World's 50 Best Restaurants, Ranked

Can you guess what's No. 1?

50 Best Restaurants

Forget the Oscars: For foodies, the only awards that count are "The World's 50 Best Restaurants," an annual ranking of the finest gastronomy across the globe.

As decided by a panel of 1,000 expert judges, this just-released list is the gold standard for the best of fine dining, from the classic to the wildly inventive. This year, five continents were represented — though perhaps not surprisingly, European restaurants nabbed more than half the spots.

Want to see what topped the list...while fantasizing about the best food of your life? Read on.

#50. Test Kitchen, Cape Town, South Africa

The Test Kitchen is the brainchild of Luke Dale-Roberts, a British-born chef who honed his craft in Switzerland, England and Asia. Dale-Roberts arrived in Cape Town in 2006 and worked for four years as executive chef of La Colombe before opening this restaurant in 2010. Here you’ll find dishes such as goat roti and tandoori quail, among many creative combinations.

As the name suggests, the restaurant is where Dale-Roberts and his team experiment and innovate. “What we do at The Test Kitchen is always a bit different. That is our constant,” he's said. “I need to move forward. Everything in my life has to be about progress. And quality.”

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $130.

#49. Nahm, Bangkok, Thailand

If you’re planning a trip to Bangkok in the near future, you’ll want to consider making a reservation at Nahm, which serves authentic Thai dishes using fresh, rare ingredients.

Even if you’re not staying at the COMO Metropolitan Bangkok hotel, where the restaurant is located, it’s worth a visit. Chef Pim Techamuanvivit aims to create a homey atmosphere and the menu is superlative. Order black grouper fish in tamarind and ginger broth, wagyu beef cheek soup, or blue swimmer crab with deep fried prawns in coconut cream sauce.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $84, with individual dishes ranging from $16 to $30.

#48. Hiša Franko, Kobarid, Slovenia

Hisa Franko — Sardines, pickled carrots, onion jam, pickled onions, tomato gel, oxalis and flowers

Hiša Franko is located inside a gorgeous home on a countryside estate. Nearby, there’s a creek and an expansive vegetable and flower garden set against a backdrop of mountains. This serene setting is where chef Ana Roš prepares goat cheese ravioli, octopus with lamb fat and potato polenta, trout with roasted poppy seeds and wild watercress, and other fresh creations.

If you enjoy your time dining at Hiša Franko, you can even decide to spend the night (and get a massage while you’re at it!).

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $146.

#47. Schloss Schauenstein, Fürstenau, Switzlerand

If you’re looking for a romantic getaway complete with award-winning food and drink, look no further than Schloss Schauenstein, located in the tiny town of Fürstenau. There are just nine beautifully decorated guest rooms at this hotel, which means you’re guaranteed to have an intimate experience.

But the highlight of this historic castle is undoubtedly Chef Andreas Caminada’s cuisine. Caminada decided to take over the empty Swiss castle in 2003 at age 26, and has since earned three Michelin stars for his work in the kitchen.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $215.

#46. Saison, San Francisco

Though it’s one of the top restaurants in the world, diners say that Saison doesn’t feel stuffy or pretentious — in fact, some even describe it as laid back (there’s no dress code) and distinctly Californian.

The menu changes regularly, but Saison’s offerings always involve cooking over an open wood fire. The restaurant sources its ingredients from microclimates, or small areas with unique weather and atmospheric conditions. On a typical evening, you might taste uni toast, antelope consomme, or barbecued quail that you must eat with your hands — no utensils allowed.

Reservation spots are released on the first day of every month for the next 90 days, so it’s best to plan ahead if you’re making a trip to San Francisco.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $298.

#45. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, London, UK

Located inside the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park hotel, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal is a collaboration between Blumenthal and Ashley Palmer-Watts. The two studied 14th-century British cookbooks and partnered with food historians to create inspired dishes that reflect both the past and the present.

