Last year’s Top 3 Restaurants

We were just as curious as you. The world’s Best Restaurant Awards announced the top restaurants of 2014, and we thought we’d take a look at who made it and what their stories are. 

1. Noma

From the top of your head, if you had to guess what sort of cuisine the best restaurant in the world served, what would you envision? Chances are, you’re probably wrong. Noma specialized in Nordic cuisine and is located in Copenhagen, Denmark. Even a Telegraph review from back in 2010 points out that [1]“We've "discovered" every other cuisine, but not Nordic.” What makes Noma special is the fact that all ingredients used are local. The man responsible for the food is Rene Redzepi and he claims that the reason the food is all locally sourced is because it [2]“enriches the soul.”

The food must be exceptional since Noma has won this award in 2010, 2011, 2012 and in 2014. Noma’s take on [3]“reinvented, seasonal Nordic cuisine” certainly seems to be a hit with reviewers since the restaurant also has 2 Michelin Stars. 

2. El Celler de Can Roca

This award-winning restaurant is located in Girona, Spain and is known for its multi-course meals. Everything from soups to intriguing desserts to tiger-faced ceviche is served up on the menu here. The food must be amazing since El Celler de Can Roca won The world’s Best Restaurant Awards in 2013, edging out 2014’s winners, Noma. The imaginative food is equally crafted to be delicious and to stoke the imagination. Indeed, where regular folk are concerned, El Celler de Can Roca may well actually be the best place to eat in the world as it has been named the [4]“best place to eat on the planet by TripAdvisor.”

3. Osteria Francescana

Located in Modena, Italy, Osteria Francescana is renowned for both its delicious food and world-class service. Chef Massimo Bottura is the creative genius behind the amazing dishes that are served up to delight the palettes of customers. A healthy respect is paid to ingredients, and though Osteria Francescana is an Italian restaurant, special respect is given to cooking styles of other European countries. Dishes are presented to visually stimulate, as well as taste fantastic, and there is immaculate attention to detail with everything that comes out of the kitchen. Rave reviews come out of this restaurant and it seems the verdict is usually along the lines of [5]“It is no wonder this restaurant is ranked number 3 in the world. Expect the unexpected. From Bottura you cannot expect anything less,” or, [6]“Osteria Francescana will make you rethink what’s so special with Italian cuisine.”

The rest of the winners were as follows:

4. Eleven Madison Park, New York, USA


5. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, London, UK


6. Mugaritz, San Sebastián, Spain


7. D.O.M, Sao Paulo, Brazil 


8. Arzak, San Sebastian, Spain 


9. Alinea, Chicago, USA 


10. The Ledbury, London, UK


11. Mirazur, Menton, France 


12. Vendome, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany 


13. Nahm, Bangkok, Thailand 


14. Narisawa, Tokyo, Japan 


15. Central, Lima, Peru


16. Steirereck, Vienna, Austria 


17. Gaggan, Bangkok, Thailand


18. Astrid y Gastón, Lima, Peru


19. Fäviken Järpen, Sweden


20. Pujol, Mexico City, Mexico 


21. Le Bernardin, New York, USA


22. Vila Joya, Albufeira, Portugal 


23. Restaurant Frantzén, Stockholm, Sweden 


24. Amber, Hong Kong, China


25. L’Arpège, Paris, France 


26. Azuermendi, Larrabetzu, Spain 


27. Le Chateaubriand, Paris, France


28. Aqua, Wolfsburg, Germany


29. De Libreije, Zwolle, Netherlands 


30. Per Se, New York, USA


31. L’Atelier Saint-Germain de Joël Robuchon, Paris, France 


32. Attica, Melbourne, Australia 


33. Nihonryori RyuGin, Tokyo, Japan


34. Asador Etxebarri, Atxondo, Spain


35. Martin Beragategui, San Sebastian, Spain


36. Mani, Sao Paolo, Brazil


37. Restaurant Andrew, Singapore 


38. L’Astrance, Paris, France 


39. Piazza Duomo, Alba, Italy 


40. Daniel, New York, USA


41. Quique Dacosta, Denia, Spain

42. Geranium, Copenhagen, Denmark 


43. Schloss Schauenstein, Furstenau, Switzerland


44. The French Laundry, Yountville, USA 


45. Hof Van Cleve, Kruishoutem, Belgium 


46. Le Calandre, Rubano, Italy 


47. The Fat Duck, Bray, UK


48. The Test Kitchen, Cape Town, South Africa 


49. Coi, San Francisco, USA 


50. Waku Ghin, Singapore

[1] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/restaurants/10794556/The-Worlds-Best-Restaurants-2014-Noma-in-Copenhagen-review.html

[2] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/restaurants/10794556/The-Worlds-Best-Restaurants-2014-Noma-in-Copenhagen-review.html

[3] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/restaurants/10793325/Worlds-Best-Restaurants-2014-the-top-50-in-full.html

[4] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/spain/catalonia/costa-brava/girona/articles/El-Celler-de-Can-Roca-Girona-is-this-the-worlds-best-restaurant/

[5] https://www.foodandwinegazette.com/196

[6] https://www.foodandwinegazette.com/196