Asador Etxebarri Takes No. 1 as Odette Climbs to No. 15 in 2026 List

Spain's Asador Etxebarri was named the world's best restaurant on Nov. 4, while Singapore's Odette climbed 10 places to No. 15 on The 50 Best Restaurants 2026 list. The awards were announced at the Teatro Municipal de Lima in Peru.

Odette, the French fine-dining restaurant at National Gallery Singapore helmed by chef Julien Royer, 44, had placed No. 25 in 2025 and No. 24 in 2024. Its highest ranking remains No. 8 in 2021. It is still Singapore's only restaurant in the global top 50.

Royer said in a media statement it was an honour to represent Singapore on the global stage for the past eight years. "For us, it has always been about more than just the food. It is about taking care of people and hopefully leaving our guests a little happier than when they arrived," he said. He credited his team, notably head sommelier Lesley Liu, 34, who won The Best Sommelier Award 2026.

"This is beyond my wildest dreams and I am incredibly surprised and humbled by this recognition," said Liu, who was born in Taiwan and previously won Asia's Best Sommelier Award 2026 in Hong Kong on March 25. "Pursuing this passion and finding my place in this industry has never been easy, but there is so much joy in waking up every day doing what I love."

How did Singapore's other entries fare?

Three Singapore restaurants made the extended No. 51 to No. 100 list, announced Oct. 21:

• Seroja debuted at No. 64, one of nine new entries on the extended list. The 24-seat restaurant at Duo Galleria opened in 2022 and serves Malay Archipelago cuisine. Chef-owner Kevin Wong, 32, said his team was in disbelief. "Locality is the luxury," he said, crediting regional sourcing for the recognition.
• Burnt Ends in Dempsey rose four places, from No. 93 to No. 89.
• Labyrinth at Esplanade Mall slipped one spot, from No. 97 to No. 98.

Who led Asia?

Thailand placed the most Asian restaurants in the top 50 — five, all in Bangkok. Gaggan, led by chef Gaggan Anand, was named The Best Restaurant in Asia, rising from No. 6 to No. 2. Sorn rose five places to No. 12, Suhring climbed eight to No. 14, and Nusara jumped 17 to No. 18. Potong fell 19 places to No. 32.

Hong Kong took two top-10 spots: Wing, under chef Vicky Cheng, rose six places to No. 5, and The Chairman climbed 13 to No. 6. South Korea's Mingles in Seoul climbed 12 places to No. 17, while Onjium moved from No. 57 to No. 41.

India's Masque in Mumbai leapt from No. 68 to No. 26, and Naar in Kasauli debuted at No. 49, also winning the Sustainable Restaurant Award. In China, Meet the Bund in Shanghai climbed 73 places to No. 21, and Ru Yuan in Hangzhou debuted at No. 36.

What shaped the top of the list?

Asador Etxebarri in Atxondo, Spain, run by chef-owner Victor Arguinzoniz, moved up one place after finishing runner-up in 2024 and 2025. The restaurant is known for wood-fired grilling. It also took The Best Restaurant in Europe title. Copenhagen's Alchemist placed third, up two places.

Copenhagen's Kadeau climbed from No. 41 to No. 8, winning the Highest Climber Award. Tuju in São Paulo rose from No. 70 to No. 16, taking the Highest New Entry Award and the Art of Hospitality Award. In Lima, Kjolle rose two places to No. 7, Merito climbed 13 to No. 13, and Mayta slipped six to No. 45. Maido, the 2025 No. 1, joined the Best of the Best group of former champions and is no longer eligible.

The ranking is organised by British media group William Reed. Launched in 2002 and rebranded in September 2026, it draws on votes from more than 1,100 industry experts across 28 regions, with results independently adjudicated by Deloitte. Whether Odette can push back toward its 2021 peak of No. 8 will test whether hospitality-first messaging can outpoll Asia's fast-rising Bangkok cohort next year.