Neil Perry honoured at World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards

Neil Perry is waving the flag for Australia on a global stage after picking up the Icon award at the 2024 World’s 50 Best Restaurants ceremony in Las Vegas, with former recipient Dominique Crenn passing the baton to the chef.

Selected by an academy of over 1,000 independent restaurant industry experts and globe trotting gourmets, the award recognises “an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the hospitality industry.”

Citing his 45-plus year career, judges hailed long-time Qantas collaborator Perry as “arguably his country’s most influential chef and is known for his visionary interpretations of Modern Australian and Asian cuisines,” calling out his latest venture Margaret in Sydney’s Double Bay.

A sample of the delicate dishes at world #1 Disfrutar in Barcelona.

Barcelona favourite Disfrutar rises from second place to pole position on this year’s list, narrowly beating fellow Spaniards Asador Etxebarri after dazzling the academy with its avant-garde take on Mediterranean cuisine.

Caviar-filled doughnut, squab with kombu spaghetti and frozen gazpacho sandwich are just a few of the dishes on its parallel tasting menus – each featuring some 30 dishes including long-time classics and seasonal delicacies.

Disfrutar is owned and run by chef trio Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch and Mateu Casañas, all of whom previously worked in the kitchen of five-time world number one El Bulli.

William Drew, Director of Content for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, says the Disfrutar team “has shown extraordinary dedication to its craft, amazing and delighting diners with every dish on its extensive menu.”

The whimsical styling of DiverXO is matched by the playful dishes served.

Table by Bruno Verjus – a Parisian counter-style diner from its namesake self-taught chef – leap frogs into third place, up from 10 in 2023, while the theatrical DiverXO in Madrid and Maido in Lima round out the top five.

The remainder of the top 10 includes New York’s Atomix, Quintonil from Mexico City and Alchemist in Copenhagen, followed by Gaggan in Bangkok and Don Julio in Buenos Aires.

Despite no Australian restaurants making the top 50, there’s still reason to celebrate, with Australian chef Dave Pynt landing at 68 with his Singapore restaurant Burnt Ends, and Sydney’s Saint Peter from Josh Niland narrowly scraping in 98th place. 

Dishes that look (almost) too good to eat at #17 KOL in London.

Bestowed annually since 2002, the World’s 50 Best Restaurants is a sibling to regional award Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, along with the World’s 50 Best Bars.

The full 2024 World’s 50 Best Restaurants list is as follows:

1-10
Disfrutar, Barcelona
Asador Etxebarri, Atxondo
Table by Bruno Verjus, Paris
Diverxo, Madrid
Maido, Lima
Atomix, New York
Quintonil, Mexico City
Alchemist, Copenhagen
Gaggan, Bangkok
Don Julio, Buenos Aires

11-20
Septime Paris
Lido 84, Gardone Riviera
Trèsind, Studio Dubai
Quique Dacosta, Dénia
Sézanne, Tokyo
Kjolle, Lima
Kol, London
Plénitude, Paris
Reale, Castel di Sangro
Wing, Hong Kong

21-30
Florilège, Tokyo
Steirereck, Vienna
Sühring, Bangkok
Odette, Singapore
El Chato, Bogotá
The Chairman, Hong Kong
A Casa do Porco, São Paolo
Elkano, Getaria
Boragó, Santiago
Restaurant Tim Raue, Berlin

31-40
Belcanto, Lisbon
Den, Tokyo
Pujol, Mexico City
Rosetta, Mexico City
Frantzén, Stockholm
The Jane, Antwerp
Oteque, Rio de Janeiro
Sorn, Bangkok
Piazza Duomo, Alba
Le Du, Bangkok

41-50
Mayta, Lima
Ikoyi, London
Nobelhart & Schmutzig, Berlin
Mingles, Seoul
Arpège, Paris
SingleThread, Healdsburg
Schloss Schauenstein, Fürstenau
Hiša Franko, Kobarid
La Colombe, Cape Town
Uliassi, Senigallia