Basque Open-Fire Haven Asador Etxebarri Crowned World's Best Restaurant
Asador Etxebarri in the Basque Country has been named the world's best restaurant. The annual ranking highlighted a global shift toward open-fire cooking and non-European cuisines.
The prestigious title of the world's best restaurant has been awarded to Asador Etxebarri, located in the Basque village of Axpe. Established in 2002 by William Reed as part of the World's 50 Best Restaurants ranking, the list has evolved to include various regional and specialized categories. Past winners include legendary culinary institutions such as Denmark's Noma, which claimed the top spot four times, and Spain's El Bulli, holding the record with five victories. Other multiple-time winners feature Italy's Osteria Francescana and Spain's El Celler de Can Roca.
Following a 2019 rule change, restaurants that capture first place enter a permanent Hall of Fame and become ineligible for future competition. This adjustment ensures an annual shift in the rankings, making room for new champions. Asador Etxebarri earned its acclaimed status through an elemental approach centered on open-fire cooking. Moving far beyond backyard barbecues, the establishment utilizes slow-roasting techniques over apple, olive, and oak wood coals to elevate simple, high-quality ingredients, headlined by exceptional Basque beef.
The annual award ceremony took place in Lima, Peru, shifting from its originally planned venue in Abu Dhabi. Bangkok's progressive Gaggan secured second place, followed by Denmark's innovative Alchemist in third. The rest of the top ten reflects a broader global culinary shift, featuring entries from Mexico City, Hong Kong, Lima, Copenhagen, Madrid, and Paris. Notably, Plénitude stands as the sole French representative in the upper echelon, highlighting a continuing decline in traditional European gastronomic dominance as Asian and Latin American cuisines rapidly ascend the global rankings.
