A Danish restaurant has been voted best in the world

A Danish restaurant which serves dishes such as radishes in edible soil has emerged as the best in the world, knocking Spain’s exclusive El Bulli off the top for the first time in five years.

Noma, which serves up Nordic specialities in a converted 18th century shipping warehouse on Copenhagen’s dockside, was crowned number one at the annual S.Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards. They were announced in London last night.

Described as an “homage to soil and sea”, Noma has two Michelin stars and specialises in “cold climate cuisine”. It is famous for using seasonal and local ingredients largely unheard of outside of the Nordic region.

Headed by 32-year-old chef Rene Redzepi, the restaurant has become a favourite of gourmets worldwide. Meals can cost around £150 per head.


El Bulli’s defeat is another blow for the world’s most exclusive eatery and its trailblazing chef, Ferran Adria, 47, after he announced in January that the venue would close for two years from 2012.

He said he decided to shut the restaurant, situated on Spain’s northeastern Catalan coast, for reflection and plans to reopen it in a new format.

Adria is known for his avant-garde approach to cooking which uses high tech methods to “deconstruct” and rebuild ingredients to produce surprising dishes, such as gold-tinted caramel of quails’ eggs and a frozen dust of foie gras. He was still recognised at the awards when he was named chef of the decade.


The awards are organised by Restaurant magazine and determined by an extensive poll of 800 of the world’s most celebrated chefs, renowned food critics, leading restaurateurs and well-travelled gourmands.

THE TOP 10: (www.theworlds50best.com)

1. Noma (Denmark)

2. El Bulli (Spain)

3. The Fat Duck (UK)

4. El Celler de Can Roca (Spain)

5. Mugaritz (Spain)

6. Osteria Francescana (Italy)

7. Alinea (USA)

8. Daniel (USA)

9. Arzak (Spain)

10. Per Se (USA)