Spain wins World’s Best Restaurant, and three other places in the top 50: see where they ranked

A wood fire in a quiet Basque valley has just beaten every kitchen on the planet. Asador Etxebarri, a grill house in the village of Atxondo in Spain’s Basque Country, has been named the best restaurant in the world for 2026. Chef Bittor Arginzoniz’s restaurant took first place at a ceremony in Lima, Peru, on Wednesday, November 4. Spain also claimed three more places in the top 50, so foodies have lots to be excited about.

A wood fire in the stunning Basque hills

Etxebarri sits in Bizkaia, the Basque province around Bilbao in northern Spain. Its cooking centres on wood and embers rather than elaborate techniques, and that simplicity has won over the judges.

Success has been a long time coming. The restaurant first reached the top 10 in 2016, at number ten, then climbed to third in 2018. It finished second in both 2024 and 2025, so this year’s result feels well earned.

Continuing the run for Spain

Spain has now produced the number one restaurant an impressive nine times in the history of the awards. Peru’s Maido, in Lima, held the title last year. Etxebarri now joins the Best of the Best, a permanent group for former winners that no longer compete in the yearly ranking.

Where did Spain’s four restaurants rank?

Here is how Spanish restaurants finished in The 50 Best Restaurants 2026:

1. Asador Etxebarri, Atxondo, Basque Country
9. DiverXO, Madrid
29. Enigma, Barcelona
33. Elkano, Getaria, Basque Country

DiverXO, led by chef Dabiz Muñoz, slipped from fourth place last year but remains in the top 10. Elkano is based in the Basque fishing town of Getaria, on the coast.

Spain also has seven restaurants in the wider top 100. That is two fewer than in 2025, after Quique Dacosta and Mugaritz dropped out of the list.

Who else did well in 2026?

Gaggan in Bangkok took second place and was named best restaurant in Asia. Alchemist in Copenhagen came third, and Quintonil in Mexico City finished fourth, keeping its title as the best in Latin America. Wing in Hong Kong rounded off the top five.

Britain had a quieter night. Ikoyi was the only London restaurant on the list, at number 48. The list itself has a new name this year, shortened from The World’s 50 Best Restaurants to The 50 Best Restaurants after a rebrand announced in September.

Not a fan of the awards

Not everyone welcomed the ceremony. Slovenian chef Ana Ros, of Hisa Franko, chose not to travel to Lima. She said she disagreed with how the list now works and argued that skill at promotion can count for as much as the cooking itself. The ranking is one opinion among many, and your own favourite local restaurant matters just as much.

Waiting to get a taste

Thinking well ahead is wise if Etxebarri is on your wish list, you have to submit a booking request, go on a waiting list and if you do manage to get in, the tasting menu is a spenny €300 per head without drinks paid in advance. If a table proves impossible, Spain has incredible restaurants for every budget, from family-run places in the old town to Michelin-starred dining rooms, top gastronomy is on every corner.