World's 50 Best Restaurants 2022 list: No Mena outlets make the cut

Europe dominates the list with 29 entries

The top 10 restaurants on the World's 50 Best Restaurants 2022 list: 1. Geranium, Copenhagen, Denmark. Photo: Claes Bech-Poulsen

2. Central, Lima, Peru. Photo: Central

3. Disfrutar, Barcelona, Spain. Photo: Disfrutar

4. Diverxo, Madrid, Spain. Photo: Diverxo

5. Pujol, Mexico City, Mexico. Seen here: octopus, habanero ink, ayocote and veracruzana sauce. Photo: Maureen M Evans

6. Asador Etxebarri, Atxondo, Spain. Photo: Etxebarri / Mariano Herrera

7. A Casa do Porco, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Photo: A Casa do Porco

8. Lido 84, Gardone Riviera, Italy. Photo: Lido 84

9. Quintonil, Mexico City, Mexico. Seen here: scallop cocktail with beef tongue. Photo: Quintonil

10. Le Calandre, Rubano, Italy. Seen here: tiramisu in a pipe. Photo: Le Calandre

The World's 50 Best Restaurants list was announced on Monday, with Geranium in Copenhagen, Denmark, coming out on top.

The Danish restaurant is followed by Central in Lima, Peru in second place and Disfrutar in Barcelona, Spain, in third.

Scroll through the gallery above to see the top 10 entries on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list

While the list recognises restaurants from around the world, there are notable absentees from the Middle East and North Africa.

Having come out on top of the Mena's 50 Best Restaurants list, it was expected that Dubai restaurant 3Fils would get a spot in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list this week, however it did not make the cut. Photo: 3Fils

In February, World's 50 Best launched the Mena's 50 Best Restaurants list, with Dubai restaurants 3 Fils and Zuma in the top two spots, followed by OCD Restaurant in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Notably, none of the top three restaurants were included on the final World's 50 Best Restaurants list, despite the fact that earlier this month, Tresind Studio and Orfali Bros from Dubai were included in the extended list of 51 to 100 outlets.

Tresind Studio came in at No 57, while Orfali Bros was at No 87. It's the first time either restaurant has made it on to the extended global list. In the Mena's 50 Best Restaurants list, Tresind Studio was No 4 and Orfali Bros was at No 6.

Tresind Studio new menu: blossom chaat, pumpkin mash, trio of chutney. Photo: Tresind Studio

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2022 list is voted for by 1,080 anonymous experts across 27 regions, and organisers make it clear that "no sponsor from the event has any influence over the voting process".

Europe dominates the list, taking 29 of the top 50 spots, South America follows with 10 entries. The highest ranked restaurant from Asia is Den in Tokyo, Japan at No 20; the continent has a total of seven entries on the list, from Tokyo, Osaka, Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok.

There are 12 new entries on the list, the highest being Uliassi in Senigallia, Italy, which came in at No 12. The full list of new entries includes Uliassi, Senigallia (No 12); Alchemist, Copenhagen (No 18); The Jane, Antwerp (No 23); Le Clarence, Paris (No 28); St Hubertus, San Cassiano (No 29); Mayta, Lima (No 32); Fyn, Cape Town (No 37); Jordnaer, Copenhagen (No 38); Sorn, Bangkok (No 39); La Cime, Osaka (No 41); Oteque, Rio de Janeiro (No 47); and Ikoyi, London (No 49).

Best of the Best list

The interiors of the world-class Danish restaurant Noma in Copenhagen. AFP

This is the second year in a row that a Danish restaurant has taken the top spot. Geranium inherits the World's Best Restaurant title from Noma, which is not on the top 50 list this year, instead it has been elevated to the Best of the Best hall of fame list. Noma, in its original location, also took the top spot in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014.

This year, restaurants that have been named No 1 in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list were all named Best of the Best and not eligible for voting in 2022 and beyond. Along with Noma, both in its original and current locations, the Best of the Best list includes El Bulli, Roses, Spain; The French Laundry, Yountville, USA; The Fat Duck, Berkshire, UK; El Celler de Can Roca, Girona, Spain; Osteria Francescana, Modena, Italy; Eleven Madison Park, New York, USA; and Mirazur, Menton, France.

