3 Spanish Restaurants are in Top 10 of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants

It’s official! The The World’s 50 Best Restaurants ranking was announced last night at a special ceremony in Valencia, at the Palau de Les Arts. This British ranking is indubitably one of the most important of its kind in the industry.

Among the top 10 there were three Spanish restaurants. Disfrutar, in Barcelona, came in second. This top restaurant was third last year and is helmed by former elBulli chefs Eduard Xatruch, Oriol Castro, and Mateu Casañas. It was followed by DiverXO, in Madrid, in third place. Last year, this famous restaurant by Dabiz Muñoz was ranked fourth. And in fourth place is Asador Etxebarri, in Axpe, Bizkaia. This restaurant, run by Bittor Arginzoniz, ranked sixth last year.

Other Spanish restaurants on the list included Quique Dacosta’s restaurant, in Denia, which moved from position 42 last year to 20^th this year. Elkano, Aitor Arregi’s restaurant in Guetaria, ranked 22^nd this year, and Mugaritz, Andoni Luis Aduriz’s brainchild in Errenteria, is in the 31^st spot. Previously the 51-100 list was announced with Aponiente (El Puerto de Santa María) by chef Ángel León in 64 place; Azurmendi (Larrabetzu, Bizkaia) by Enero Atxa in 81; Albert Adrià’s Enigma (Barcelona) in 82 and, finally, Ricard Camarena Restaurant (Valencia) in 96.

Other distinctions last night included one for Miguel Ángel Millán, who’s responsible for the wine list at DiverXO and was named World’s Best Sommelier, and Andoni Luis Aduriz, who was recognized with the Icon award  for his impressive professional career.

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants has been celebrating the world’s culinary landscape since 2002. A panel of over 1,000 culinary experts and a rigorous voting procedure are used to develop the list of the absolute best dining experiences. The 50 Best family also includes lists as The World’s 50 Best Hotels, The World’s 50 Best Bars, 50 Best Discovery and the #50BestTalks series, all of which are owned and run by William Reed.