Unearth The Voyage
Right now, the world’s dining scene is more exciting than ever, with incredible restaurants pushing boundaries from South America to Scandinavia. These spots aren’t just places to eat, they’re destinations where chefs transform local ingredients into unforgettable experiences using fire, science, tradition, and pure creativity. Whether you’re dreaming of smoky Basque grills or theatrical Copenhagen dining domes, this list takes you inside twelve of the planet’s most buzzed-about tables that food lovers are racing to book.
1. Maido in Lima, Peru
Chef Mitsuharu Tsumura, known to fans as Micha, has claimed the crown: Maido is officially the World’s Best Restaurant for 2025. His magic lies in Nikkei cuisine, a beautiful marriage of Japanese precision and Peruvian soul that reflects Lima’s deep Japanese heritage.
Expect pristine raw fish kissed by Amazonian flavors, nigiri topped with local peppers, and tasting menus that read like edible poetry. Every course tells a story of migration, tradition, and innovation. Reservations fill up months ahead, so plan early if you want a seat at the world’s hottest table right now.
2. Asador Etxebarri in Axpe, Spain
Tucked into a green Basque valley, Asador Etxebarri feels like a pilgrimage site for anyone who loves fire and smoke. Chef Bittor Arguinzoniz has spent decades mastering live-fire cooking, coaxing flavors from custom-built grills that most chefs can only dream about.
He grills everything—from tender beef to delicate seafood, even butter—over carefully chosen wood embers. The result is food that tastes ancient and modern at once. Ranked Europe’s Best Restaurant and number two globally in 2025, this humble spot proves that simplicity and obsession can create magic.
3. Quintonil in Mexico City, Mexico
Jorge Vallejo’s Quintonil celebrates Mexico’s incredible biodiversity with a locavore heart and contemporary flair. Bright herbs, rare chiles, and heirloom corn share the spotlight in dishes that honor tradition while pushing it forward.
In 2025, Quintonil leaped onto the global podium at number three, cementing Mexico City’s status as a world-class food capital. The tasting menu changes with the seasons, showcasing ingredients you’ve probably never heard of but will never forget. Reservations have become fiercely competitive, so book as soon as you know your travel dates.
4. Disfrutar in Barcelona, Spain
Three former elBulli chefs joined forces to create Disfrutar, which translates to enjoy, and that’s exactly what diners do here. The restaurant serves playful, technically dazzling Mediterranean cuisine that surprises at every turn—think edible bubbles, liquid olives, and desserts that look like modern art.
Disfrutar grabbed the top global spot in 2024 and remains a bucket-list destination for adventurous eaters. Each course is a mini-performance, blending science, humor, and deliciousness. If you love food that makes you smile and think at the same time, this Barcelona gem delivers in spades.
5. Alchemist in Copenhagen, Denmark
Calling Alchemist a restaurant feels like an understatement—it’s closer to a five-hour art installation that you can eat. Chef Rasmus Munk orchestrates a holistic evening across projection domes, theater, and thought-provoking dishes that tackle everything from sustainability to social justice.
With two Michelin stars and a Top 5 ranking on the 2025 global list, Alchemist is one of the hardest reservations to snag anywhere. The experience challenges your assumptions about what dining can be. Prepare to be amazed, moved, and maybe even a little uncomfortable—in the best possible way.
6. Atomix in New York City, USA
Atomix brings Korean haute cuisine to Manhattan with a twelve-course tasting menu that feels like couture for your taste buds. Chefs Junghyun and Ellia Park serve each dish on handpicked ceramics, turning dinner into a gallery-worthy experience.
In 2025, Atomix claimed the top spot in North America and became the highest-ranked U.S. restaurant on the global list. The flavors are bold yet balanced, rooted in Korean tradition but presented with modern finesse. Service is warm and precise, making you feel like an honored guest rather than just another reservation.
7. DiverXO in Madrid, Spain
Chef Dabiz Muñoz doesn’t do subtle. DiverXO is a three-Michelin-star fever dream where audacious flavors, wild colors, and theatrical motion collide on every plate. The menu reads like a punk-rock manifesto, blending Asian influences with Spanish soul and a heavy dose of irreverence.
Currently located at the NH Eurobuilding through December 2027, DiverXO is planning its next evolution while continuing to shock and delight diners. If you crave dining that feels more like a rock concert than a traditional meal, this Madrid spot will blow your mind.
8. Geranium in Copenhagen, Denmark
Perched above a football stadium with sweeping city views, Geranium offers a serene, ultra-refined dining experience that feels almost meditative. Chef Rasmus Kofoed earned three Michelin stars and the World’s Best Restaurant title in 2022, earning a permanent spot in the Best of the Best hall of fame.
The tasting menu highlights Nordic ingredients treated with reverence and creativity—flowers, roots, and seafood arranged like edible poetry. Service is flawless yet unpretentious. Geranium proves that fine dining can be both ambitious and calming, a rare combination that keeps guests coming back.
9. Central in Lima, Peru
Central takes diners on a vertical journey through Peru’s ecosystems, from the Pacific coast to the Andes peaks. Chefs Virgilio Martínez and Pía León source ingredients by altitude, creating a tasting menu that’s equal parts geography lesson and culinary masterpiece.
Named World’s Best Restaurant in 2023, Central remains permanently bucket-list material for anyone serious about food. Each course represents a different elevation, introducing flavors and textures you won’t find anywhere else. The experience is educational, delicious, and deeply connected to Peru’s stunning biodiversity.
10. Mirazur in Menton, France
Mauro Colagreco’s Mirazur sits on the French Riviera with jaw-dropping Mediterranean views and gardens that supply much of the menu. The cuisine is luminous and produce-driven, celebrating vegetables, herbs, and fruits with the same reverence most chefs reserve for caviar.
Crowned World’s Best Restaurant in 2019, Mirazur now holds a Best of the Best title. The tasting menu follows lunar cycles, changing with the moon’s phases to highlight different ingredients. It’s poetic, delicious, and deeply connected to nature—a meal that stays with you long after you leave.
11. Don Julio in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Don Julio captures everything glorious about Argentina’s beef culture with obsessive sourcing and expert grilling. This elevated parrilla isn’t fancy in a stuffy way—it’s warm, bustling, and deeply authentic, serving some of the best steak you’ll ever taste.
Ranked number ten on the 2025 global list, Don Julio has become a perennial benchmark for beef lovers worldwide. The meat is sourced from carefully chosen ranches, aged perfectly, and cooked over open flames. Pair your steak with a bold Malbec and soak in the lively Buenos Aires energy.
12. Kjolle in Lima, Peru
Kjolle is Pía León’s solo canvas, where she paints with Peru’s incredible biodiversity in ways that are bold, colorful, and unmistakably her own. The dishes burst with texture and clean flavors, highlighting ingredients that most chefs have never even heard of.
Ranked number nine globally in 2025, Kjolle stands proudly alongside Lima’s other world-class restaurants while carving its own identity. León’s cooking is joyful and precise, celebrating women’s perspectives in a traditionally male-dominated field. Every plate feels like a discovery, making Kjolle a must-visit for anyone exploring Lima’s extraordinary food scene.
