As 2019 draws to a close, we look back over the last 12 months to identify the most important events that took place in the 50 Best world – from restaurant and bar openings to anniversaries and awards. Here are 16 highlights…
1. New year, new rules – 16 January 2019
“To ensure The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list and awards retain their relevance and excitement, we must evolve,” wrote our Director of Content, William Drew, starting off the new year on a forward-thinking tone. On 16th January, it was announced that the 1,040-strong voting Academy that creates The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list would become gender balanced. The list also benefited from the establishment of the Best of the Best group, formed of the restaurants that have reached the No.1 position over the history of the list and therefore became ineligible to be voted into its future editions. Read more about the changes and discover the Best of the Best.
2. The World’s 50 Best Bars 10th Anniversary – 12 February 2019
The World’s 50 Best Bars turned 10 years old in 2019 and celebrated in style with a special event held in New York City. A one-off edition of the thought-leadership forum #50BestTalks brought together the six acclaimed personalities who have led their bars to the top spot of the list over the past decade. Enjoy the highlights from the events in the video above and watch the presentations by Jonathan Downey of Milk & Honey, Jim Meehan of Please Don’t Tell, Alex Kratena, formerly of Artesian, Jillian Vose of The Dead Rabbit, Declan McGurk of American Bar and Ryan Chetiyawardana of Dandelyan (now Lyaness).
3. André Chiang returned with new restaurant Sichuan Moon in Macau – 24 March 2019
A year after closing his flagship Restaurant André – which, at its peak, placed No.2 in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants – legendary Taiwanese chef André Chiang opened a new place in Macau, China. Called Sichuan Moon and located inside Macau’s sleek Wynn Palace hotel, the restaurant offers a refined take on Sichuan gastronomic tradition through a 20-course tasting menu that honours the cuisine’s depth of flavour and fiery spirit. Read more about Sichuan Moon.
4. Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2019 – 26 March 2019
Returning to Macau, the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants festivities took in a new edition of #50BestTalks that focused on the theme of ‘Vital Ingredients’ and a glamorous awards ceremony at Wynn Palace. After four years with Gaggan in Bangkok, Thailand at the top of the list, Odette in Singapore snagged the No.1 spot, becoming the first Singapore restaurant to earn such an honour. The ceremony also celebrated, among others, innovative Singaporean restaurant JL Studio in Taiwan as the winner of the Miele One To Watch Award; Indian chef Garima Arora of Gaa in Bangkok being named Asia’s Best Female Chef; and renowned kaiseki master Seiji Yamamoto as the recipient of the inaugural American Express Icon Award. Discover the list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants.
5. Lyaness, the sequel to The World’s Best Bar, opened in London – 29 March 2019
Only two days before London bar Dandelyan became The World’s Best Bar 2018, sponsored by Perrier, Ryan Chetiyawardana announced that the London landmark would be closing in 2019 to be transformed into a new concept. The result was Lyaness, where Chetiyawardana chose to focus on only seven ingredients for his new menu and restyled bar. Read Chetiyawardana’s last interview before Dandelyan closed.
6. Mugaritz in Spain celebrated its 20th birthday – 10 April 2019
Mugaritz, chef Andoni Luis Aduriz’s iconic restaurant in the Basque Country, capped off a year of festivities for its 20th anniversary in April 2019. The chef celebrated with the launch of a new menu and plentiful birthday celebrations, before he reflected on two decades of Mugaritz and what the future holds for him on 50 Best Stories.
7. Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2019 – 9 May 2019
The best of the drinks scene in Asia was celebrated at Asia’s 50 Best Bars awards, with the events hosted in Singapore. The ceremony culminated in the announcement of a new holder of the title of Best Bar in Asia, sponsored by Perrier, as The Old Man in Hong Kong took the top spot from Singapore’s Manhattan. The day after the awards, some of the best bartenders in the continent gathered for the first all-female edition of #50BestTalks, called ‘Female Spirit’. Watch the highlights of the events above, and head to YouTube to see the best of #50BestTalks.
8. Alex Kratena and Monica Berg opened Tayēr + Elementary – 28 May 2019
Alex Kratena (known for leading London bar Artesian to the top of The World’s 50 Best Bars list four times) and Monica Berg (one of the bartenders behind Himkok in Oslo and co-founder of Pour symposium) opened their first own venue in London, Tayēr + Elementary. Divided into two separate drinks spaces and featuring a unique kitchen counter, it is quickly becoming one of the capital’s favourite bars. Berg went on to be voted by her peers as the e Altos Bartenders’ Bartender at The World’s 50 Best Bars 2019 – read what she had to say when we caught up with her at the bar.
