World’s No. 1 restaurant crowned as contest comes under increasing scrutiny

Asador Etxebarri in Atxondo, Spain, was named the world’s No. 1 restaurant on the 50 Best Restaurants 2026 list, the first time the Basque grill has topped the ranking. The award lands as the 50 Best organization faces growing scrutiny over how its voting and judging process works. The list remains one of the most closely watched signals in global fine dining, capable of driving bookings and international demand for ranked venues. Watch for the organization’s response to criticism of its methodology and whether sponsors or regional voting panels face changes ahead of next year’s edition.