The restaurant’s walls are made of glass, giving diners an unobstructed view of the kitchen. On the menu, you’ll find dishes like spiced squab pigeon, roasted turbot in green sauce, and savory porridge.

Cost: A la carte dinner entrees from $42, set lunch tasting menu for $58.

#44. Mikla, Istanbul, Turkey

This Istanbul restaurant is truly a feast for all the senses — Mikla offers breathtaking views of the Bosphorus, which allows diners to see a glimpse of both Asia and Europe. Chef Mehmet Gürs is the chief proponent of “the new Anatolian kitchen,” which infuses traditional practices with modern perspectives.

“The ability to look forward and to utilize science, to renew and develop ourselves without forgetting who we are and where we come from, is in fact the great challenge,” Gürs has said.

What does this philosophy look like in practice? Lamb heart with morel mushrooms, monkfish with broad bean, and braised lamb with wild cabbage, among many other creations.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $50.

#43. Azurmendi, Larrabetzu, Spain

In addition to making some of the world’s finest food, Azurmendi is a restaurant that prides itself on being environmentally sustainable.

While you’re feasting on meals like stewed piglet tail with anchovies or pigeon with tubers and carrots, you can rest easy knowing that your meal was prepared with the environment in mind. Azurmendi, also given the sustainable restaurant award, reuses rainwater for its gardens and greenhouses and tries to use as little electricity as possible for lighting and air conditioning. The restaurant has also planted more than 800 trees and grows much of its own product in its greenhouse.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $260.

#42. Ledbury, London, UK

Chef Brett Graham opened this award-winning modern British restaurant in 2005 when he was just 25 years old, and continues to impress diners 13 years later. When Graham isn’t tending to the livestock on his deer farm, you’ll find him preparing dishes at Ledbury that emphasize seafood, wild game and vegetables.

The restaurant also keeps the health and well-being of the planet in mind by composting 100 percent of the kitchen’s food waste — you can even take a bag home for your garden after your meal.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $195.

#41. Nihonryori RyuGin, Tokyo, Japan

Led by chef Seiji Yamamoto, Nihonryori RyuGin specializes in traditional Japanese cuisine with a modern twist. This Tokyo restaurant highlights local, seasonal ingredients to create its dynamic and ever-changing menu, which includes dishes such as Japanese pigeon, a seasonal sashimi platter, and wild boar.

If you love to disconnect for a few hours, you’ll enjoy dining at Nihonryori RyuGin, where cell phone use is not allowed (they even ask guests to be mindful when taking pictures with cameras).

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $240.

#40. Septime, Paris, France

Septime is really like three hip restaurants in one — a few steps away you’ll find Septime La Cave, a tiny wine bar, and Clamato, which features delicious seafood dishes. All three spots are led by owner-chef Bertrand Grebaut, who prepares unique, fresh entrees such as guinea fowl with whiskey sauce, trout roe with spring peas, and brill with scallops.

Septime isn’t open on the weekends, which can make it extra tricky to get a reservation; however, many diners highly recommend the restaurant’s lunch tasting menu.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $90.

#39. Astrid y Gastón, Lima, Peru

Astrid y Gaston — Bomba de chocolate (chocolate bomb)

Located in the historic Casa Hacienda Moreyra, Astrid y Gastón offers diners a window into Peruvian cuisine and culture. Their autumn menu, for example, features grouper with angel hair pasta in a fish and shellfish soup, beef short ribs with bacon and sticky fried rice, and roast suckling goat in stew sauce. The restaurant also boasts an exceptional dessert collection, including the one-of-a-kind chocolate bomb.

If you’re a fan of chef Gastón Acurio’s work after eating at Astrid y Gastón, you can take home his collection of 500 traditional recipes in “Peru: The Cookbook,” which Acurio published in 2015.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $130.

#38. Lyle's, London, UK

Located in the Shoreditch neighborhood of London, Lyle’s occupies the historic Tea Building that was originally built in the 1930s as a factory for the Lipton tea brand. Founded by James Lowe and John Ogier four years ago, Lyle’s serves a small, rotating menu of dishes that highlight British produce, meat, seafood and wines.

