SINGAPORE—Mirazur in Menton, France, emerged as Best Restaurant for 2019 at the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, sponsored by S. Pellegrino & Acqua Panna.

The list was announced June 25 at the Marina Bay Sands.

Since former chart-toppers were out of the running—a rule employed this year as an initiative for diversity—there had been much talk and speculation about which restaurant will emerge number one.

At the press conference, husband-and-wife Mauro and Julia Colagreco of Mirazur thanked their team and their countries—France where the restaurant is, and Italy, Argentina and Brazil where they come from.

Mauro Colagreco added, “Mirazur is our family. We live there. We dream there. To achieve this award is something so special for us. I don’t have words to express how happy I feel.”

Colagreco was on the clouds, especially since he, a non-French chef—he’s Argentinean—got three Michelin stars in the same year as a restaurant in France topped the World’s 50 Best list for the very first time.

There are many new entries in the roster, including Elkano (Spain), Don Julio (Argentina), Benu (USA), Twins Garden (Russia), and Leo (Colombia).

Seven restaurants from Europe made the top 10, two from Latin America, and one from Asia. Gaggan was the highest ranked restaurant in the region, and none came from the Philippines.

Over 1,000 voters from 26 regions decided this year’s list.

During the awards night, special recognition was given to the late chef-TV host Anthony Bourdain whose birthday coincided with the event, and the late great Joel Robuchon who died last August.

The top 10 list:
1. Mirazur (Menton, France)
Chef: Mauro Colagreco
Last year’s rank: 3

2. Noma 2.0 (Copenhagen, Denmark)
Chef: Rene Redzepi
New entry

3. Asador Etxebarri (Axpe, Spain)
Chef: Victor Arguinzoniz
Last year’s rank: 10

4. Gaggan (Bangkok, Thailand)
Chef: Gaggan Anand
Last year’s rank: 5

5. Geranium (Copenhagen, Denmark)
Chef: Rasmus Cuffed
Last year’s rank: 19

6. Central (Lima, Peru)
Chef: Virgilio Martinez and Pia Leon
Last year’s rank: 6

7. Mugaritz (Errenteria, Spain)
Chef: Andoni Luis Aduriz
Last year’s rank: 9

8. Arpege (Paris, France)
Chef: Alain Passard
Last year’s rank: 8

9. Disfrutar (Barcelona, Spain)
Chefs: Mateu Casanas, Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch
Last year’s rank: 18

10. Maido (Lima, Peru)
Chef: Mitsuharu Tsumura
Last year’s rank: 7

Special Individual Awards:
American Express Icon: José Andrés
World’s Best Pastry Chef: Jessica Préalpato (Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée)
Miele One to Watch: Ristorante Lido 84 (Italy)
elit Vodka World’s Best Female Chef: Daniela Soto-Innes (Cosme, Atla)
Chef’s Choice Award: Alain Passard
Legle Art of Hospitality Award: Den (Japan)
Sustainable Restaurant Award: Schloss Schauenstein (Switzerland)
Highest New Entry: Noma 2.0 (Denmark)
Westholme Highest Climber: Azurmendi (from no. 43)
BBVA Scholarship: Andersen Lee

Special thanks to Singapore Tourism Board and World’s 50 Best Restaurants