Dining room of Danish restaurant Noma, which was crowned the world's best restaurant by Britain's Restaurant magazine. [Photo/Agencies]

Sunshine on a plate for fans of Italian fare

All in the pot

Alex Atala's D.O.M in Sao Paulo placed 7th this year to once again be named Best Restaurant in South America with Atala also receiving the Chefs' Choice Award for 2014.

Helena Rizzo from Mani in Sao Paulo took home the Veuve Clicquot World's Best Female Chef Award while her restaurant rose 10 places to 36th spot.

Asia had seven restaurants on the list with its top eatery Nahm in Bangkok, Thailand, run by Australian chef David Thompson in 13th place while Gaggan, also in Bangkok, a modern Indian restaurant, was ranked 17th.

The World's 50 Best Restaurants list organized by Britain's Restaurant magazine and sponsored by mineral water company S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna was only launched in 2002 but is rivalling the culinary stars awarded by the Michelin guides.

The Michelin guides were founded in 1900 as handbooks for motorists but became the benchmark of good food after the introducing a star-rating system in 1926, publishing regular updates on thousands of restaurants in a list of countries.

The World's 50 Best Restaurants awards, owned by Restaurant magazine publisher William Reed Business Media, is just one list a year compiled by about 900 key leaders in the restaurant industry but its awards are now coveted in the industry.

Here's a list of the top 10 restaurants in the world.

1. Noma - Copenhagen, Denmark

2. El Celler de Can Roca - Girona, Spain

3. Osteria Francescana - Modena, Italy

4. Eleven Madison Park - New York, USA

5. Dinner by Heston Bluhenthal - London, UK

6. Mugaritz - San Sebastian, Spain

7. D.O.M - Sau Paulo, Brazil

8. Arzak - San Sebastian, Spain

9. Alinea - Chicago, USA

10. The Ledbury - London, UK

Related: World's Best Restaurants 2013