The World's 50 Best Restaurants list in full

1. Geranium, Copenhagen, Denmark
2. Central, Lima, Peru
3. Disfrutar, Barcelona, Spain
4. Diverxo, Madrid, Spain
5. Pujol, Mexico City, Mexico
6. Asador Etxebarri, Atxondo, Spain
7. A Casa do Porco, in Sao Paulo, Brazil
8. Lido 84, Gardone Riviera, Italy
9. Quintonil, Mexico City, Mexico
10. Le Calandre, Rubano, Italy
11. Maido, Lima, Peru
12. Uliassi, Senigallia, Italy
13. Steirereck, Vienna, Austria
14. Don Julio, Buenos Aires, Argentina
15. Reale, Castel di Sangro, Italy
16. Elkano, Getaria, Spain
17. Nobelhart & Schmutzig, Berlin, Germany
18. Alchemist, Copenhagen, Denmark
19. Piazza Duomo, Alba, Italy
20. Den, Tokyo, Japan
21. Mugaritz, San Sebastian, Spain
22. Septime, Paris, France
23. The Jane, Antwerp, Belgium
24. The Chairman, Hong Kong
25. Frantzen, Stockholm, Sweden
26. Restaurant Tim Raue, Berlin, Germany
27. Hof Van Cleve, Kruishoutem, Belgium
28. Le Clarence, Paris, France
29. St Hubertus, San Cassiano, Italy
30. Florilege, Tokyo, Japan
31. Arpege, Paris, France
32. Mayta, Lima, Peru
33. Atomix, New York, USA
34. Hisa Franko, Kobarid, Slovenia
35. The Clove Club, London, UK
36. Odette, Singapore
37. Fyn, Cape Town, South Africa
38. Jordnaer, Copenhagen, Denmark
39. Sorn, Bangkok, Thailand
40. Schloss Schauenstein, Furstenau, Switzerland
41. La Cime, Osaka, Japan
42. Quique Dacosta, Denia, Spain
43. Borago, Santiago, Chile
44. Le Bernardin, New York, USA
45. Narisawa, Tokyo, Japan
46. Belcanto, Lisbon, Portugal
47. Oteque, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
48. Leo, Bogota, Colombia
49. Ikoyi, London, UK
50. SingleThread, Healdsburg, USA

Mena's 50 Best Restaurants list — in pictures

3 Fils, Dubai, UAE. Photo: 3 Fils

Zuma, Dubai, UAE. Photo: Zuma

OCD Restaurant, Tel Aviv, Israel. Photo: OCD

Tresind Studio, Dubai, UAE. Photo: Tresind Studio

Sachi, Cairo, Egypt. Photo: Sachi

Orfali Bros, Dubai, UAE. Photo: Orfali Bros

Fakhreldin, Amman, Jordan. Photo: Fakhreldin

LPM Restaurant & Bar, Dubai, UAE. Photo: LPM Restaurant & Bar

George & John, Tel Aviv, Israel. Photo: George & John

Gaia, Dubai, UAE. Photo: Gaia

Il Borro Tuscan Bistro, Dubai, UAE. Photo: Il Borro Tuscan Bistro

Baron, Beirut, Lebanon. Photo: Baron

Coya, Dubai, UAE. Photo: Coya

HaBasta, Tel Aviv, Israel. Photo: HaBasta

Myazu, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo: Myazu

Reif Kushiyaki, Dubai, UAE. Photo: Reif Kushiyaki

Animar, Tel Aviv, Israel. Photo: Animar

Tresind, Dubai, UAE. Photo: Tresind

Kazoku, Cairo, Egypt. Photo: Kazoku

Mimi Kakushi, Dubai, UAE. Photo: Mimi Kakushi

Liza, Beirut, Lebanon. Photo: Liza

Em Sherif, Beirut, Lebanon. Photo: Em Sherif

Lowe, Dubai, UAE. Photo: Lowe

Pescado, Ashdod, Israel. Photo: Pescado

Hakkasan, Abu Dhabi, UAE. Photo: Hakkasan

La Grande Table Marocaine, Marrakesh, Morocco. Photo: Royal Mansour

13C Bar in the Back, Amman, Jordan. Photo: 13C Bar in the Back

Tawlet Mar Mikhael, Beirut, Lebanon. Photo: Tawlet Mar Mikhael

Amazonico, Dubai, UAE. Photo: Amazonico

Marble, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo: Marble

Mirai, Manama, Bahrain. Photo: Mirai

Iloli, Casablanca, Morocco. Photo: Iloli

BB Social Dining, Dubai, UAE. Photo: BB Social Dining

Coya, Abu Dhabi, UAE. Photo: Coya

Indochine, Dubai, UAE. Photo: Indochine

Cut by Wolfgang Puck, Doha, Qatar. Photo: Cut by Wolfgang Puck

Porterhouse, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo: Porterhouse

Zooba, Cairo, Egypt. Photo: Zooba

Fusions by Tala, Manama, Bahrain. Photo: Fusions by Tala

Milgo Milbar, Tel Aviv, Israel. Photo: Milgo Milbar

Sufra, Amman, Jordan. Photo: Sufra

LPM Restaurant & Cafe, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo: LPM Restaurant & Cafe

White Robata, Kuwait City, Kuwait. Photo: White Robata

Hoseki, Dubai, UAE. Photo: Hoseki

Izakaya, Cairo, Egypt. Photo: Izakaya

La Closerie, La Marsa, Tunisia. Photo: La Closerie

Clap, Beirut, Lebanon. Photo: Clap

Butcher & Still, Abu Dhabi, UAE. Photo: Four Seasons

Plus61, Marrakesh, Morocco. Photo: Plus61

Tokyo, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo: Tokyo