The first list of North America’s 50 Best Restaurants, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, will be revealed in a live countdown, alongside a series of special awards, culminating in the announcement of The Best Restaurant in North America 2025.
The ranking will reflect the best restaurant experiences collated from 300 expert voters that includes chefs, restaurateurs, food and beverage journalists, educators and well-travelled gourmets.
Voters are recruited by a group of industry-leading Academy Chairs across eight sub-regions within North America.
It marks the first time 50 Best, which is owned by Restaurant publisher William Reed, has created a restaurants ranking specifically for the North American continent and is described as ‘the only ranking covering the region comprehensively’.
“North America has a thriving and diverse restaurant scene, which is constantly changing and evolving – its wealth of culinary traditions and influence cannot be understated,” says William Drew, director of content for North America’s 50 Best Restaurants.
“We believe that there is an opportunity to honour restaurants across the region, which includes Canada and parts of the Caribbean in addition to the US and inspire food-lovers to seek out new experiences.”
As Mexico is already included in the ranking of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants, and has been since the list’s inception in 2013, it will remain in that ranking and not be eligible in North America’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Likewise, Cuba and Dominican Republic will remain part of the Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants ranking.
50 Best says the creation of this new awards and list represents another step in its journey towards becoming ‘the ultimate global reference point for the very best hospitality experiences across the globe’.
The 50 Best portfolio includes The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, which launched in 2002; Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants and Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants; Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants; The World’s 50 Best Bars; Asia’s 50 Best Bars; North America’s 50 Best Bars; and The World’s 50 Best Hotels.
“Over the past 20-plus years, 50 Best has become the international market leader in providing the most reliable lists of expert-curated restaurants, bars, and recently hotels,” Drew continues.
“It feels like a natural fit to launch North America’s 50 Best Restaurants, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, giving the restaurants and their teams in the region the dedicated attention they wholeheartedly deserve.
“The result will be a list of the most memorable restaurant experiences across the region, celebrating immense talent and hard work, and providing a credible guide for discerning diners.”
The first list of North America’s 50 Best Restaurants will be unveiled at a live awards ceremony later this year, the date and location of which will be announced in the coming months.