For only the second time in its history, giants of the food and restaurant industry gathered outside of London to celebrate the World’s Best 50 Restaurant awards. This year, festivities were held at Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building, where the world’s leading chefs, restaurateurs and critics mingled with a great spirit of camaraderie and listened with bated breath to the results.

Mark Durden-Smith hosted the ceremony, weaving much wit and banter into the proceedings. There were plenty of new faces this year, with 6 new entries and 3 re-entries into the top 50. In a thrilling finish, it was a rearrangement of the top three restaurants from 2016. Eleven Madison Park took top honours, Osteria Francescana came in at no. 2, and El Celler de Can Roca at no. 3.

There was strong representation from France, Spain and the USA, each with six restaurants on the list. Host country Australia now has two in the top 50, with Brae breaking through at no. 44, and Attica stepping up to no. 32. Gaggan, fresh from winning The Best Restaurant in Asia, rose 16 places to no. 7. Virgilio Martínez was the recipient of this year’s Chefs’ Choice Award, and his restaurant Central came in at no. 5, making it the top restaurant in South America.

Other special awards handed out tonight included Ana Roš being presented as Best Female Chef, the Diners Club Lifetime Achievement Award being awarded to Heston Blumenthal, the One To Watch Award going to Disfrutar, and Dominique Ansel being named World’s Best Pastry Chef.

The atmosphere of warmth and excitement continued well into the night, as attendees exchanged congratulations and caught up over nibbles showcasing Australian produce, all coordinated by Rockpool Dining Group’s Neil Perry. Daniel Willis of the Clove Club was resident DJ, mixing pumping beats that added to the jovial atmosphere of the evening, before chefs and VIP guests departed for their after-after-parties.

World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2017:
1. Eleven Madison Park, New York, US
2. Osteria Francescana, Modena, Italy
3. El Celler de Can Roca, Girona, Spain
4. Mirazur, Menton, France
5. Central, Lima, Peru
6. Asador Etxebarri, Axpe, Spain
7. Gaggan, Bangkok, Thailand
8. Maido, Lima, Peru
9. Mugaritz Errenteria, Spain
10. Steirereck Vienna, Austria
11. Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pocantico Hills, US
12. L’Arpege, Paris, France
13. Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athenee, Paris, France
14. Restaurant Andre, Singapore
15. Piazza Duomo, Alba, Italy
16. D.O.M., Sao Paulo, Brazil
17. Le Bernardin, New York City, US
18. Narisawa, Tokyo, Japan
19. Geranium, Copenhagen, Denmark
20. Pujol, Mexico City, Mexico
21. Alinea, Chicago, US
22. Quintonil, Mexico City, Mexico
23. White Rabbit, Moscow, Russia
24. Amber, Hong Kong
25. Tickets, Barcelona, Spain
26. The Clove Club, London, UK
27. The Ledbury, London, UK
28. Nahm, Bangkok, Thailand
29. Le Calandre, Rubano, Italy
30. Arzak, San Sebastian, Spain
31. Alleno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen, Paris, France
32. Attica, Melbourne, Australia
33. Astrid y Gaston, Lima, Peru
34. De Librije, Zwolle, Netherlands
35. Septime, Paris, France
36. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, London, UK
37. Saison, San Francisco, US
38. Azurmendi, Larrabetzu, Spain
39. Relae, Copenhagen, Denmark
40. Cosme, New York City, US
41. Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet, Shanghai, China
42. Borago, Santiago, Chile
43. Reale, Castel Di Sangro, Italy
44. Brae, Birregurra, Australia
45. Den, Tokyo, Japan
46. L’Astrance, Paris, France
47. Vendome, Cologne, Germany
48. Restaurant Tim Raue, Berlin, Germany
49. Tegui, Buenos Aires, Argentina
50. Hof Van Cleve, Kruishoutem, Belgium

World’s Best Female Chef 2017 – Ana Roš of Hiša Franko, Slovenia
One to Watch Award – Disfrutar, Barcelona, Spain
World’s Best Pastry Chef – Dominique Ansel
Lifetime Achievement Award – Heston Blumenthal
Highest Climber Award – Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pocantico Hills, US
Highest New Entry Award – Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen, Paris, France
Chefs’ Choice Award – Virgilio Martínez of Central, Lima, Peru
Art of Hospitality Award – El Celler de Can Roca, Girona, Spain
Sustainable Restaurant Award – Septime, Paris, France