9. The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2019 – 25 June 2019
Over four days, the best chefs and restaurateurs in the world descended on the city-state of Singapore for the planet’s biggest gastronomic celebration. From exclusive insights into 50 Best kitchens, inspirational discussions at #50BestTalks and Food Meets Future, the events celebrated the shared achievements of the culinary industry. The first list created under the new rules announced in January saw Mirazur in Menton, France, earning the title of The World’s Best Restaurant 2019, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, while the new incarnation of René Redzepi’s Noma took the second spot. Other honourees included Lido 84 in Italy (Miele One To Watch Award), chef Daniela Soto-Innes of Cosme in New York (The World’s Best Female Chef) and José Andres (American Express Icon Award). Watch the best moments in the video above, and discover where the next edition of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants will be held.
10. James Lowe opened Flor in London – 11 July 2019
Five years after opening Lyle’s, the London restaurant ranked No.33 in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, chef James Lowe set himself a new challenge with the opening of Flor in the UK capital. A more casual and accessible venue with a focus on fresh bread, pastries and European ingredients, Flor provided a chance for the chef to widen his focus and reach new diners. Read all about Flor.
11. #50BestTalks: Beyond Frontiers – 16 September 2019
After The World’s 50 Best Bars held its first gathering in the US at the beginning of the year, The World’s 50 Best Restaurants enjoyed a first too as it organised its debut official event in France. At a standalone edition of #50BestTalks, presented by Miele, focused on the theme ‘Beyond Frontiers’, chefs Mauro Colagreco of Mirazur in France, Manu Buffara of Manu in Brazil and Dan Barber of Blue Hill at Stone Barns in the US gave thought-provoking presentations around food, farming, sustenance and sustainability. Catch up on all the presentations by the chefs in the YouTube playlist.
12. The World’s 50 Best Bars 2019 – 3 October 2019
The 11th edition of The World’s 50 Best Bars list was unveiled at an awards ceremony at London’s Roundhouse in front the cocktail sector’s leading bartenders, VIPs and media. The 2019 list featured 15 new entries and two re-entries, with bars spanning 22 countries from Japan to Argentina, providing the ultimate bucket list for the discerning drinker. New York favourite Dante took home the trophy for The World’s Best Bar 2019, sponsored by Perrier. Discover the full list.
13. Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2019 – 10 October 2019
For the first time, the Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants celebrations were held in Argentina, whose capital Buenos Aires played host to the full programme of events. The edition of #50BestTalks this time focused on bread and dessert, charting their importance in the dining experience and offering unique tastings. Maido in Peru retained its crown as The Best Restaurant in Latin America for the third year at the awards ceremony, while Peruvian chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino was honoured with the American Express Icon Award, Colombian restaurant Celele received the Miele One To Watch Award and Chilean chef Carolina Bazán was voted Latin America’s Best Female Chef. Browse our list of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants.
14. Gaggan Anand closed Gaggan and opened a new restaurant in Bangkok – 1 November 2019
Only a few months after the sudden closure of his world-renowned restaurant Gaggan, which topped the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list from 2015 to 2018, chef Gaggan Anand opened a fresh incarnation of his unique culinary vision in Bangkok. Set in a new building divided into three areas, the restaurant still features Gaggan’s inimitable emoji menus and bites eaten with the hands, with a greater focus on premium ingredients and plenty of new dishes. Read everything you need to know about the restaurant on 50 Best Stories.
15. 50 Best Discovery launched – 26 November 2019
50 Best rounded off 2019 with a boom, as it launched 50 Best Discovery, a new search engine of expert-approved restaurants and bars. The platform features more than 1,600 reviews of venues in 75 countries, each of which has received votes from the 50 Best Academy, offering access and insight into outstanding venues beyond the elite establishments celebrated in the 50 Best lists. Log onto 50 Best Discovery to explore hidden gems, secret spots and timeless classics, and chart a new itinerary for culinary and cocktail adventures.
16. Daniel Humm opened a new restaurant in London following split with Will Guidara – 9 December 2019
Arguably the most anticipated opening of 2019, Daniel Humm – the chef behind former Word’s Best Restaurant Eleven Madison Park – opened a new restaurant in London months after news of the split with his business partner Will Guidara had made headlines. Davies and Brook, located inside iconic London hotel Claridge’s, promises to deliver a new version of the Swiss chef’s elevated cuisine. Discover more about Davies and Brook.
Watch the video recaps of 2019 for 50 Best Restaurants and 50 Best Bars:
For more inspiration, videos and news, follow The World’s 50 Best Restaurants on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
