The world's best restaurants of 2022

The best places to eat on the planet right now

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants' 2022 celebration returned to London, where the awards were originally hosted from 2003 to 2015. Hosted by charismatic actor and filmmaker Stanley Tucci, the ceremony took place at the historic Old Billingsgate Market in the City of London, marking the awards' 20th year, with chefs, restaurateurs, media and gourmets meeting to celebrate the most prestigious accolades in the food industry. Read on as we profile the very best restaurants around the globe right now.

50. SingleThread, Healdsburg, USA

Set in the heart of Northern Californian wine country, SingleThread is a destination restaurant run by Kyle and Katina Connaughton that draws inspiration from traditional Japanese ryokan inns. Ingredients are grown on Katina’s farm and elevated to Japanese kaiseki-style dishes by Kyle, with 11 intricate courses served one after the other. The latest iteration is poetically titled "Mid Spring in Sonoma" and includes such offerings as duck with strawberry and beetroot, and black cod with peas and yuba.

49. Ikoyi, London, UK

Launched by friends Jeremy Chan and Iré Hassan-Odukale in 2017, Ikoyi is a restaurant that’s hard to categorise, bringing together techniques from African, Asian and European cooking – with herbs and spices being sourced from around the world, and proteins and produce taken from the British Isles. The restaurant’s signature dish is its smoked jollof rice, a plate that you’ll find on the £185 ($220) evening tasting menu, although a more affordable lunchtime menu is available on Thursdays and Fridays for £75 ($90).

48. Leo, Bogotá, Colombia

Leo was opened in 2017 by Leonor Espinosa, who also received the accolade of The World's Best Female Chef 2022 at the awards. Espinosa's work in using lesser-known Colombian ingredients and recipes, such as corozo fruit (a tangy red berry), arrechón (an aphrodisiac drink) and bijao (a banana-like plant), has revitalised the country's gastronomic traditions while supporting local producers.

47. Oteque, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Located in an old house in Rio de Janeiro’s Botafogo district, Oteque’s six wooden tables look onto an open kitchen so diners can watch their seafood make the journey from pan to plate. The food here is modern and minimalistic, and its ingredients are treated with respect by head chef Alberto Landgraf, who prides himself on carefully considering every little detail at Oteque, from the menu and playlist to the flow of air through the restaurant. Dishes include raw bluefin tuna with seaweed vinaigrette, pine nuts and caviar, and oyster with palm heart and parsley oil.

46. Belcanto, Lisbon, Portugal

Chef José Avillez took over Belcanto in 2012; it earned its first Michelin star that year and grabbed a second two years later. High, vaulted ceilings and minimalist chandeliers are the backdrop to a menu that serves up quirky plates such as the whimsical "garden of the goose that laid the golden eggs" (egg, crunchy bread and mushrooms) and seabass with avocado ‘scales’ – dishes designed to take diners on a gastronomic journey of contemporary Portuguese cuisine.

45. Narisawa, Tokyo, Japan

Top chef Yoshihiro Narisawa’s eponymous restaurant opened in 2003 and has been building its international reputation ever since. Its innovative Satoyama menu – Satoyama is the border between mountain foothills and flat land – is all about respecting the earth. Diners can sample seasonal flavours from around the country, from a broth made from a poisonous snake to a warm sashimi course of langoustine.  

44. Le Bernardin, New York, USA

This already legendary New York restaurant has long been one of the world’s top seafood restaurants. First opened by brother and sister team Gilbert and Maguy Le Coze in Paris in 1972, its outpost in the USA came into existence in 1986, where the kitchen has been run by chef Eric Ripert for more than 20 years. The French and Asian-influenced menu has three sections: Almost Raw, Barely Touched and Lightly Cooked.

43. Boragó, Santiago, Chile

Chef Rodolfo Guzmán works with 200 foraging communities and small producers to source ultra-seasonal ingredients for his restaurant's menu, which showcases the incredible variety that Chile has to offer. Guzmán even has his very own food research centre, the CIB, and a biodynamic farm that supports his mission for zero-kilometre cooking – an endeavour that earned Boragó the title of the World’s Most Sustainable Restaurant in 2021.

42. Quique Dacosta, Dénia, Spain

A bright, white Valencian villa, chef Quique Dacosta’s eponymous restaurant is famous for tasting menus that celebrate the fish, seafood and rice dishes of the Levant in extraordinarily artistic style. Served as a series of tapas-like courses, each dish is a combination of traditional and modern, like prawn bread stuffed with chilli crab and served on a ceramic lettuce leaf, or lobster roe salad with bisque served in a shimmering sea snail shell.

41. La Cime, Osaka, Japan

Chef Yusuke Takada opened La Cime in 2010 after returning to Japan from a stint in France, and it wasn’t long before the accolades started rolling in. In 2012 he earned his first Michelin star, with a second following closely behind in 2016. Takada sources his ingredients from Amami Oshima, the subtropical island where he was born, as well as from farms and fishing ports in Western Japan – combining them together to form such creative, whimsical plates as the spherical boudin dog, a must-try appetiser.

40. Schloss Schauenstein, Fürstenau, Switzerland

Schloss Schauenstein is housed in a fairy-tale castle in the tiny city of Fürstenau. Owned by Swiss chef Andreas Caminada, who took over the then-empty castle in 2003 when he was 26, the restaurant is a romantic affair. What also impresses is its commitment to respect the environment, which saw it scoop the Sustainable Restaurant Award in 2019. Schloss Schauenstein has three Michelin stars and a three-course lunch or dinner costs a fixed-price 240 Swiss Francs (£205/$245).

39. Sorn, Bangkok, China

A taste of history awaits those sampling the menu at Sorn. Inspired by classic Southern Thai cuisine, chef Supaksorn "Ice" Jongsiri aims to recover long-lost recipes and local culinary wisdom and turn them into refined, authentic dishes. From its sumptuous starters (think river prawn with rambutan and salted egg) to a family-style curry main course, the experience can be customised to diners' preferred spice level.

38. Jordnær, Copenhagen, Denmark

Chef Eric Vildgaard and his wife Tina opened Jordnær – situated in an unassuming hotel in Gentofte, just outside of Copenhagen – in 2017. Since then, word has spread quickly about the restaurant’s exquisite seafood menu, comprising huge langoustines, turbot and king crabs, not to mention the generous volume of caviar delicately perched atop many of Vildgaard’s dishes. A full pairing of top-marque champagnes is also available for those who really love to indulge.

37. Fyn, Cape Town, South Africa

Crowned The Best Restaurant in Africa 2022, Fyn has a menu that blends Japanese flavours and produce from Cape Town farms and fisheries. Masterminded by South African chef and restaurateur Peter Tempelhoff, French general manager Jennifer Hugé and head chef Ashley Moss, the restaurant is located on the fifth floor of a 19th-century silk factory – offering diners the chance to take in incredible views of Lion’s Head and Table Mountain while they’re tasting its signature Outeniqua springbok with kabocha squash, Hokkaido pumpkin, shiitake and caramelised onion jus.

36. Odette, Singapore

Now the holder of three Michelin stars, Julien Royer’s wonderfully feminine restaurant serves up modern French cuisine such as seared foie gras, miso caramel, lemon quinoa and Japanese strawberries from its location in Singapore’s National Gallery. All ingredients are sourced from specialist artisans across the globe, from Europe to Asia and Australia – and the hospitality is second to none. The restaurant received the Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award at Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2022.

35. The Clove Club, London, UK

Isaac McHale, Daniel Willis, and Johnny Smith’s Michelin-starred restaurant, in an historic town hall in London, highlights modern British food with a few surprises thrown in. With Scottish chef Isaac McHale in the kitchen, diners can expect sensations such as hot smoked Wiltshire trout with almond milk and watercress, and duck breast with citrus and endives – with a gâteau Saint Honoré with Yorkshire rhubarb and ginger ale for dessert.

34. Hiša Franko, Kobarid, Slovenia

Chef Ana Ros was voted The World’s Best Female Chef in 2017 and her restaurant in the stunning Soça Valley has drawn visitors to Slovenia from all over the world. Self-taught, she specialises in intricately-made food such as her signature dish, cauliflower ravioli and baby goat's liver, and tripe cooked in a wild duck jus. It’s also a family business, located in the big house where she lives with her husband and children. Hiša Franko is a clear reflection of Roš’s cuisine, where she combines creative interpretations of worldwide recipes and the latest culinary techniques. 

33. Atomix, New York, USA

Run by chef JP Park and his wife Ellia, Atomix is a dynamic New Korean restaurant in the NoMad district of Manhattan, New York City. While seated at the restaurant’s single, U-shaped counter, diners are treated to a tasting menu that comes complete with beautiful cards outlining the English translation, ingredients and meaning of each dish. Spanish mackerel with turnip and lentil, yellowtail with dried scallop, and king crab with buckwheat waffle and blood orange are just some of the delicately fermented delights on offer.

32. Mayta, Lima, Peru

A newcomer to the World’s 50 Best list, Mayta is a restaurant that places colourful Peruvian produce front and centre – whether you choose to sample its 12-course Yachay tasting menu or dine à la carte. With an acute focus on sustainability, Chef Jaime Pesaque’s mission is to recover the biodiversity of the Ica region of Peru, working regularly with ingredients like paiche: an Amazonian fish that’s eaten to prevent it from killing off other local species.

31. Arpège, Paris, France

Chef Alain Passard has been considered one of the world’s best for decades now, so it’s no surprise that Arpège has retained an incredible three Michelin stars for more than two decades. Arpège's modern French menu focuses on vegetables, with meat making up only a small part. Ingredients such as white asparagus and black truffle go from Passard's farm to the restaurant's plates within hours. The only downside? You may have to wait months for a seat.

30. Florilège, Tokyo, Japan

Hiroyusu Kawate is the chef behind Florilège, a sustainable restaurant that prides itself on reducing food waste. For example, the restaurant only serves meat from cows that have had at least one calf, which may not be seen as top-quality beef by some. Made using hyper-seasonal ingredients, every dish at Florilège has a personal touch and story that connects it to its chef. 

29. St. Hubertus, San Cassiano, Italy

Trout tartare and mashed potato with lemon and larch smoke, ravioli with snails and buttermilk, hay tempura with Graukäse ice cream – all of the ingredients in chef Norbert Niederkofler’s decidedly alpine menu come directly from the Dolomiti mountains surrounding his restaurant, St. Hubertus. Not only that, but Niederkofler’s love for nature is so strong that he set up the Cook the Mountain project, a food network that highlights the produce of the nearby peaks.

28. Le Clarence, Paris, France

With a fiercely French menu that celebrates tradition while weaving in world flavours, Le Clarence has been somewhat of a Paris institution since chef Christophe Pelé took charge back in 2015. And for maximum French flair, it’s even set in a gorgeous 18th-century townhouse just a stone’s throw away from the Champs-Élysées. With a series of tasting menus to choose from, diners can expect to be delighted by everything from morel gyoza with caviar and squid ink, to fried mochi topped with sea bream in Korean-spiked kimchi juice.

27. Hof Van Cleve, Kruishoutem, Belgium

Peter Goossens took over Hof Van Cleve in 1987 with the aim of putting a smile on the faces of visitors to his farmhouse in Flanders. The restaurant champions local produce, which features prominently in the seven-course "Freshness of Nature" tasting menu – and fish and shellfish are menu mainstays too, with dishes like codfish with cockles, green pea and pistachio, and line-caught sea bass with green apple and black rice providing interesting takes on classic flavour combinations.

26. Restaurant Tim Raue, Berlin, Germany

A regular on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, the menu at Tim Raue’s eponymous restaurant reflects his fascination with Asian cuisine (described as a "combination of Japanese product perfection, Thai aromatics and Chinese kitchen philosophy"). Housed in a two-storey building near Checkpoint Charlie in the German capital, the chef’s bold fusion food has made him a star. Signature dishes include Raue’s take on Peking Duck, as well as wasabi langoustine.

25. Frantzén, Stockholm, Sweden

Bjorn Frantzén’s Stockholm eatery serves an experiential 10-course menu that marries Nordic cuisine with Asian notes. While taking a tour of the townhouse the restaurant is housed in, diners can enjoy dishes such as langoustine tail fried with puffed rice and a clarified butter and ginger dip, and Japanese egg custard with pork broth, chives and umami seaweed-dusted crisp skin.

24. The Chairman, Hong Kong, China

Showcasing the best of local cuisine and fresh seafood, The Chairman Group is a quaint restaurant serving local cuisine and complex takes on Hong Kong classics. Some of its best dishes are labour intensive and need to be pre-ordered because sometimes good food just can’t be rushed. The two-storey restaurant is tucked away in a townhouse in Kau U Fong, but making the journey to the north of Hong Kong Island is worth the effort. Chef Kwok Keung Tung’s locally-sourced food includes steamed flowery crab in aged Shaoxing wine.

23. The Jane, Antwerp, Belgium

Set in a beautiful, lovingly renovated 19th-century military hospital that once stood empty, The Jane is now a temple to fine dining, where chef-owner Nick Bril serves up a set menu of (for the most part) raw fish and shellfish. On old warehouse roofs nearby, you’ll find PAKT, an urban vegetable, fruit and flower garden that supplies the restaurant with fresh ingredients. Planning to visit? Bril’s signature lobster with dashi butter is a must-try.

22. Septime, Paris, France

This super-cool Parisian spot, which has been headed up by chef Bertrand Grébaut for eight years, offers seasonal, modern French food. Famed for its fair pricing and relaxed-but-flavoursome creations, Septime is also big on sustainability, having scooped the Sustainable Restaurant Award in 2017. Expect dishes such as egg yolk cured in salted pimento vinegar with raw cuttlefish, lardo, and pimento oil. That’s if you can get a seat...

21. Mugaritz, San Sebastián, Spain

Chef Andoni Luis Aduriz’s "techno-emotional Spanish" style is not for dyed-in-the-wool traditionalists. But for those in search of real innovation, Mugaritz is an essential stop. Aduriz admits that not all his food is designed to be enjoyed, but you can expect an astonishing array of aromas, flavours and temperatures – and he's always one to surprise, with intriguing and expressive dish names like "How Long a Kiss Lasts" and "Depends On How I Look At It".

20. Den, Tokyo, Japan

The aim of Zaiyu Hasegawa’s restaurant Den is that guests leave smiling, a goal that's usually easily achieved with the help of the eatery's loyal chihuahua mascot, Puchi Jr. The menu offers a relaxed spin on Japan's traditional multi-course kaiseki cuisine, with Hasegawa's signature foie gras monaka (wafer sandwich) being a must-order appetiser if that's your thing. Also, don't miss Dentucky Fried Chicken – a house take on chicken wings.

19. Piazza Duomo, Alba, Italy

Tucked away in the narrow streets of Alba in Italy's Northwest, Enrico Crippa's Michelin-starred pink, frescoed restaurant is one of the world’s finest. Under the incredibly creative chef's careful instruction, Piazza Duomo serves two different tasting menus that pay homage to the organic ingredients in the world-famous truffle region, beautiful Piedmont, with herbs and vegetables being grown in the restaurant’s own garden.

18. Alchemist, Copenhagen, Denmark

Hidden away in a remote part of Copenhagen that’s famous for little more than its industrial buildings, you’ll find the mysterious bronze doors of Alchemist. You don’t need staff or a magic wand to enter either; wait for a couple of moments and the doors automatically swing open, welcoming you along on a gastronomic journey. Dreamt up by head chef Rasmus Munk, your experience will be divided into several "acts", taking you through different locations – and creatively presented dishes – along the way.

17. Nobelhart & Schmutzig, Berlin, Germany

This playful, "vocally local" Berlin eatery’s name breaks down into three component parts: "noble", reflecting quality; "hard", because it "turns hard in the middle"; and "filthy", to symbolise owner Billy Wagner’s fun-loving nature. But there’s a serious side to the restaurant too; one that focuses on promoting environmental and ecomomic sustainability for Berlin locals. It’s why chef Micha Schäfer’s 10-course dinner champions the region’s producers by naming them alongside each menu item, from chicken with marjoram to celeriac with blackcurrant wood oil.

16. Elkano, Getaria, Spain

Traditional Spanish seafood in a beautiful environment is what diners will find at Elkano, run by Pedro Arregui and his son Aitor. The restaurant has made itself well-known for its impeccable service and perfectly cooked fish – just one example of the richness of Basque cuisine. The best chefs in the world journey here to experience the skills the family has perfected. 

15. Reale, Castel di Sangro, Italy

Since chef Niko Romito took the reins at Reale in 2000, the family trattoria has gone from strength to strength, winning three Michelin stars in two decades. The reason for its success? It’s all down to the Niko Romito "system": a laboratory where research is carried out every day to find new dishes. The food here is thoroughly analysed in the pursuit of optimal flavour results; we recommend trying Romito's minimalistic "Carrot" "Courgette" and "Cauliflower" creations for proof.

14. Don Julio, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Steak takes centre stage at owner Pablo Rivero’s Buenos Aires eatery, Don Julio. All the beef on the menu comes from Aberdeen Angus and Hereford cattle, raised in the countryside outside the Argentinian capital and matured in a climate-controlled ageing chamber for a minimum of 21 days. The perfect pairing? A glass of the region's heavenly Malbec is highly recommended.

13. Steirereck, Vienna, Austria

Heinz Reitbauer’s space specialises in modern Austrian fare, highlighting the diverse produce of the Styrian region as part of delicious but simple dishes. The chef transforms the basics into cutting-edge food that’s big on theatre; for example, freshwater char is cooked at the table in hot beeswax before being returned on a plate with yellow carrot, pollen and sour cream.

12. Uliassi, Senigallia, Italy

The recipient of 2022’s Highest New Entry Award is Uliassi, a stunning restaurant overlooking the sea on Italy’s Adriatic Coast. Home to chef Mauro and his sister Catia, the restaurant is famed for its masterful marriage of marine flavours and meat-based dishes – all developed at an annual Uliassi team brainstorming session nicknamed the "Uliassi Lab". Even the appetisers are to die for: think fake Ascolan olives, foie gras wafers and croutons with fresh anchovies.

11. Maido, Lima, Peru

The 50-hour-cooked beef short rib is the showstopper at Maido – even though this famous fusion restaurant's main focus is seafood. Chef Mitsuharu "Micha" Tsumura, aided by head chef Cesar Choy, champions the idea of "nikkei", a style of cooking whereby Peruvian ingredients are prepared using Japanese techniques. Expect big flavours and bright colours, and a separate sushi counter to boot.

10. Le Calandre, Rubano, Italy

Massimiliano and Raffaele Alajmo inherited Le Calandre from their parents in 1994. Since then, with Massimiliano in the kitchen, the brothers have transformed it into one of the world’s best restaurants. The menu is designed to tantalise the senses, unlock memories and touch the heart, with creative, delicious fare on offer such as toasted mullet with crumbs of blackberry and plum bread served with a kiwi and seaweed sauce.

9. Quintonil, Mexico City, Mexico

Named after a Mexican green herb which features on the menu, Jorge Vallejo’s restaurant has been showcasing the best of the country’s food since 2012. With many of the ingredients coming from a nearby garden (travelling only 30 metres from patch to plate), the restaurant also keeps its carbon footprint low. On the tasting menu, you'll find dishes such as spider crab in green mole with lime kaffir and blue corn tostadas, and cactus sorbet.

8. Lido 84, Gardone Riviera, Italy

With a menu that focuses on the classics and another that's all about innovation, Lido 84 has a little bit of everything to please everyone. Of course, you really can’t go wrong when using the best Italian ingredients, sourced from the surrounding pastures and the Lake Garda region. The kitchen is led by chef Ricardo Camanini, whose signature dish is cacio e pepe en vessie: rigatoni pasta cooked inside a pig’s bladder with its juices, and tossed with pecorino cheese. 

7. A Casa Do Porco, São Paulo, Brazil

One of the most affordable restaurants on the list, A Casa do Porco, "house of the pig", is indeed the best place to try pork in all its glory. Located in São Paulo and run by husband-and-wife team Jefferson and Janaina Rueda, the restaurant uses contemporary techniques to highlight the best pork has to offer – and it isn’t shy when it comes to experimenting. Take, for example, one of their most renowned dishes: sushi of pork jowl.

6. Asador Etxebarri, Atxondo, Spain

Located in the verdant Spanish Basque Country, self-taught chef Victor Arguinzoniz’s restaurant Asador Etxebarri takes grilling up a notch. He's renowned for drawing out incredible flavours from humble ingredients by cooking them over open-hearth grills – all of which he built himself. Although it's certainly Spanish wood-fired barbecue at its best, the restaurant is informal, and also renowned for its charming service and a village pub-like feel at the bar. 

5. Pujol, Mexico City, Mexico

Chef Enrique Olvera has been delivering rustic Mexican flavours at his restaurant Pujol for more than two decades. Now presided over by chef de cuisine Jesús Durón, the restaurant's beautiful menu is built from local ingredients. The star of the show? A dish called Mole Madre, Mole Nuevo: two concentric rings of mole, one of which is aged for 2,500 days, served with steamy baby corn and chicatana ant mayonnaise.

4. DiverXO, Madrid, Spain

If there's one person that represents the "chefs are the new rock stars" movement, it's Dabiz Muñoz. DiverXO is his masterpiece: its food filled with political commentary, bold flavours and over-the-top presentation. The 12-course tasting menu is a feast of Asian-inspired cuisine, featuring dishes like Cantonese sea noodles with eel stew, and hare katsusando (a curry sandwich) with toasted butter brioche.

3. Disfrutar, Barcelona, Spain

Led by three chefs – Oriol Castro, Mateu Casañas and Eduard Xatruch – Barcelona restaurant Disfrutar, whose name means "enjoy" in Spanish, opened its doors in 2014. Unexpected treats like gazpacho in sandwich form and liquid salads are just part of a thrillingly original dining experience designed to "please, surprise and excite" diners, taking them on a rollercoaster ride of contemporary techniques and daring combinations.

2. Central, Lima, Peru

Central, run by husband-and-wife team Virgilio Martínez and Pía León, focuses on the richness of Peruvian cuisine. The couple source their ingredients from across the country, and their 17-course menu is a journey around Peru's landscapes. You'll find their restaurant in the trendy Barranco neighbourhood of Lima, where highlights include dishes such as "Waters of Nanay", featuring a whole, tooth-filled piranha head. Central was named the Best Restaurant in South America this year. 

1. Geranium, Copenhagen, Denmark

This year's winner, Geranium, takes the World's Best title back to Copenhagen. Rasmus Kofoed’s modern Scandinavian restaurant has been serving a meat-free menu since 2022, focusing solely on seafood and vegetables from organic and biodynamic farms in Denmark and Scandinavia in pursuit of a more sustainable menu. The recipient of 2018's Art of Hospitality award, co-owner Søren Ledet welcomes guests as if they were family. This powerhouse duo is unstoppable!

Now take a look at some of the world's most expensive restaurant dishes