World's 50 Best Restaurants 2006

The 2006 list of The World's 50 Best Restaurants were announced by the UK's Restaurant Magazine last week.

El Bulli claimed pole position, forcing last year's titleholder, The Fat Duck, into second place.

Sydney was again represented by Tetsuya's which fell one spot to number five, and Rockpool, which climbed twelve spots to number 30. Seems like Neil's ponytail is no longer limp!

Melbourne's famed Chinese restaurant Flower Drum fell completely out the list this year.

The awards list, which began in 2002, is compiled by 560 reviewers around the world.

The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2006:

1 El Bulli, Spain - The Penfold's world's best restaurant, best in Europe
2 The Fat Duck, United Kingdom
3 Pierre Gagnaire, France - Chef's Choice
4 French Laundry, US - best restaurant in the Americas
5 Tetsuya's, Australia - best restaurant in Australasia
6 Bras, France
7 Restaurant Le Louis XV, Monaco
8 Per Se, US
9 Restaurante Arzak, Spain
10 Mugaritz, Spain - highest new entrant

11 Can Fabes, Spain
12 Nobu, UK
13 Gambero Rosso, Italy - highest climber
14 Gordon Ramsay (Royal Hospital Road), UK
15 Restaurant Alain Ducasse, France
16 Jean Georges, US
17 Le Cinq, France
18 Daniel, US
19 Oud Sluis, The Netherlands
20 Chez Panisse, US

21 El Celler de Can Roca, Spain
22 L'Astrance, France
23 Hof van Cleve, Belgium
24 La Maison Troisgros, France
25 L'Atelier, France
26 Charlie Trotter's, US
27 Le Gavroche, UK - outstanding value
28 La Colombe, South Africa - best restaurant in the Middle East and Africa
29 Enoteca Pinchiorri, Italy
30 Rockpool, Australia

31 Le Calandre, Italy
32 Le Bernardin, US
33 Noma, Denmark
34 Restaurant Dieter Muller, Germany
35 St John, UK
36 Hakkasan, UK
37 Martin Berasategui, Spain
38 Le Quartier Francais, South Africa
39 Chez Dominique, Finland
40 L'Ambroisie, France

41 Die Schwarzwaldstube, Germany
42 Dal Pescatore, Italy
43 Bocuse, France
44 L'Arpege, France
45 Gramercy Tavern, US
46 Bukhara, India
47 De Karmeliet, Belgium
48 Oaxen, Sweden
49 Comme Chez Soi, Belgium
50 DOM, Brazil