Lowe also created The Guest Series, during which he invites six to eight chefs from around the world to visit Britain and cook together.

Cost: Lunch entrees starting at $10; set dinner menu starting at $75.

#37. Restaurant Tim Raue, Berlin, Germany

Inspired by his travels through Japan, Thailand and China, chef Tim Raue decided to start creating Asian-inspired cuisine in Berlin eight years ago.

Located near Checkpoint Charlie, arguably the most famous checkpoint between East and West Berlin along the Berlin Wall, the restaurant serves up entrees such as duck liver with miso and apricot, suckling pig with dashi and Japanese mustard, and Cantonese-style wasabi langoustine.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $160, with entrees starting at $37.

#36. Reale, Castel Di Sangro, Italy

Located inside a 16th-century monastery that’s been converted into a hotel, Reale is run by the brother-sister duo of Niko and Cristiana Romito; Niko leads the kitchen, while Cristiana ensures the front-of-house experience is enjoyable for guests.

The estate, located in the mountains of the National Park of Abruzzo, is also home to Niko Romito’s culinary academy, an experimental vineyard and a gastronomic research laboratory.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $160.

#35. Maaemo, Oslo, Norway

Chef Esben Holmboe Bang has designed a menu at Maaemo that reflects the restaurant’s Nordic surroundings and cultural history. He also tries to source nearly all of the restaurant’s ingredients locally.

“I want my cooking to reflect the rugged nature and climate of Norway,” he’s said. Even the restaurant’s ancient Norse name reflects this philosophy — Maaemo translates to “Mother Earth.”

If you dine at Maaemo, you’ll get to sample dishes such as reindeer heart and fresh razor clams. If you enjoy your experience, you can even take a little piece of the restaurant home with you — Maaemo has created a beautiful illustrated cookbook filled with recipes and images (though it’s only available in Norwegian).

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $340.

#34. Alinea, Chicago

If you love whimsical foods that play to your emotions, you’ll want to consider visiting Alinea the next time you’re in Chicago’s trendy Lincoln Park neighborhood.

The restaurant, led by chef Grant Achatz, prides itself on creating innovative dining experiences for guests that go beyond the taste buds. Alinea’s most famous dish is an edible green apple dessert balloon filled with helium.

Depending on the day, you may even get to take a field trip back into the kitchen during your multi-course dinner.

Cost: Tasting menu ranging starting at $185.

#33. The Clove Club, London, UK

Don’t let the relatively relaxed atmosphere at The Clove Club in London fool you: The tasting menu is innovative and elegant. Located in the unpretentious Shoreditch Town Hall community space, The Clove Club uses local ingredients to create contemporary British dishes such as smoked lamb ribs with mint and seaweed jelly.

Friends Isaac McHale, Daniel Willis and Johnny Smith opened The Clove Club in 2013, as well as a more casual restaurant called Luca in 2016. The town hall building regularly hosts concerts, plays, dance lessons and more, so be sure to check the events calendar when making your plans to visit The Clove Club.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $140.

#32. Tickets, Barcelona, Spain

As you might have guessed from the name, Barcelona’s Tickets has a playful, circus-like atmosphere. Chef Albert Adrià takes a similar approach to the tapas menu, creating original combinations like a “mini airbag” that combines manchego cheese and caviar.

The restaurant has five separate kitchens that each highlight a unique cooking method, as well as a separate dessert room for after-dinner drinks and sweets.

Cost: Tapas starting at $3.

#31. Arzak, San Sebastian, Spain

The restaurant has been in the Arzak family for four generations, starting as a wine shop and tavern before becoming a fine dining restaurant that serves up traditional Basque recipes.

Today, Elena Arzak and her father Juan Mari Arzak run the restaurant, experimenting in the “Arzak lab” with new recipes. On the menu, you’ll find modern takes on traditional Basque cuisine, like parsnip over oranges, vanilla and kimchi.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $245.

