This Is The New #1 Restaurant In The World — And It’s Not In Paris, Tokyo, or NYC

Photo Credit: MaidoTime to get your plane tickets ready, because — the most coveted table in the world has just been announced… and it’s not in an expected city, either.

Tonight in Turin, in Italy’s Piedmont region, the global culinary elite gathered for the unveiling of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna. And at the top of this year’s list? Maido in Lima, named The World’s Best Restaurant — a title well earned.

Run by chef-owner Mitsuharu ‘Micha’ Tsumura, Maido is a masterclass in Nikkei cuisine, blending meticulous Japanese technique with the bold, vibrant soul of Peru. The name itself — “Maido” — comes from a Japanese greeting, the first word diners hear as they enter the space. What follows is a warm, immersive tasting menu experience built on the finest seasonal local ingredients, with more than 10 courses that surprise and delight. Previously ranked No.5 in 2024, Maido has now claimed the crown, succeeding Barcelona’s Disfrutar, which enters the Best of the Best hall of fame.

Photo Credit: Maido

Taking the No.2 and No.3 spots respectively are Asador Etxebarri in Atxondo, Spain, celebrated for its wood-fired simplicity and depth of flavor, and Quintonil in Mexico City, a constant standard-bearer for modern Mexican cuisine.

Meanwhile, Spain continues to dominate with DiverXO in Madrid holding firm at No.4, and Enigma in Barcelona making a splash at No.34, winning the Estrella Damm Chefs’ Choice Award 2025 — the only award voted for by fellow chefs. This marks another milestone for Albert Adrià, whose creative culinary fingerprint continues to influence gastronomy on a global scale.

Photo Credit: Maido

The 2025 ceremony, hosted at Lingotto Fiere, recognized gastronomic excellence from 22 territories across five continents, with 10 new entries shaking up the 1-50 ranking. Among them:

Photo Credit: World’s 50 Best

Potong (No.13) and Nusara (No.35) in Bangkok

Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler (No.20) in Brunico, Italy

Mérito (No.26) in Lima

Lasai (No.28) in Rio de Janeiro

Kadeau (No.41) in Copenhagen

Vyn (No.47) in Skillinge, Sweden

Celele (No.48) in Cartagena

Restaurant Jan (No.50) in Munich

Four restaurants reentered the ranking, including:

Narisawa (No.21) in Tokyo

Le Calandre (No.31) in Rubano, Italy

Orfali Bros (No.37) in Dubai

La Cime (No.44) in Osaka

Additional awards included:

Highest New Entry: Potong (No.13) in Bangkok, led by chef Pichaya ‘Pam’ Soontornyanakij

Highest Climber: Ikoyi (No.15) in London, rising 27 spots from 2024

World’s Best Pastry Chef: Maxime Frédéric of Cheval Blanc Paris and Plénitude (No.14)

Sustainable Restaurant Award: Celele (No.48), honoring its commitment to local sourcing and Colombia’s Caribbean culinary traditions

World’s Best Sommelier: Mohamed Benabdallah of Asador Etxebarri

The Woodford Reserve Icon Award went to culinary power duo Massimo Bottura and Lara Gilmore, in recognition of their visionary work through Osteria Francescana, Casa Maria Luigia, and social initiatives like Food for Soul and the Tortellante Project.

The 50 Best Restaurants Scholarship, relaunched in 2025, was awarded to Angélica Ortiz, a Colombian chef currently working at Oxomoco in New York. Ortiz will receive internships at El Celler de Can Roca and SingleThread, gaining immersive experience across both kitchen and farm.

Other pre-announced special awards included:

Champions of Change: Mindy Woods, chef-owner of Karkalla On Country in Australia

World’s Best Female Chef: Chef Pam of Potong

Art of Hospitality Award: Wing in Hong Kong

Resy One To Watch: Khufu’s in Cairo

This year’s list proves once again that the global dining scene is ever-evolving, wildly creative, and deeply rooted in both place and purpose. And with Maido leading the charge, 2025 is shaping up to be a deliciously dynamic year for food lovers everywhere.

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