Noma retains world best restaurant title

Denmark’s Noma restaurant has been named best in the world for a third year running in an international survey that also gave top rankings to establishments in Spain, Brazil and Italy.

The Copenhagen restaurant serving Nordic specialities in a quayside warehouse topped the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list compiled for a 10th year by more than 800 international experts for Britain’s Restaurant magazine.

The magazine called Noma’s chef Rene Redzepi “the standard bearer for the New Nordic movement,” citing his attention to detail and innovative approach.

He also won respect for his use of local and seasonal ingredients foraged from the seashore or the forest.

Noma seized the top spot in 2010 from Spain’s El Bulli, which has since closed. But Spanish restaurants held onto the second and third spots on the global dining list this year.

El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, run by three brothers and known for its dishes based on perfumes, came in second, while third place – plus the Chefs’ Choice award – went again to Mugaritz in San Sebastian, despite a devastating fire two years ago.