The restaurant ‘Central’ by the Peruvian chef Virgilio Martínez has been crowned at the Palau de Les Arts in the City of Arts and Sciences of Valencia, as the best restaurant in the world during the celebration of the gala ‘The World’s 50 Best Restaurants’ , followed by the Spanish ‘Enjoy’ and ‘DiverXO’.

‘Central’ has taken over from the Danish ‘Geranium’ by chef Rasmus Kofoed, who was crowned the best in 2022 and who this year has entered the ‘Best of the best’, the ‘hall of fame’ of the list, where the Spanish El Bulli and El Celler de Can Roca are present. ‘Central’, also chosen as the best restaurant in Latin America by ’50 Best Latam’, has won the award for the best restaurant in the world, rising from second to first place in just one year. Chef Virgilio Martínez is in charge of his kitchen, who has become the best representative of the new generation of Peruvian chefs, promoting the dissemination of Peruvian gastronomy.

Thus, the second best restaurant in the world is for ‘Disfrutar’ in Barcelona by chefs Mateu Casañas, Oriol Castro and Eduard Xatruchwhich rises one position and wins the award for best restaurant in Europe, while ‘DiverXO’, by Madrid chef Dabiz Muñoz, wins a position by being in third place in the ranking.

A prestigious ranking that has up to six Spanish restaurants among the 50 best in the world, whose chefs have once again put on the iconic red scarf that characterizes these awards tonight. Thus, Asador Etxebarri (Vizcaya), by Bittor Arginzoniz, rises two places in this edition, going from sixth to fourth place, while the biggest rise in the ranking of Spaniards is led by Quique Dacosta, since his establishment in Denia rose from position 42 to 20. For its part, ‘Elkano’ by Aitor Aguerri in Guetaria (Guipúzcoa) is in position 22, while ‘Mugaritz’ by Andoni Luis Aduriz is in position 31, which loses 10 places in this edition .

In this way, these six Spanish restaurants join the ‘Aponiente’, by chef Angel León in El Puerto de Santa María (Cádiz), located at number 64, while ‘Azurmendi’, by Eneko Atxa, is in the 81, and Albert Adriá’s project ‘Enigma’, settles in 82, while the host city this year of the gala, Valencia, enters the prestigious list for the first time with ‘Ricard Camarena Restaurant’, in position 96 .

Miguel Angel Millán from ‘DiverXO’, best sommelier in the world

A gala where the Spanish Miguel Angel Millán from ‘DiverXO’ was crowned the best sommelier in the world. Thus, the sommelier of the three-starred restaurant in Madrid, who has passed through Santceloni or Kabuki Wellington, takes over in this award, given by the Spanish winery Beronia, to the ‘maitre’ and sommelier of Celler Can Roca, Josep ‘Pitu’ Roca, who became with this recognition last year in London.

Some awards that were revealed during the course of the gala as the best sustainable restaurant that went to the South African ‘Fyn’, while the award for best pastry chef went to Pía Salazar from ‘Nueva’ in Quito (Peru).

During the gala also the career of Basque chef Andoni Luis Aduriz, owner of ‘Mugaritz’ in San Sebastián, was recognized, who received the ‘Icon Award’ from chef Massimo Bottura and who raised the assistant chefs from their seats to give the Basque chef a standing ovation. An award that the organization grants to the person who has made an outstanding contribution to the world of gastronomy worthy of international recognition and who has used its platform to raise awareness and promote positive change in the sector.

An award given to him for his “tireless work” throughout his three decades of career in promoting sustainable agriculture and reducing food waste, while working for a socially and environmentally committed gastronomic industry.