In this article, I round up some of the best restaurants in the world. Some I’ve visited personally; others I am planning on visiting in the not-too-distant future.
1) Hélène Darroze at The Connaught (United Kingdom)
Hélène Darroze is the undisputed queen of haute cuisine. Her three-Michelin-starred establishment at The Connaught has been dazzling diners since opening in 2008. With gentle curves and subtle blush pinks, it’s a dining space that is elegant, refined, and welcoming. The expert craftsmanship extends beyond the restaurant design to the menu.
Ingredients are sourced to ensure the best quality, rather than just for low mileage. You will find the buttery A5 Wagyu beef is from Gunma prefecture. The voluptuous chocolate is from a social project in Mekonga, Vietnam. Their iconic dish is the signature baba, made with Armagnac Darroze, which is her relative-owned distillery.
Click here to visit their website.
2) The French Laundry (United States)
This landmark restaurant in California, owned by Thomas Keller, is a gastronomic institution in the United States. It is widely considered one of the best restaurant in the United States. He is the only American chef to have been awarded three Michelin stars for two different restaurants simultaneously (the other one being Per Se in New York City, which does have a very similar menu). Dining at The French Laundry is an immersive experience, from being taken on a kitchen tour to getting an engraved Champagne bottle as a birthday gift. Signature dishes include “Oysters and Pearls”, a “sabayon” of pearl tapioca with Island Creek Oysters and a white truffle lasagna.
Click here to visit their website.
3) Lai Ching Heen (Hong Kong)
Cantonese cuisine doesn’t get executed any better than at this waterfront restaurant at Regent Hong Kong. The views of Victoria Harbour and looking onto Hong Kong Island are mesmerising. It strikes the fine balance of offering a luxurious yet still intimate setting. You will find jade, silk, and traditional Chinese art aplenty. Their dim sum dishes are particularly popular, but you will also find popular Chinese delicacies like braised whole abalone and golden stuffed crabmeat in shell. When available, do try their tea pairing menu. They have a specialist tea sommelier, who travels to the likes of China and Taiwan to source the best offerings. It is acclaimed by most locals as one of the best restaurants in the city.
Click here to visit their website.
4) Épicure (France)
If you are looking for opulent haute cuisine with classic French cooking, look no further than Épicure. The hotel it is situated in, Le Bristol Paris, has been open for more than 100 years since 1925. Under the watchful eye of Chef Éric Fréchon, they earned their third Michelin star in 2009. He was succeeded by Arnaud Faye in early 2024. Dining at Épicure is akin to walking into the Palace of Versailles. You will find sumptuous upholstery, lavish mirrors, and Louis XVI-style furniture. Signature dishes include a Bresse Farm hen poached in a bladder and macaroni with truffle. It is one of the best restaurants in the world to experience French haute cuisine.
Click here to visit their website.
5) Quique Dacosta (Spain)
Chef Quique Dacosta is a global superstar celebrity chef, well-known for being self-taught and for his avant-garde style of cooking. His eponymous restaurant in Dénia is three Michelin-starred, whilst he also owns two other restaurants in Spain, both of which are two Michelin-starred. He is well-known to have revolutionised paella. This is particularly evident in the restaurant, Arros QD, which he helped to open in London and focuses on cooking wood-fired paellas. His minimalist flagship restaurant in Dénia has a clean, uncluttered feel that allows the food to be the star of the show. His iconic dishes include Dénia Red Prawn boiled in seawater and complex onion dishes.
Click here to visit their website.
6) Osteria Francescana (Italy)
A cursory examination of their website reveals that they proclaim themselves as “a laboratory of ideas”. Master chef Massimo Bottura is a genius at finding fresh combinations of ingredients for traditional Italian cuisine. The decor delivers on minimalist Italian luxury and modern art, which accentuates the innovative nature of the menu. You will find art pieces from the likes of Damien Hirst and mirrors and custom carpets from Marcel Wanders. His most famous dishes include “Five Ages of Parmigiano Reggiano”, which showcases the cheese in different textures and “The Crispy Part of Lasagna”. The latter elevates comfort food to Michelin status and explains why it is one of the best restaurants in the world.
Click here to visit their website.
7) Pujol (Mexico)
Consistently ranked as one of the finest restaurants in the world, Pujol is the brainchild of Chef Enrique Olvera. Traditional street food is elevated to innovative Mexican delights via the use of molecular gastronomy and meticulous preparation. The decor focuses on using local Mexican artistry. You will find rich local materials like parota wood and stucco. Highlights include a Japanese-inspired stone garden and a sunken taco bar with handcrafted furniture. Dishes you can’t miss include smoked baby corn with ant butter and the endlessly innovative tacos.
Click here to visit their website.
8) Sushi Saito (Japan)
The original restaurant is next to impossible to book, as it is reportedly not available for public booking. Online reports suggest you might be able to book it via a hotel concierge. However, their new Azabudai branch does offer limited booking opportunities. The original restaurant is so hard to book as it is a traditional sushi bar with only a few counter seats.
It offers a sophisticated, minimalist vibe. They use natural materials like cypress wood, but the focus is firmly on the food. The quality of the fish is exceptional, as is the chef’s special vinegared rice. Look out for the likes of the tuna trio, where you try tuna of different fattiness. It is one of the best restaurants for those who want to experience authentic sushi.
Click here to make a booking at their new branch.
9) Maido (Peru)
The restaurant was voted the best restaurant in the world in 2025. Chef Mitsuharu “Micha” Tsumura is a master at creating Nikkei cuisine. He manages to successfully blend masterful Japanese techniques with diverse Peruvian ingredients. Think sashimi techniques with unique fish and Amazonian fruits. The restaurant has an eye-catching “forest” of rope installations from its ceiling. Some of the ropes have a red colour and is meant to evoke the Japanese flag. Dishes that are not to be missed include the wondrously tender 50-hour beef short rib and the squid ramen.
courtesy of 51-1 Arquitectos
Click here to visit their website.
10) Noma (Denmark)
They are the pioneers of New Nordic Cuisine. They have won the “best restaurant in the world” accolade multiple times and holders of three Michelin stars. They influence global food trends significantly by focusing on hyperlocalism and a willingness to experiment. They famously include unusual foraged items on their menus like moss, pinecones, and ants, making them one of the best restaurants in the world for innovative cuisine.
The decor resembles a modern Nordic farmstead. There is an extensive use of oak and bricks to deliver a rustic, yet modern experience. Memorable dishes from their previous menus include celeriac shawarma and “scallop” steak.
Click here to visit their website.
Why not check out my article on The Top 5 must-visit fine dining restaurants in Hong Kong, click here to read the article.
