These are the world's best restaurants – and two are in London
Maido, opened by Lima-born chef Mitsuharu 'Micha' Tsumura in 2009, took the top spot in the World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025, an annual ranking widely recognised as reflecting global fine dining trends. The list was revealed at a chef-packed ceremony at Turin's Lingotto Fiere convention centre on Thursday 19 June.
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The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025
The top five
Maido's win cements Nikkei cuisine – the fusion of Japanese techniques and Peruvian ingredients, rooted in the Japanese diaspora in Peru – on the global culinary stage. Chef-owner Tsumura, son of Japanese immigrants, showcases this heritage through a multi-course menu featuring dishes like squid ramen with Amazon chorizo, Peru's national dish ceviche, and nigiri.
As confetti showered the stage, the Maido team celebrated their popular victory. Tsumura called it 'the most beautiful thing that has happened in my life [...] a dream come true,' adding that Maido is about 'having fun' and 'democratising deliciousness.'
The win means long-standing Basque Country restaurant Asador Etxebarri remains in second place, with Quintonil (Mexico City) third, DiverXO (Madrid) fourth, and Copenhagen's Alchemist fifth.
Rankings are based on independently adjudicated votes from 1,120 restaurant experts, including chefs, restaurateurs and writers. Restaurants cannot be nominated or apply for inclusion; judges vote based on recent visits.
Maido succeeds Barcelona hotspot and 2024 number one Disfrutar, which joins the best of the best group of past winners, including Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck (2005) and Lima's Central (2023) – making them ineligible for future World's 50 Best lists.
It was a strong night for Bangkok, with six of its restaurants on the list. Progressive Thai-Chinese venue Potong was the highest new entry at 13, and its chef-owner Pichaya 'Pam' Soontornyanakij won the best female chef award.
Ikoyi in central London, praised by The Telegraph as 'terrific' for its vivid, imaginative and immaculately cooked dishes, won the 'highest climber' award. The restaurant, which layers hyper-seasonal British ingredients with West African flavours, soared from 42nd place in 2024 to 15th. Chef and co-owner Jeremy Chan said, 'I'm very surprised and very grateful. I feel proud to represent British cuisine, produce and technique on the world stage.'
Kol, Mayfair's contemporary Mexican-British fusion restaurant by Santiago Lastra – hailed by The Telegraph as 'the most ambitious and exciting new booking in London' when it opened in 2020 – held onto its top 50 spot but slipped from 17th to 49th.
In the previously revealed top 100 ranking there was further UK success: Tomos Parry's Basque-inspired Mountain in Soho placed 74th, and the modern British Clove Club in Bethnal Green came in 86th. However, open-fire restaurant Brat and three Michelin-starred Core by Clare Smyth both dropped out.
Isaac McHale, chef-owner of The Clove Club, said London is 'a victim of its own success,' explaining that with so many great restaurants, visitors with limited time have fewer chances to vote for any one spot. In less saturated cities, he said, diners' attention is more focused.
Individual awards at the World's 50 Best ceremony also recognised Australian First Nations food and culture, a contemporary Egyptian restaurant near the Giza Pyramids and sustainability champions. But the final word went to chef Tsumura, whose persistence at Maido has paid off: 'Nikkei cuisine wasn't well known in the streets, and now it's known all over the world.'
The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025
50. Restaurant Jan – Munich, Germany (new entry)
49. Kol – London, UK
48. Celele – Cartagena, Colombia (new entry and winner of sustainable restaurant award)
47. Vyn – Skillinge, Sweden (new entry)
46. Rosetta – Mexico City, Mexico
45. Arpège – Paris, France
44. La Cime – Osaka, Japan
43. Uliassi – Senegallia, Italy
42. Belcanto – Lisbon, Portugal
41. Kadeau – Copenhagen, Denmark
40. Septime – Paris, France
39. Mayta – Lima, Peru
38. Frantzén – Stockholm, Sweden
37. Orfali Bros – Dubai, UAE
36. Florilege – Tokyo, Japan
35. Nusara – Bangkok, Thailand (new entry)
34. Enigma – Barcelona, Spain (new entry)
33. Steirereck – Vienna, Austria
32. Piazza Duomo – Alba, Italy
31. Le Calandre – Rubano, Italy
30. Le Du – Bangkok, Thailand
29. Mingles – Seoul, South Korea
28. Lasai – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (new entry)
27. Tresind Studio – Dubai, UAE (best restaurant in Middle East)
26. Mérito – Lima, Peru (new entry)
25. Odette – Singapore
24. Elkano – Getaria, Spain
23. Boragó – Santiago, Chile
22. Suhring – Bangkok, Thailand
21. Narisawa – Tokyo, Japan
20. Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler – Brunico, Italy (new entry)
19. The Chairman – Hong Kong
18. Reale – Castel di Sangro, Italy
17. Sorn – Bangkok, Thailand
16. Lido 84 – Gardone Riviera, Italy
15. Ikoyi – London, UK (highest climber award)
14. Plenitude – Paris
13. Potong – Bangkok, Thailand (highest new entry)
12. Atomix – New York, USA
11. Wing – Hong Kong (art of hospitality award)
10. Don Julio – Buenos Aires, Argentina
9. Kjolle – Lima, Peru
8. Table by Bruno Verjus – Paris, France
7. Sézanne – Tokyo, Japan
6. Gaggan – Bangkok, Thailand (best restaurant in Asia)
The top five
5. Alchemist, Copenhagen, Denmark
Theatrical cooking – and then some. Dinner at chef Rasmus Munk's restaurant is a multi-sensory experience unfolding over several mind-bending hours and 50 edible 'impressions'. A ticket will set you back 5,400 DKK (£618) – if you're lucky enough to get one.
4. DiverXO, Madrid, Spain
Visionary chef Dabiz Muñoz takes diners on a rollercoaster ride of unexpected flavours, blending his Spanish heritage with bold Asian influences. Dishes on the 15-course menu might include blue crab with kimchi ice cream and wild strawberries.
3. Quintonil, Mexico City, Mexico
Chef Jorge Vallejo celebrates Mexico with a creative spin on native ingredients, many of which are grown just steps from the restaurant. Bluefin tuna aguachile and duck tamales might feature, along with a touch of entomophagy – think tacos with chicatana ants.
2. Asador Etxebarri, Atxondo, Spain
It's 35 years since chef Bittor Arguinzoniz opened this now-legendary grill restaurant in his home village in the Basque Country. Diners flock here for a menu where exceptional local ingredients are kissed by flame – even the smoked milk ice cream with beetroot juice that rounds off the meal.
1. Maido, Lima, Peru
Nikkei cuisine from the global master of Japanese-Peruvian fusion. Chef Mitsuharu Tsumura's multi-course menu is led by fish, with dishes such as squid ramen with Amazon chorizo and nigiri made from the day's catch. A favourite in the gastronomic world – he won the World's 50 Best Chef's Choice Award in 2024 – he pairs inventive cooking with warm hospitality at his city-centre restaurant (fittingly, maido means 'welcome' in Japanese).
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