Where to Eat: The World's Top 25 Restaurants

When it comes to rating restaurants, there are plenty of options. Zagat, Michelin, Yelp, Travel + Leisure, and on and on. Some are based on the opinions of experts; others rely on feedback from average diners. None are definitive.



TripAdvisor's "Travelers' Choice - Best Fine Dining Restaurants"

awards reflect the tastes of its millions of average consumers, as do the hotel reviews which have made the site a go-to resource for travelers. The more feedback, the more accurate the resulting rating.

To compile its top-25 list, TripAdvisor (SmarterTravel's parent company) used an "algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews for restaurants around the world, gathered over a 12-month period."



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According to TripAdvisor reviewers, these are the top 25 restaurants in the world:

1. The Black Swan at Olstead - Olstead, U.K.
2. Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons - Great Milton, U.K.
3. Maison Lameloise - Chagny, France
4. L'Auberge de l'Ill - Illhaeusern, France
5. Martin Berasategui - Lasarte, Spain
6. Daniel - New York City, U.S.
7. La Colombe - Constantia, S. Africa
8. David's Kitchen - Chiang Mai, Thailand
9. Maido - Lima, Peru
10. El Celler de Can Roca - Girona, Spain
11. Restaurant Alcron - Prague, Czech Republic
12. The Fat Duck - Bray on Thames, U.K.
13. Restaurante Benazuza - Cancun, Mexico
14. Ristorante Don Alfonso - Sant'Agata sui Due Golfi, Italy
15. DOC - Armamar, Portugal
16. i Latina - Buenos Aires, Argentina
17. Chez Bruno - Lorgues, France
18. The Grove - Auckland Central, New Zealand
19. Indian Accent - New Delhi, India
20. TRB Hutong - Beijing, China
21. Azurmendi - Larrabetzu, Spain
22. Muse Restaurant - Pokolbin, Australia
23. Voila Bistrot - Paraty, Brazil
24. The French Cafe - Auckland Central, New Zealand
25. Funky Gourmet - Athens, Greece
    
    
    
    What's likely to stand out to U.S.-based travelers is the lack of American restaurants on the list. Daniel, in Manhattan, is the sole U.S. representative. Next surprise: The two top-rated eateries are in Great Britain. In fact, more than half the listed restaurants are in Europe, which suggests a certain bias among the diners.
    
    Euro-bias aside, the list is interesting for what it is: a reflection of the dining preferences of scores of TripAdvisor reviewers. The so-called wisdom of crowds should always be taken with a qualifier. It might not be the best way to identify the very best, but it's a very good way to recognize pretty good.
    
    
    
    Reader Reality Check
    
    
    
    How do you choose which restaurants to visit when traveling?