#30. D.O.M., Sao Paulo, Brazil

D.O.M. — Cube rolls (ribeye rolls) with mashed yardlong bean and bacuri, a native Brazilian fruit

Chef Alex Atala loves highlighting quirky ingredients from the Amazon at D.O.M., including tucupi, a poisonous extract that must be boiled for at least 20 minutes to become edible, and jambu, and herb that creates an electric sensation when eaten.

Atala also gained worldwide attention for his use of Amazonian ants in his creations. The restaurant’s name is short for Deo Optimo Maximo, a Benedictine motto that means “To God, The Good, The Great.”

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $96.

#29. Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen, Paris, France

Chef Yannick Alléno practically grew up in the kitchen, working in small bistros in the suburbs of Paris as a boy before training under a number of France’s greatest chefs

This historic restaurant, which first opened in 1792, is located on the Champs-Elysées in the heart of the city. Alléno is widely credited with breathing new life into the restaurant when he took the helm in 2014, experimenting with fresh techniques to create richly flavorful sauces.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $440.

#28. Odette, Singapore

Stepping into Odette feels almost like walking into a cloud — the dreamy pastel atmosphere complements the restaurant’s take on modern French cuisine.

Opened in 2015, Odette pays homage to chef Julien Royer’s grandmother, both in name and in spirit. “She showed me how the most remarkable dishes can come from the purest ingredients and taught me the importance of adding that ‘little something’ to create dishes that excite the palate and fill the heart,” Royer has said.

Cost: Lunch tasting menu starting at $90, dinner tasting menu starting at $195.

#27. Boragó, Santiago, Chile

Borago — A plate of edible parasites endemic to Chile

Chef Rodolfo Guzmán loves to highlight all of the produce, seafood, milk and even rainwater that Chile has to offer at his restaurant Boragó. Working with a team of 200 people across the country, Guzmán also forages the land for innovative ingredients to add to his recipes.

If you’re looking for additional insight into Guzmán’s creative process, there’s also a gorgeous Boragó book with more than 100 recipes, sketches and photographs of the Chilean landscape.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $80.

#26. Le Bernardin, New York City

Everything is sophisticated at Le Bernardin in New York, from the elegant decor to the exquisite French seafood recipes created by chef Eric Ripert.

The restaurant has a long history that dates back to 1972, when siblings Maguy and Gilbert Le Coze first opened Le Bernardin in Paris. The New York restaurant opened in 1986, with Ripert coming aboard after the untimely death of Gilbert Le Coze in 1994.

Le Bernardin’s menu is divided into three parts — almost raw, barely touched and lightly cooked.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $170.

#25. Cosme, New York City

Located in New York City’s trendy Flatiron District, Cosme puts a modern twist on Mexican cuisine under the leadership of chef Enrique Olvera. On a typical visit, you might sample striped bass with black beans and plantain saffron, or grilled octopus with salsa veracruzano and blue eye potatoes.

If you’re not hungry, consider stopping in for a cocktail — Cosme pairs artisanal spirits with unique ingredients. The tequila-based “Anti Histamine,” for example, features bee pollen.

Fun fact: President Barack Obama visited Cosme for a meal while he was still a sitting president.

Cost: Dinner entrees from $22 to $94.

#24. Ultraviolet, Shanghai, China

A visit to Ultraviolet in Shanghai is unlike any other restaurant experience you’ve ever had. It’s not just a meal — it’s a multi-sensory experience with lights, smells, music and images.

Ultraviolet is unique in another way, too: There’s just one table. There are 10 seats and all guests sit together through the 20-course dinner experience. To add to the intrigue, the restaurant is also in a secret location, with guests entering through an unmarked door.

Chef Paul Pairet has said that his goal with Ultraviolet is “to offer a bold and exclusive dining experience that engages all the sense to create the ultimate luxury: emotion.”

Cost: Tasting menu from $600 to $900.

