The 2010 World's 50 Best Restaurants Rankings

Noma is a restaurant on Refshalevej in Copenhagen.

El Bulli closed in 2011 and is not bookable; the most important thing to know before you search. Ranked #2 on the World's 50 Best in 2010, Ferran Adrià's Roses kitchen was a landmark of Spanish cuisine. For dining in Roses today, the real options are Rafa, ROM, and Sumac. For avant-garde Spanish tasting menus, El Celler de Can Roca in Girona is the closest active equivalent.

The Fat Duck is Heston Blumenthal's restaurant in Bray, Berkshire.

El Celler de Can Roca is a restaurant in Girona, Spain.

Mugaritz is a restaurant in Errenteria in Spain's Basque Country.

Osteria Francescana is Massimo Bottura's restaurant in Modena, Italy.

Alinea is Grant Achatz's modernist restaurant in Chicago.

Daniel is an Upper East Side restaurant for a formal French dinner, with prix-fixe and tasting menus in the main dining room. Its Lalique-designed bar and lounge offer shorter menus and cocktails in a different setting.

Arzak serves Basque cuisine developed by Juan Mari Arzak and Elena Arzak in San Sebastián.

Per Se is a Thomas Keller restaurant at Columbus Circle in New York City.

Le Chateaubriand is the defining address of Paris's bistronomy movement and one of the hardest tables to secure in the 11th arrondissement. Chef Iñaki Aizpitarte's single set menu, sourced from independent producers, has held a World's 50 Best ranking and a current Opinionated About Dining top-500 position. At €€€ per head, the value is clear; if you can get a reservation.

La Colombe ranked 49th on the World's 50 Best Restaurants in 2024 and is one of the hardest tables to secure in South Africa. Chef James Gaag's vegetable-forward tasting menu, served on a wine estate above Constantia Nek with views over the valley and sea, earns the difficulty. Book well ahead and ask about the dedicated vegetable menu.

Pierre Gagnaire is chef Pierre Gagnaire's restaurant on Rue Balzac in Paris.

Restaurant de l'Hôtel de Ville de Crissier is Franck Giovannini's restaurant near Lausanne, Switzerland.

Le Bernardin is a seafood restaurant in Midtown Manhattan.

L'Astrance is a restaurant on Rue de Longchamp in Paris.

Hof van Cleve is Floris Van Der Veken's restaurant in Kruisem, Belgium.

D.O.M. is a Brazilian restaurant in São Paulo's Jardins district.

Oud Sluis reached the World's 50 Best top 20 four consecutive years running, and chef Toshihiko Furuta's Japanese-influenced take on Dutch coastal produce still makes the remote Zeeland trip worth planning. Book months ahead; this is Near Impossible to secure at short notice. The tasting menu format demands a full evening and an overnight stay nearby.

Le Calandre is an Alajmo restaurant in Sarmeola di Rubano, Italy.

Steirereck im Stadtpark is a Vienna restaurant centered on Austrian hospitality and local products.

Vendôme is a restaurant at Schloss Bensberg in Bergisch Gladbach.

Chez Dominique brought Danish kitchen discipline to Helsinki's fine-dining tier. Chef Hans Välimäki's Danish-oriented cooking made it a credible choice for a special occasion or celebration dinner in the city centre.

Narisawa is a restaurant in Minamiaoyama, Tokyo.

Matbaren at the Grand Hôtel Stockholm delivers Nordic and modern cooking from the Mathias Dahlgren kitchen at a €€ price point that significantly undercuts its quality tier. Two consecutive Michelin Bib Gourmand awards (2024 and 2025) and confirm the consistency. Book it for a date, a solo lunch at the counter, or any occasion where the food needs to impress without the full tasting-menu commitment.

Iggy's is a Michelin-starred Modern European room on the third floor of voco Orchard Singapore that has held its position among the city's best fine-dining tables since 2004. With a nine-course Gastronomic menu, a Burgundy-heavy wine list, and strong tasting-menu options at both lunch and dinner, it is a serious choice for a special occasion; but book at least a week out, as tables fill fast.

L'Atelier Saint Germain De Joël Robuchon is a counter-format French fine dining restaurant in Paris's 7th arrondissement, holding a Michelin Plate and a legacy that placed it in the World's 50 Best top 15. Book four to eight weeks out; demand is consistent and seats are limited. Best suited to pairs or solo diners who want close kitchen engagement rather than a conventional table setup.

Schloss Schauenstein is a restaurant and boutique hotel in Fürstenau, Switzerland.

Le Quartier Français is a French-cuisine address in the heart of Franschhoek, no longer led by chef Margot Janse, who left in 2017. It is more accessible than the town's tasting-menu-focused competitors, making it a practical choice for brunch or a daytime meal without the multi-hour commitment. Booking is straightforward, even on weekends.

The French Laundry is a restaurant in Yountville, California.

Martín Berasategui's flagship restaurant is in Lasarte-Oria, Gipuzkoa.

Aqua is a restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton in Wolfsburg.

Combal Zero was a progressive Italian restaurant inside the Castello di Rivoli, run by chef Davide Scabin. The kitchen applied modern technique to Piedmontese ingredients in a setting that few dining rooms in Italy can match for architectural drama.

Dal Pescatore is a restaurant in Runate, Lombardy.

De Librije is a restaurant in Zwolle, Netherlands.

JAAN by Kirk Westaway is a restaurant at Swissôtel The Stamford in Singapore.

Il Canto is Siena's most serious fine dining address, with three consecutive World's 50 Best appearances (2010–2012) and confirming it has held its standard. Book months ahead; availability is near impossible; and request counter seating for your best experience. Nothing else in Siena operates at this tier.

Oaxen Krog is Magnus Ek's sourcing-led Nordic tasting menu on Djurgården, ranked 42nd on the World's 50 Best Restaurants in 2010 and holding a 3-Star World of Fine Wine & Lifestyle Accreditation. Expect €€€€ pricing, near-impossible booking difficulty, and a kitchen where vegetables frequently lead the plate. Book well in advance; this is one of Stockholm's most considered fine dining options.

St John is Fergus Henderson's Michelin-starred nose-to-tail restaurant in Smithfield, London, and one of the strongest value propositions at £££ in the city. Book two to four weeks ahead. The daily-changing menu centres on offal, game, and seasonal British produce; the bone marrow is the dish to know. If you want serious cooking without the ceremony of a ££££ room, this is the booking to make.

Maison Troisgros is a restaurant and hotel in Ouches near Roanne, France.

WD~50 is New York's reference point for American molecular cooking, holding. It suits food-focused diners who want technique over theatrical service. Booking is rated Easy, but confirm current hours and pricing before you commit, as details are limited.

Schwarzwaldstube is a restaurant on Tonbachstraße in Baiersbronn.

Nihonryori RyuGin is Seiji Yamamoto's Japanese restaurant in Tokyo Midtown Hibiya.

Hibiscus earned back-to-back World's 50 Best placements in 2010 and 2011, making it one of the few British fine dining restaurants with genuinely international reference-point credentials. Set in Delapre Abbey in Northampton, this is a destination booking rather than a central London dinner; plan the journey, book as far ahead as possible, and confirm current pricing and format directly with the venue before you travel.

Eleven Madison Park is a fine-dining restaurant overlooking Madison Square Park in New York City.