Eleven Madison Park in New York has secured the top spot in the 2017 list of The World's 50 Best Restaurants for the first time, knocking last year's winner, Italy's Osteria Francescana into second place. This year's winners were revealed at an awards ceremony at the historic Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne.
In claiming the No.1 position on The World's 50 Best Restaurants list, Eleven Madison Park earns the dual titles of The World's Best Restaurant and The Best Restaurant in North America. After debuting on the list at No.50 in 2010, Eleven Madison Park has hovered within the top 10 since 2012, rising to No.3 last year. The restaurant's co-owners, Will Guidara and Swiss-born chef Daniel Humm, enhance the fine-dining experience with a sense of fun, blurring the line between the kitchen and the dining room. Housed in an art deco building overlooking New York's Madison Park, the restaurant's multi-course seasonal tasting menu celebrates the city's rich history and culinary traditions.
The UK's highest placed restaurant was London's The Clove Club, in 26th place, just ahead of Brett Graham's The Ledbury in 27th. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal stays in the top 50 in 36th place, completing the three UK restaurants that made the selection.
France, Spain and the USA each count six restaurants in the list, which features nine new restaurants - six making their debuts and three re-entereing the top 50. Winner of the highest climber award is Blue Hill at Stone Barns, while third placed El Cella de Can Roca is the 2017 recipient of The Ferrari Trento Art of Hospitality Award. Ana Roš of Hiša Franko, Slovenia, is named The World's Best Female Chef 2017, while Dominique Ansel is named The World's Best Pastry Chef.
Respected chef Heston Blumenthal has double reason to celebrate. As well as being the 2017 recipient of the prestigious Diners Club® Lifetime Achievement Award, his London restaurant, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, rises nine places to sit at No.36. The winners' circle also includes Ana Roš of Hiša Franko, Slovenia, who is named The World's Best Female Chef 2017.
William Drew, Group Editor of The World's 50 Best Restaurants, says: “The World's 50 Best Restaurants is proud to bring together the leaders in global gastronomy for this annual celebration. All 50 restaurants represent the very best culinary experiences and talent. We congratulate each one, as well as all the individual award winners, on their remarkable achievements, innovation and creative passion."
Find out the full list of winners here.