Alinea, the avant-garde Chicago restaurant headed by chef Grant Achatz, was recently named the world's top restaurant in a new guide by Elite Traveler magazine. Here's some snaps showing how you could expect to be fed, and comforted, at the ten restaurants around the world most celebrated by their diners.
1. Alinea (Chicago, US)
Opened in 2005 by "progressive" chef Grant Achatz, Alinea has received a host of accolades (and three Michelin stars) for its playful take on American cuisine. A coffee-table book published in 2008 shows off its deconstructed classics, featuring over 600 photographs of the hypermodern dishes and behind-the-scenes culinary processes.
2. The Fat Duck (Bray, UK)
Self-taught chef Heston Blumenthal opened his first restaurant inside a 450-year-old pub in a small village on the River Thames. Since 1995, The Fat Duck has pushed gastronomy to its weirdest and most wonderful sensorial boundaries. Its alchemist chef delights lucky diners and TV viewers alike.
3. Per Se (New York, US)
Per Se, Thomas Keller's cuisine francaise restaurant on Columbus Circle in Manhattan, has been deemed an "urban interpretation" of his much lauded French Laundry in the Napa Valley, California.
4. Pierre Gagnaire (Paris, France)
A modern flavour palette from across the globe and innovative presentation techniques draw diners to Pierre Gagnaire's eponymous restaurant.
5. Daniel (New York, US)
Leading a team of 30 cooks, chef Daniel Boulud offers one of New York's most sumptuous dining experiences in his Upper East Side eaterie.
6. Le Bernardin (New York, US)
Le Bernardin serves innovative seafood dishes by Eric Ripert, with wine offered by Aldo Sohm, voted Best Sommelier in the World in 2008.
7. El Celler de Can Roca (Girona, Spain)
Catalan cuisine from the three Roca brothers—Joan, Jordi and Josep.
8. Le Louis XV (Monte Carlo, Monaco)
Le Louis XV's celebrated Mediterranean haute cuisine has garnered it membership to Les Grandes Tables du Monde and the distinction of being the world's first hotel restaurant to hold three Michelin stars.
9. Mugaritz (Gipuzkoa, Spain)
High-tech, modern Basque cuisine by Andoni Luis Aduriz.
10. Hof Van Cleve (Brussels, Belgium)
Belgium's most celebrated restaurant, deep in the Flanders countryside.
Elite Traveler gathered the views of high net worth individuals to produce its World's Top 100 Restaurants guide.
The US is the country with most restaurants in the top 100, with 20 entries, followed by France with 18 and the UK with 15.
Elite Traveler's Simon Hodson said of the guide:
We wanted to discover the restaurants most enjoyed by high net worths, as these are the people who have the world's best dining at their fingertips.