#23. Le Calandre, Rubano, Italy

Le Calandre is a family affair, having been passed down from Erminio Alajmo and Rita Chimetto to their sons Massimiliano “Max” and Raffaele “Raf” Alajmo roughly 10 years ago. Younger brother Max oversees the kitchen; older brother Raf mans the dining room and the wine list.

Together, the brothers also designed the restaurant’s hand-carved wood tables, glassware and even the dining room fragrance. Their efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. When Le Calandre earned its third Michelin star in 2002, Max Alajmo became the youngest chef ever to achieve such a feat.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $260.

#22. Narisawa, Tokyo, Japan

Chef Yoshihiro Narisawa operates under a philosophy that he calls “innovative Satoyama cuisine,” which reflects a desire to harmonize with the landscape, using resources sustainably to create food that nourishes both the body and the spirit.

His nature-inspired menus at Narisawa change with the seasons, highlighting local, seasonal ingredients. Diners have reported eating bread that gets baked right at the table.

Cost: Dinner tasting menu starting at $288, lunch tasting menu starting at $240.

#21. Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée, Paris, France

This stunning restaurant is a feast for the eyes, too, with towering white pillars, solid oak tables, white leather chairs, gold-painted ceiling details and a massive Swarovski crystal chandelier.

Chef Alain Ducasse prioritizes sustainability and simplicity in the kitchen. "To eat more healthily and naturally is today both an expectation and a necessity that must be translated into the field of haute cuisine,” he has said.

Cost: Entrees ranging from $88 to $185.

#20. Attica, Melbourne, Australia

Located in Melbourne’s Ripponlea neighborhood, spunky restaurant Attica prides itself on showcasing rare and unique ingredients, and they’re not necessarily what you picture when it comes to fine dining — think bunya nuts and marron rather than caviar and foie gras.

Chef Ben Shewry likes to introduce diners to often-overlooked Australian ingredients and cuisine. The menu is short, featuring quirkily named dishes like “happy little Vegemite” and “pests of the neighborhood.” Diners describe Attica as relaxed, wacky, theatrical and, of course, delicious.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $200.

#19. Geranium, Copenhagen

Located on the eighth floor of Denmark’s national soccer stadium, Geranium offers diners panoramic views of Copenhagen’s green copper roofs and the city’s changing foliage. Chef Rasmus Kofoed has said that the restaurant’s location mirrors its approach to modern Scandinavian cuisine by exploring “the area of tension between the urbane and the natural.”

Kofoed’s 20-course menu changes with the seasons, but during the summer months you’ll find, for example, dried oyster juice infused with seaweed.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $390.

#18. Disfrutar, Barcelona, Spain

This innovative restaurant is just three years old and has already made a name for itself among the world’s elite.

Chefs Mateu Casañas, Oriol Castro and Eduard Xatruch pride themselves on experimenting not just with ingredients, but also with texture and composition. For example, they’ve created a gazpacho sandwich, as well as a popular translucent macaroni carbonara.

Based on the positive experiences guests seem to have at Disfrutar, the restaurant’s name is fitting: It translates to “enjoy” in English.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $175.

#17. Den, Tokyo, Japan

Den — Tender Wagyu beef shoulder with fresh grated wasabi over ginger steamed rice

Chef Zaiyu Hasegawa opened Den in 2007, quickly earning two Michelin stars in the intervening years. His approach to fine Japanese cuisine incorporates the warmth and comfort of home cooking with the beauty and culture of contemporary Japan.

Hasegawa’s philosophy centers on omotenashi, a tenet of Japanese hospitality that focuses on making guests happy. “Homemade food is food prepared while thinking about others being happy,” he’s said. “Every day, I think about the people who come to the restaurant and cook with the ingredients that arrive each day. For a homemade dish that brings a smile.”

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $130.

#16. Piazza Duomo, Alba, Italy

Each day, chef Enrico Crippa visits the vegetable garden at Piazza Duomo to choose the very best produce, herbs and flowers for that day’s creations.

