It was an evening that began with caviar punches, a mythical giant, and dancing lightsabers and ended with sparklers and tequila shots at a poolside beach club. For the first time, the world's 50 best restaurants hosted their annual awards ceremony and festivities in Las Vegas.
Enjoy, an innovative restaurant with a tasting menu in Barcelona, took the top spot on the list. Chefs Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch and Mateu Casañas collected the award at a ceremony Wednesday night at the Wynn Las Vegas.
Asador Etxebarri, a restaurant in a Basque town called Atxondo, was named the No. 2 restaurant. Korean fine dining restaurant Atomix in New York City was named the best restaurant in North America at No. 6 on the list.
The chefs from Enjoy in Barcelona collect the highest award at the awards ceremony for the 50 Best Restaurants in the World in Las Vegas.
(Camila Almeida)
Chefs from around the world attended, including previous winners of the World's 50 Best Restaurants, Thomas Keller, José Andrés, Dominique Crenn and Daniel Humm. Emeril Lagasse was seen taking selfies with her fans.
Chefs wearing red scarves from the world's 50 best restaurants rose to raucous applause as their restaurants were named during a live countdown of the 50 restaurants.
For the first time in more than a decade, the World's 50 Best Restaurants recognized a Los Angeles restaurant with an award. Kato, led by co-owners Jon Yao, Ryan Bailey and general manager Nikki Reginaldo, received the 2024 Resy One to Watch award. This elegant restaurant in downtown Los Angeles features a Taiwanese-inspired tasting menu that encapsulates the diversity, vitality and generosity of Southern California in dishes that are both comforting and exciting.
The award is intended to be a recognition of a restaurant's potential to be included on the list at some point in the future.
From left to right, Nikki Reginaldo, General Manager of Kato, Jon Yao, Chef and Co-Owner, and Ryan Bailey, Director of Operations, Sommelier/Wine Director and Co-Owner.
(Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
The only other recognized North American restaurant was SingleThread Farms in Healdsburg, California. Kyle and Katina Connaughton's tasting menu restaurant and hotel was named 46th on the list.
The World's 50 Best Restaurants list, now in its 22nd year, is chosen by a panel of 1,080 culinary experts from around the world, recruited by 27 academy presidents. You can see the full list, including restaurants on the expanded list from number 51 to 100, on the World's 50 Best Restaurants website.
