (Modena, Italy)
- Lasai (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
- Masque (Mumbai, India)
- Reale (Castel di Sangro, Italy)
- Trèsind Studio (Dubai, UAE)
- Enigma (Barcelona, Spain)
- Steirereck (Vienna, Austria)
- Celele (Cartagena, Colombia)
- Potong (Bangkok)
- Elkano (Getaria, Spain)
- Le Coquillage (Saint-Méloir-des-Ondes, France)
- La Colombe (Cape Town, South Africa)
- Ru Yuan (Hangzhou, China)
- Nuema (Quito, Ecuador)
- Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler (Brunico, Italy)
- Schloss Schauenstein (Fürstenau, Switzerland)
- Jordnær (Copenhagen, Denmark)
- Onjium (Seoul, South Korea)
- Bozar (Brussels, Belgium)
- Le Calandre (Rubano, Italy)
- Don Julio (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
- Mayta (Lima, Peru)
- El Chato (Bogotá, Colombia)
- Le Louis XV – Alain Ducasse (Monte Carlo)
- Ikoyi (London, England)
- Naar (Kasauli, India)
- Saint Peter (Sydney, Australia)
- Reported with CNN.
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