World's 50 best restaurants for 2018 revealed

But only four of the 50 have female head chefs

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The 50 best restaurants in the world for 2018 have been revealed, with Italy’s Osteria Francescana taking the top spot.

Top restaurateurs from five continents descended on the city of Bilbao, Spain, for the awards ceremony last night.

This isn’t the first time Osteria Francescana, whose head chef is Massimo Bottura, has been crowned best restaurant in the world though - the restaurant, which is known for inventive reimaginings of Italian classics - also emerged on top in 2016.

Second place for 2018 was awarded to El Celler de Can Roca, Spain, (up from third place last year) and third place was given to Mirazur, France (up from fourth).

Last year’s winner, Eleven Madison Park, New York City, came in fourth.

Not one British restaurant made the top 30, but London’s The Clove Club came in at 33, Lyle’s at 38 and The Ledbury at 42.

Also noticeable was the lack of female chefs at the awards, which are known as the Oscars of the fine dining world.

Of the top 50 restaurants, just four are headed up by women.

In an attempt to address this, the organisers have an award specifically for the World’s Best Female Chef, which this year was won by Clare Smyth of Core, Notting Hill.

The award is controversial however, with many industry experts arguing having a gendered award is insulting.

“To separate [male from female chefs] for me is strange, but we don’t see enough women coming through at the top and we need to do something about it,” Smyth said when she was given her award earlier this year.

“I would love to see very soon that we don’t need gender-specific awards because women will have recognition and there will be a balance in the industry. Hopefully we’ll see plenty of women on the 50 Best list and there won’t be a need for that award.”

Sadly that has not been the case this year.

Here is the full list:

1. Osteria Francescana (Modena, Italy) - Best restaurant in Europe
2. El Celler de Can Roca (Girona, Spain)
3. Mirazur (Menton, France)
4. Eleven Madison Park (New York City) - Best restaurant in North America
5. Gaggan (Bangkok) - Best restaurant in Asia
6. Central (Lima, Peru) - Best restaurant in South America
7. Maido (Lima, Peru)
8. Arpege (Paris, France)
9. Mugaritz (San Sebastian, Spain)
10. Asador Etxebarri (Axpe, Spain)
11. Quintonil (Mexico City, Mexico)
12. Blue Hill at Stone Barns (Pocantico Hills, New York)
13. Pujol (Mexico City, Mexico)
14. Steirereck (Vienna, Austria)
15. White Rabbit (Moscow, Russia)
16. Piazza Duomo (Alba, Italy)
17. Den (Tokyo, Japan) - Highest climber
18. Disfrutar (Barcelona, Spain) - Highest new entry
19. Geranium (Copenhagen)
20. Attica (Melbourne, Australia)
21. Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée (Paris, France)
22. Narisawa (Tokyo, Japan)
23. Le Calandre (Rubano, Italy)
24. Ultraviolet (Shanghai, China)
25. Cosme (New York City)
26. Le Bernardin (New York City)
27. Boragó (Santiago, Chile)
28. Odette (Singapore) - New entry
29. Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen (Paris, France)
30. D.O.M. (São Paulo, Brazil)
31. Arzak (San Sebastian, Spain)
32. Tickets (Barcelona, Spain)
33. The Clove Club (London, UK)
34. Alinea (Chicago)
35. Maaemo (Oslo, Norway) - New entry
36. Reale (Castel Di Sangro, Italy)
37. Restaurant Tim Raue (Berlin, Germany)
38. Lyle’s (London) - New entry
39. Astrid y Gastón (Lima, Peru)
40. Septime (Paris, France)
41. Nihonryori RyuGin (Tokyo, Japan)
42. The Ledbury (London, UK)
43. Azurmendi (Larrabetzu, Spain) - Sustainable restaurant award
44. Mikla (Istanbul, Turkey) - New entry
45. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal (London, UK)
46. Saison (San Francisco)
47. Schloss Schauenstein (Fürstenau, Switzerland) - New entry
48. Hiša Franko (Kobarid, Slovenia) - New entry
49. Nahm (Bangkok, Thailand)
50. Test Kitchen (Cape Town, South Africa) - Africa’s best restaurant

“We built this together,” said Bottura upon collecting his top award. “I’m not going to disappoint you, I’m going to show the world that chefs in 2018 are much more than the sum of their recipes if we stay together.”