Our History

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list was first dreamt up in 2002. The idea was born as a feature idea for a very youthful trade magazine aimed at chefs and restaurateurs in the UK – Restaurant Magazine. What was born sparked interest globally, and in 2003 there was no way the list could not be published again – this time with an awards night to boot.

Since 2002 the way in which the list is created has changed to reflect shifting trends, and in a quest to make it as fair and globally representative as possible. This is no easy task – and is an ongoing project. In it’s early years the World’s 50 Best was dominated by European restaurants, and had a healthy dose of UK Restaurants too. As the news spread of the list – so did the network of panelists involved.

Even now we’d be the first to admit that it’s not perfect. What the Academy aims to do, with it’s mix of critics, gourmands, chefs and restaurateurs, is create a list that has a fair weighting both geographically and in dining styles.

Organised by Restaurant Magazine, the S.Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants aims to get people talking about restaurants, and to shine a bright light on excellence and innovation in an exciting industry.

• The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Time Line

  2002

  • El Bulli named Best Restaurant in the World in the first Restaurant Magazine listing. Restaurant Magazine news pages tell us how McDonald’s open their first drive-through for snowmobiles in Sweden.

• 2003

  • David Blaine sat in a plastic box for 44 days with no food while those with more brain cells were dining at The French Laundry – the new number 1. Meanwhile, Gordon Ramsay re-launches a more informal Amaryllis in Glasgow.

• 2004

  • The French Laundry stays at number 1 while Janet Jackson had a wardrobe malfunction at the Super Bowl. Frank Bruni becomes New York Times food critic.

• 2005

  • The Fat Duck claims the top prize, and London wins the 2012 Olympic bid…and then realises how expensive it’s going to be. Foie Gras becomes a controversial delicacy with top chefs wading into a heated debate about whether it should be served.

• 2006

  • El Bulli regains top spot while Bush addresses the Prime Minister of the UK as “Yo! Blair” The World’s 50 best Restaurants Academy is born.

• 2007

  • A second year at the top for El Bulli whilst OJ Simpson steals some OJ Simpson memorabilia … no one know for sure why. The Roux family celebrate Le Gavroche turning 40 years old in London. S.Pellegrino become the title sponsor of the Awards.

• 2008

  • El Bulli is the first to make it three years in a row as number 1, and a man in Tennessee plays the banjo whilst having brain surgery. Marchesi celebrates his Lifetime Achievement award and announces new Milan restaurant.

• 2009

  • Crop circles in Australia are accredited to stone wallabies, and El Bulli makes it 4 years on the trot as Best Restaurant in the World.