Copenhagen’s Noma loses ‘world’s best’ title

René Redzepi and company had to settle for the title of the world's third best restaurant, while four other Copenhagen eateries made the top 100.

Published: 1 June 2015 21:58 CEST

Copenhagen's Noma loses 'world's best' title

Rene Redzepi at Noma at Mandarin Oriental Tokyo, where he moved his fabled restaurant for five weeks earlier this year. Photo: Yuya Shino/Scanpix

After taking the top spot for three of the past four years, Copenhagen’s Noma was knocked off its perch as the best restaurant in the world on Monday night.

At the announcement of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants in London, René Redzepi and the Noma team took third place, behind Italy’s Osteria Frannescana in second and the best restaurant in the world for 2015, El Celler de Can Roca of Spain.

And now onto the final three… at No.3 it's #NOMA in #Copenhagen with the inimitable chef @ReneRedzepiNoma #Worlds50Best #Denmark

— The World's 50 Best (@TheWorlds50Best) June 1, 2015

Redzepi quickly took to Twitter to congratulate the winners.

And right back at you amigos:) @CanRocaCeller

— Rene Redzepi (@ReneRedzepiNoma) June 1, 2015

See also: Aarhus gets its long-awaited Michelin star

In addition to claiming the top spot last year, Noma also held the world’s best title for three straight years between 2010 and 2012.

Even without the title of the world's best restaurant however, Copenhagen is still well represented in the World's 50 Best Restaurant list.

Relæ was named the 45th best restaurant on Monday, while two other entries from the Danish capital were given their due prior to the London ceremony when numbers 51-100 were announced. Taking the number 51 spot was Geranium, which fell from number 42 in 2014. Copenhagen restaurant Amass meanwhile made its debut on the list, coming in at number 66.

This marked the 13th year for the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, which is run by British media company William Reed, and criticism has focused on the methodology used to select the best restaurants.

The jury is made up of 972 “independent experts” including food writers, chefs, restaurant owners and gourmets in 27 regions.

Jury members choose their seven favourite restaurants where they have eaten in the past 18 months.

Critics say the system is open to abuse since the jury do not have to offer physical evidence of having actually visited any particular restaurant.

Yet organisers hired the Deloitte consultancy firm to oversee the voting, and say jury members cannot vote on restaurants in which they have an interest.

The organizations announced that next year’s list would be revealed in New York, marking the first time that the awards will be given outside of London.

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