Crippa designs the menu to be surprising and to leave guests with the feeling of wanting more. "I often love putting something in the menu that, at first glance, seems out of place, like a summer dish in the winter menu,” he’s said. “I like invoking a memory in the guest, bringing him or her back to summers passed, and also creating a tension within, a desire for the next summer season."

To further enhance the restaurant experience, which includes a memorable all-pink dining room, there are four intimate guest rooms at Piazza Duomo.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $255.

#15. White Rabbit, Moscow, Russia

You may remember seeing Chef Vladimir Mukhin on Netflix’s “Chef’s Table” series last year. He continues to garner international attention for his work at White Rabbit, which is located on the 16th floor of the Smolenskiy Passage building in Moscow. Guests eat under a glass dome offering stunning 360-degree views of the night sky or the cityscape below.

If the tasting menu doesn’t suit you, there are also a la carte options.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $160.

#14. Steirereck, Vienna, Austria

Located in Vienna’s central Stadpark, Steirereck is an ultra-modern building immersed in a lush green landscape. The cuisine at this family owned restaurant is anything but traditional, though you will be able to find more accessible dishes like wiener schnitzel on the lunch menu.

Dinner offerings include modern Austrian creations like pig’s trotter with wild chervil.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $173, with a la carte options from $42.

#13. Pujol, Mexico City, Mexico

Pujol’s chef Enrique Olvera has not one, but two restaurants on this list — he’s also at the helm of Cosme in New York City, which holds the No. 25 spot this year.

His Mexico City venture Pujol, which he recently relocated to a mid-century modern home, seamlessly blends together the country’s rich cultural history with modern fine dining tenets. On the menu, you’ll find creations like octopus with habanero ink.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $105.

#12. Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pocantico Hills, New York

Looking for an excuse to get out of Manhattan? Consider the peaceful setting of Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocantico Hills, less than an hour away from the city.

The restaurant, which is set on an 80-acre estate in a romantic red barn, emphasizes sustainability and ultra-fresh ingredients whenever possible. When he’s not in the kitchen, Chef Dan Barber can be found working with a team of seed breeders to produce healthier, better-tasting fruits and vegetables.

Cost: Tasting menu from $258.

#11. Quintonil, Mexico City, Mexico

With an emphasis on fresh, seasonal and local ingredients, Quintonil has been serving up contemporary Mexican cuisine since just 2012 — but already chef Jorge Vallejo’s restaurant is turning heads.

With his wife Alejandra Flores managing the front-of-house operations, Vallejo creates dishes like roasted boletus mushroom with black garlic mojo.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $110, with a la carte options from $8.

#10. Asador Etxebarri, Axpe, Spain

With a penchant for simplicity, Victor Arguinzoniz is a self-taught chef who was born and raised right here in Axpe (and he’s never worked at another restaurant).

Most of the menu items — even the ice cream — are cooked over a variety of flavor-imbuing charcoals on grills that Arguinzoniz designed and built himself.

Guests love Asador Etxebarri for its casual, unpretentious atmosphere near the base of Mt. Anboto. If you feel inspired by Arguinzoniz’s innovation, you can take home a copy of his new book “Etxebarri.”

Cost: Tasting menu from $205.

#9. Mugaritz, San Sebastian, Spain

Chef Andoni Luis Aduriz likes to experiment — so much so that he closes the restaurant four months out of the year to get creative in the kitchen. A 20-course meal at Mugaritz, located between the two Basque towns or Errenteria and Astigarraga, might include a house-cured salmon bonbon and a “moldy” apple.

The restaurant’s name comes from a tall, 200-year-old oak tree that stands guard over the property. Depending on the weather, guests may take some of their courses out in the restaurant’s beautiful garden.

Cost: Tasting menu from $255.

#8. Arpege, Paris, France

You don’t have to be a vegetarian to enjoy chef Alain Passard’s vegetable-forward cuisine at Arpege, a contemporary French restaurant he has led for more than 30 years. Impressively, Passard also just celebrated his 20th year with three Michelin stars.

