World's 50 Best Restaurants: El Celler de Can Roca beats out Noma for planet's top restaurant

World’s 50 Best Restaurants: El Celler de Can Roca beats out Noma for planet’s top restaurant

By Betty Hallock and Jenn Harris

April 29, 2013 1:03 PM PT

The annual list of the “World’s 50 Best Restaurants” has come out, and three-year champ Noma, in Copenhagen, has been knocked from its No. 1 perch.

El Celler de Can Roca, a Spanish restaurant presided over by the Roca brothers, has bumped René Redzepi’s Noma on the 2013 list. Noma is known for Redzepi’s take on Nordic cuisine.

The “50 Best” is organized each year by Restaurant magazine and compiled from opinions by the more than 900 international gourmands of the Diners Club World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy. These food critics, chefs and restaurateurs vote on their “bests” based on personal experience at restaurants around the globe.

PHOTOS: ‘The World’s Best Restaurant’

El Celler de Can Roca, in Girona, Spain, has spent the last eight years climbing to the top of the list. The restaurant started in eighth place and held the No. 2 spot in 2012.

Bloomberg had the emailed release from the award organizers: “The Roca brothers’ restaurant has gained global acclaim for its combination of Catalan dishes and cutting-edge techniques and the passion that they share for hospitality.”

Oldest brother Joan Roca mans the kitchen; Josep is sommelier; and youngest brother Jordi is the restaurant’s pastry chef.

The remaining three restaurants in the top five: Osteria Francescana in Mondena, Italy; Mugaritz in San Sebastián, Spain; Eleven Madison Park in New York City.

Thomas Keller’s French Laundry in Yountville is the only California restaurant named on the list. It came in at No. 47.

Alain Ducasse of the three-Michelin-star Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester was awarded this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Nadia Santini of Dal Pescatore in Italy was named best female chef. Alinea in Chicago was awarded the Chef’s Choice Award. And chef Luke Dale-Roberts and his restaurant, the Test Kitchen in Cape Town, South Africa, was named One to Watch.

The Sustainable Restaurant Award went to Tokyo restaurant Narisawa. Attica in Melbourne, Australia, claimed the Highest New Entry honor, and Highest Climber went to chef Gastón Acurio’s Astrid y Gastón in Lima, Peru.

Here’s the full list:

1. El Celler de Can Roca, Girona, Spain
2. Noma, Copenhagen
3. Osteria Francescana Modena, Italy
4. Mugaritz, San Sebastián, Spain
5. Eleven Madison Park, New York
6. D.O.M., São Paulo, Brazil
7. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, London
8. Arzak, San Sebastián, Spain
9. Steirereck, Vienna, Austria
10. Vendôme, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
11. Per Se, New York
12. Frantzén/Lindeberg, Stockholm, Sweden
13. The Ledbury, London
14. Astrid y Gastón, Lima, Perú
15. Alinea, Chicago
16. L’Arpège, Paris
17. Pujol, Mexico City
18. Le Chateaubriand Paris
19. Le Bernardin, New York
20. Narisawa, Tokyo
21. Attica, Melbourne, Australia
22. Nihonryori RyuGin, Tokyo
23. L’Astrance, Paris
24. L’Atelier Saint-Germain de Joël Robuchon, Paris
25. Hof Van Cleve, Kruishoutem, Belgium
26. Quique Dacosta, Dénia, Spain
27. Le Calandre, Rubano, Italy
28. Mirazur, Menton, France
29. Daniel, New York
30. Aqua, Wolfsburg, Germany
31. Biko, Mexico City
32. Nahm, Bangkok
33. The Fat Duck, Bray, England
34. Fäviken, Järpen, Sweden
35. Oud Sluis, Sluis, Belgium
36. Amber, Hong Kong
37. Vila Joya, Albufeira, Portugal
38. Restaurant Andre, Singapore
39. 8 1/2 Otto E Mezzo Bombana, Hong Kong
40. Combal.Zero, Rivoli, Italy
41. Piazza Duomo, Alba, Italy
42. Schloss Schauenstein, Fürstenau, Switzerland
43. Mr. & Mrs. Bund, Shanghai
44. Asador Etxebarri, Atxondo, Spain
45. Geranium, Copenhagen
46. Mani, São Paulo, Brazil
47. The French Laundry, Yountville, Calif.
48. Quay, Sydney
49. Septime, Paris
50. Central, Lima, Perú