Our Pick of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 list is finally out, and it reads like a love letter to culinary imagination.

25 June 2025

From flame-licked steaks in Buenos Aires to Kyoto's serene, exacting elegance, this year’s selection isn’t just a guide to where to eat – it’s an invitation to explore, taste, and remember. At Scott Dunn, we’ve always believed that food is the soul of travel. A great meal tells a story. A brilliant one makes you part of it.

We’ve selected ten destinations from this year’s honours roll that don’t just host some of the finest tables in the world – they live and breathe their culinary culture in every bite. Here’s how to savor them, from street-side snacks to exclusive chef’s tables.

Peru

#1 Maido, #9 Kjolle, #26 Mérito, #39 Mayta

Peru comes out on top this year, and it’s no surprise. Its cuisine is a thrilling blend of ancient ingredients and global influences. Lima is the crown jewel, of course, but you don’t have to stop there. Join a Cooking Lesson at Palacio Nazarenas, where you’ll gather herbs from the hotel’s garden and prepare seasonal dishes rooted in Andean tradition.

Spain

#2 Asador Etxebarri, #4 Diverxo, #24 Elkano, #34 Enigma

Spain doesn’t rest on its laurels. With fire, flair and a bit of theater, its kitchens continue to inspire. Whether it’s Etxebarri’s wood-fired purity or Diverxo’s madcap brilliance, you’re in for a ride. Prefer a slower pace? Try Dinner with a Sevillian Local, an intimate meal in a private home above a Baroque church. Or take a Gastronomic Walking Tour of Madrid, where each bite comes with a bit of history and a glass of something crisp.

Mexico

#3 Quintonil, #46 Rosetta

Mexico’s story is written in corn, spice, smoke and celebration. Quintonil continues to push boundaries, but you’ll find magic in more humble corners too. Head to Sayulita on our Foodie Adventure, tasting your way through tacos, tequilas and local legends. Or in Mérida, join a City Food and Sightseeing Tour that winds from market stalls to pastel-colored plazas.

Thailand

#6 Gaggan, #13 Potong, #17 Sorn, #22 Sühring, #30 Le Du, #35 Nusara

Bangkok is having a moment—again. Six Thai restaurants grace this year’s top 50, each more inventive than the last. But to understand Thailand’s culinary soul, start on the street. Walk with us through Bangrak’s Village of Love, sampling family-run stalls and secret recipes. Or dive into the heat and hustle of Chiang Mai’s Night Market, where the flavors of the north come alive over flames and laughter.

Japan

#7 Sézanne, #21 Narisawa, #36 Florilège, #44 La Cime

Few countries blend artistry and reverence quite like Japan. Dining here is a quiet kind of theater, full of ritual and grace. On our Food & Culture Tour in Takayama, you’ll cycle through rice fields, sip sake in centuries-old breweries, and learn why simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. In Kyoto, take tea with a maiko and discover a world of detail most travelers never see.

Argentina

#10 Don Julio

The asado is sacred in Argentina, and Don Julio is its temple. But there's much more to taste here. Join The Argentine Experience to master the art of empanadas, mate, and dulce de leche. Or settle in for a fire-cooked feast at Fogón Asado, where meat, wine, and conviviality come together under the stars.

Italy

#16 Lido 84, #18 Reale, #20 Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler, #31 Le Calandre, #32 Piazza Duomo, #43 Uliassi

Italy remains the master of slow food and big flavor. Six restaurants, six different reasons to fall in love all over again. From the Alps to the Amalfi, we’ll introduce you to the people behind the plates. Spend time with the Lombardi Family for a behind-the-scenes look at olive oil production, or meet a Pecorino Cheese Maker in Val d'Orcia, where every wheel has a story.

Chile

#23 Boragó

Santiago’s Boragó turns Chile’s wild ingredients into something close to sorcery. But to see where that magic begins, roll up your sleeves at Vira Vira’s Farm. Make your own cheese, harvest herbs, or press warm bread in a wood-fired oven. It’s honest, it’s joyful, and it’s the kind of experience that reshapes how you think about food.

South Korea

#29 Mingles

Mingles marries Korean tradition with modern elegance—it’s Seoul on a plate. But let’s go deeper. Stroll through Mangwon Market, where stallholders shout over sizzling pans and the air smells like sesame and garlic. Cap it off with a Traditional Tea Ceremony, where every gesture is a nod to generations past.

Portugal

#42 Belcanto

Belcanto continues to impress with refined takes on old Portuguese favorites. But the real Lisbon is found in its nooks and crannies. Take a Gastronomic Tour through Bairro Alto, Chiado, and Rossio, stopping for pastéis de nata, salt cod, and ginginha liqueur. Or sink into an In-House Wine Experience at The Largo, where local sommeliers uncork the country’s hidden vinous gems.

A meal worth traveling for is never just about the food. It’s about the hands that made it, the stories behind it, and the place that gave it life. This year’s World’s 50 Best Restaurants aren’t just destinations—they’re moments waiting to happen. We’d be delighted to take you there.

Bon appétit.

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Jordi Lippe-McGraw

Travel Specialist

Jordi Lippe-McGraw is a copywriter for Scott Dunn and freelance travel writer and editor who has explored over 60 countries and all seven continents, including Antarctica while five months pregnant.

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