Arpege has stated that he draws inspiration first by looking at the color of a vegetable. “A mauve, a yellow, a marbly white, a celadon green, a pearly orange, these are colors that inspire me. I proceed by touches. The technical aspect comes after this.”

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $370.

#7. Maido, Lima, Peru

At Maido, chef Mitsuharu ‘Micha’ Tsumura effortlessly and deliciously blends together Peruvian and Japanese cuisine in a style known as “nikkei.” Flavors from the two cultures are on display in dishes such as the popular 50-hour beef short ribs.

If you don’t have time for the full Maido experience, there’s also a separate sushi bar. Though the food is nothing short of exceptional, diners report that Maido’s atmosphere and service is comfortable and relaxed.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $140.

#6. Central, Lima, Peru

Central is a labor of love for husband-and-wife team Virgilio Martínez and Pia León. While Martínez oversees the menu, León is in the kitchen handling day-to-day operations.

Visit the restaurant and you’ll be able to sample authentic Peruvian combinations like piranha with yuca roots. Each dish draws inspiration from the plants and animals that exist in Peru’s diverse ecosystems and at various elevations.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $160.

#5. Gaggan, Bangkok, Thailand

Before a visit to Gaggan, prepare yourself for a quick-paced meal featuring 25 small courses of “progressive” Indian cuisine created by chef Gaggan Anand. And make sure to book your trip soon: Anand has vowed to close Gaggan in 2020 to open a small restaurant in Japan.

On the menu, for which Gaggan has been named the No. 1 restaurant in Asia for the last four years, you’ll find bits of inspiration from India, Japan, Mexico and elsewhere. Oh, and we hope you’re fluent in texting lingo, because the entire menu is written using emojis.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $195.

#4. Eleven Madison Park, New York City

Located on the ground floor of a 30-story art deco skyscraper, Eleven Madison Park overlooks the iconic Madison Square Park in Manhattan. Though the restaurant has been in the same place since 1998, it looks and feels brand new after a total renovation in 2017.

Chef Daniel Humm is at the helm of the kitchen, serving up sublime fare like honey and lavender roasted duck. If you have time, you can visit Eleven Madison Park for the full tasting menu in the dining room, or sample a shorter version in the bar — either way, you can’t go wrong.

Cost: Bar tasting menu starting at $175, main dining room tasting menu starting at $315.

#3. Mirazur, Menton, France

Come for the food, stay for the exquisite views. While you taste some of the world’s finest food at Mirazur, you’ll also be able to soak in a panoramic view of the Mediterranean Sea from this 1930s rotunda-style building.

With an emphasis on seafood and vegetables, chef Mauro Colagreco tends toward light, fresh and simple dishes like Norway lobster with orange sauce, saint-georges and nasturtiums. He regularly sources ingredients from his own backyard gardens.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $128.

#2. El Celler de Can Roca, Girona, Spain

Three brothers run this dynamic restaurant, with Joan Roca serving as chef, Josep Roca as sommelier and Jordi Roca as pastry chef. El Celler de Can Roca earned its third Michelin star in 2009 and has been named the best restaurant in the world twice.

At the center of the restaurant is a glass-enclosed courtyard with tall trees lit from below, which creates a relaxing and romantic environment for diners inside. Popular dishes include freeze-dried oyster shells and ice cream “olives” dangling from a bonsai tree.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $210.

#1. Osteria Francescana, Modena, Italy

Under the direction of chef Massimo Bottura, Osteria Francescana has consistently been ranked one of the top — if not the top — restaurants in the world in recent years. Best known for blending contemporary flair with traditional Italian flavors, Bottura creates playful dishes like “the crunchy part of the lasagna” and “an eel swimming up the Po River.”

In his spare time, Bottura is also a passionate advocate for reducing food waste around the world and leads the nonprofit Food for Soul to combat the issue.

Cost: Tasting menu starting at $290.