• Michelin Guide Scandal: Prestigious Restaurant Guide Accused of Using AI to Write Reviews

  The prestigious Michelin Guide has found itself at the center of a controversy following an investigation by American magazine D Magazine. The publication alleges that artificial intelligence may have written most, if not all, of the new reviews of Dallas restaurants featured in the guide’s 2026 edition. Michelin has denied the allegations...

• Secret Affairs, Royal Dinners and Oysters: London’s Oldest Restaurant to Be Donated to the National Trust

  Rules, London’s oldest restaurant, which first opened its doors in 1798, is to be donated to the UK’s National Trust to preserve it for future generations. Over more than two centuries, the historic establishment has welcomed kings, politicians, writers and international celebrities, from Charles Dickens to Madonna...

• Fruits and Vegetables Are Up to 50% Less Nutritious Than in the 1960s: Scientists Warn of ‘Nutrient Depletion’ in Food

  Fruits and vegetables may contain significantly fewer nutrients than they did 60 years ago. According to a new study, levels of several essential minerals and vitamins in agricultural produce have fallen by 20% to 50%. Researchers cite declining soil quality as one of the main reasons, the New York Post reports...

• Can Garlic Help You Win a Woman Over? Scientists Explore How Food Affects Dating

  Before a first date, it is worth thinking about more than just what to wear — what you eat may also make a difference. Researchers have found that diet can influence first impressions, affecting everything from skin tone and body odor to facial flushing and even pupil size...

• How to Preserve the Taste of Home on the Other Side of the World: French Publisher to Release Siblings Zarzavadjian’s Book on Armenian Diaspora Cuisine

  From Argentina and Lebanon to Australia and Japan, Armenian cuisine has long lived far beyond Armenia’s borders, evolving under the influence of new countries, ingredients and family stories...

• Cheese Is Fine, but Go Easy on the Butter: Scientists Reveal Which Fatty Foods Are Actually Healthy

  For years, we were told that fatty foods were bad for us: people were advised to replace whole milk with skimmed milk, butter with spreads, and eat cheese as rarely as possible. But new research suggests the picture is more complicated...

• A Marathon with Wine and Oysters: France’s Wildest Race

  What pairs best with a rich red wine from Bordeaux? As it turns out, a marathon...

• British Woman Reclaims Guinness World Record by Devouring a Burrito in 30 Seconds

  Leah Shutkever, 36, from Birmingham, already held 42 records when she set her latest world-best time. Her previous achievements include eating a Domino’s pizza in under a minute and polishing off an entire chocolate orange in just 57 seconds...

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, published by British media company William Reed, has long been a source of debate. Critics point to the anonymity of the voters, leaving uncertainty over whether all reviewers have actually visited the restaurants they rank.

Nevertheless, the ranking continues to attract food tourists and fine dining enthusiasts. In the latest edition, held in June in Turin, the top spot went to Maido in Lima, Peru. The cost of the tasting menu without drinks is €288.29 ($317), far from the most expensive option on the list.

The priciest restaurant is Denmark’s Alchemist in Copenhagen, where the exclusive Sommelier’s Table menu—including wine pairing, coffee, tea, and digestifs—costs €2,199 ($2,419) per person. Other high-priced options include:

• Kadeau (Copenhagen) – €496 ($546)

• Frantzén (Stockholm) – €493 ($542)

• Table by Bruno Verjus (Paris) – €480 ($528)

• DiverXO (Madrid) – €450 ($495)

More accessible options exist as well. Tokyo’s Florilège offers lunch for €70 ($77) and dinner for €134 ($147). In Paris, Septime’s average menu costs €110 ($121), while Italy’s Lido 84 charges around €150 ($165) for its tasting menu.

Some of the 50 Best restaurants do not publish prices for their tasting menus, including Don Julio (Buenos Aires), The Chairman (Hong Kong), Orfali Bros (Dubai), Rosetta (Mexico City), and Celele (Cartagena, Colombia).

Top 10 Best Restaurants in the World and Average Menu Prices:

1. Maido (Lima, Peru) – €288.29 ($335.39)

2. Etxebarri (Axpe, Spain) – €280 ($326.06)

3. Quintonil (Mexico City, Mexico) – €227 ($264.97)

4. DiverXO (Madrid, Spain) – €450 ($523.98)

5. Alchemist (Copenhagen, Denmark) – €724 ($842.70)

6. Gaggan (Bangkok, Thailand) – €424 ($493.35)

7. Sézanne (Tokyo, Japan) – €303 ($352.71)

8. Table by Bruno Verjus (Paris, France) – €480 ($558.96)

9. Kjolle (Lima, Peru) – €185–€240 ($215.46–$279.48)

10. Don Julio (Buenos Aires, Argentina) – À la carte: €53–€74 ($61.70–$86.07)

Among the restaurants, there’s a wide range of pricing. The average menu cost across four Spanish entries—including DiverXO, Etxebarri, Elkano, and Enigma—is €281 ($309).

Price Doesn’t Always Reflect Quality

High price doesn’t necessarily guarantee the best experience. Maido, the top-ranked restaurant, charges €288 ($317), while some other top 50 spots can cost diners nearly €2,500 ($2,700).

Many of the menus are tasting sets, carefully crafted by the chefs. Prices often include exclusive ingredients, rare wines, and top-tier service, making these experiences about more than just the food.

Follow NEWS.am STYLE on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram