The team from Noma (Photo: 50 Best)
After taking a hiatus last year due to the pandemic, the World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards have made its comeback in Antwerp, Flanders, a city famous for its diamonds and home to some of the finest restaurants and premium food and drink producers in Europe.
While a number of chefs from all over the world travelled to Belgium to attend the awards ceremony, some decided to view the show via live-stream on Facebook and YouTube.
Two Copenhagen restaurants topped the list, with Noma coming in first and Geranium, second. Asador Etxebarri from Atxondo, Spain placed third.
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Following a new rule which disqualifies previous winners from taking part in the list, distinguished restaurants like Mauro Colagreco’s Mirazur and Massimo Bottura’s Osteria Francescana were notably absent. While Noma, led by Danish chef René Redzepi, was voted The World’s Best Restaurant in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014, it closed in 2016 and reopened in 2018 at a new location, thus restoring its eligibility. The restaurant’s fifth win now ties with Ferran Adrià's El Bulli’s record for the most number ones.
The new Noma — or Noma 2.0 — offers three innovative tasting menus at different times of the year, featuring seasonal ingredients, such as seafood, vegetables and game foraged from Refshalevej Island.
Moving forward, it will join previous victors in a separate Best of the Best list.
Previously in 18th place, Singapore’s Odette, voted Best Restaurant in Singapore, made it into the top 10 at No 8. But the establishment that wow-ed the crowd was Hong Kong’s The Chairman, who climbed 31 spots this year from its No 41 ranking to No 10. The Chairman, which also topped the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list, was awarded the Highest Climber Award and crowned The Best Restaurant in China.
Set on the edge of Lake Garda in northern Italy, destination restaurant Lido 84 debuted on this year’s list at No 15, picking up the Highest New Entry Award 2021.
See the full list of winners here.
