Noma Is The World's Best Restaurant

Today, Restaurant magazine announced its 10th annual list of the World's 50 Best Restaurants, and while we've noted some problems with the World's 50 Best list in the past, here's the complete list anyway.

Noma claimed the number one spot for the third year in the row, taking over from elBulli in 2009, which reigned for four years prior. Other winners have included the French Laundry (2003, 2004) and the Fat Duck (2005), but elBulli claimed the top spot in the very first World's 50 Best rankings in 2002.

With elBulli's closing, however, and all the buzz around Alinea, it was surprising to see Alinea drop to number seven from number six. Per Se, however, jumped four spots to number six, also winning the Best Restaurant in North America.

Here is the list of the World's 50 Best Restaurants 2012 sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna:

Best Female Chef 2012: Elena Arzak, Arzak, Spain

Lifetime Achievement Award: Thomas Keller

One to Watch: La Grenouillere, France

Best in Australia: Quay

Best in Asia: Iggy's, Singapore

Best in North America: Per Se, USA

Best in South America: D.O.M, Brazil

Best in Europe: Noma, Denmark

Highest Climber (20 places): The Ledbury, U.K.

Slow Food U.K. Award: Steirereck, Austria

Chef's Choice Award: Mugaritz, Spain

50: Nahm, Thailand

49: Geranium, Denmark

48: Manresa, USA

47: Bras, France

46: Il Canto, Italy

45: Vila Joya, Portugal

44: Amber, China

43: The French Laundry, USA

42: Hof Van Cleve, Belgium

41: Mathias Dahlgren, Sweden

40: Quique Dacosta, Spain

39: Waku Ghin, Singapore

38: Biko, Mexico

37: Momofuku Ssam Bar, USA

36: Pujol, Mexico

35: Astrid Y Gaston, Peru

34: Fäviken Magasinet, Sweden

33: De Librije, the Netherlands

32: Le Calandre, Italy

31: Asador Etxebarri, Spain

30: Schloss Schauenstein, Switzerland

29: Quay, Australia

28: Nihonryori Ryugin, Japan

27: Les Creation De Narisawa, Japan

26: Iggy's, Singapore

25: Daniel, USA

24: Mirazur, France

23: Vendome, Germany

22: Aqua, Germany

21: Oud Sluis, the Netherlands

20: Frantzén/lindeberg, Sweden

19: Le Bernardin, USA

18: L'astrance, France

17: Pierre Gagnaire, France

16: L'Arpege, France

15: Le Chateaubriand, France

14: The Ledbury, U.K.

13: The Fat Duck, U.K.

12: L'atelier De Joel Robuchon, France

11: Steirereck, Austria

10: Eleven Madison Park, USA

9: Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, U.K.

8: Arzak, Spain

7: Alinea, USA

6: Per Se, USA

5: Osteria Francescana, Italy

4: D.O.M, Brazil

3: Mugaritz, Spain

2: El Celler de Can Roca, Spain

1: Noma, Denmark