An IMGlobalWealth.com News Report
Peru, Spain and Mexico have emerged as global culinary powerhouses in the latest edition of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, an influential annual ranking published by William Reed and compiled from the votes of more than 1,000 international chefs, restaurateurs, food critics and hospitality experts. The 2025 results underscore a broader shift in fine dining away from traditional strongholds such as France and towards a more geographically diverse gastronomic landscape.
According to the rankings, Peru’s Maido claimed the top spot, followed by Spain’s Asador Etxebarri and Mexico’s Quintonil, highlighting the growing influence of Latin American and Southern European cuisine on the global stage. Spain nevertheless remained the strongest-performing country overall, securing several entries in the global top 50, including highly ranked establishments from the Basque region, an area widely regarded as one of the world’s leading concentrations of Michelin-recognised and fine-dining restaurants. The results further reinforce Spain’s reputation as one of the dominant forces in contemporary gastronomy.
“Smaller and wealthier nations dominate the rankings for Michelin-recognised restaurants relative to population size”
Countries Most Represented Among the World’s Best Restaurants
- Spain
- Peru
- Mexico
- Thailand
- Japan
- France
- Denmark
- Argentina
- United States
Yet when measured on a per-capita basis, the global culinary map looks rather different.
Smaller and wealthier nations dominate the rankings for Michelin-recognised restaurants relative to population size. According to multiple culinary industry studies, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium and Malta rank among the countries with the highest density of Michelin-recognised restaurants worldwide. Read more
Countries with the Highest Per-Capita Concentration of Michelin-Recognised Restaurants
- Switzerland
- Luxembourg
- Belgium
- Malta
- Hong Kong
- France
- Singapore
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Denmark
Japan also performs strongly, particularly in cities such as Tokyo and Kyoto. Tokyo remains the city with the highest total number of Michelin-starred restaurants globally, while Kyoto is often cited as one of the world’s leading Michelin destinations on a population-adjusted basis.
France still retains the largest overall number of Michelin-starred restaurants globally, maintaining its historical status as the spiritual home of haute cuisine. Japan, Italy and Spain continue to follow closely behind in absolute numbers.
The evolving rankings underline how fine dining has become increasingly internationalised. Latin American innovation, Nordic experimentation, Asian precision and Mediterranean traditions are now competing on equal footing, reshaping the geography of global gastronomy.
