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

Spain's El Celler de Can Roca, run by the three brothers, slipped back into second place. The list featured seven Spanish restaurants including Mugaritz at No. 6 and fellow San Sebastian establishment Arzak remaining at No. 8.

Avant-garde Italian chef Massimo Bottura's Osteria Francescana in Modena kept third place for a second year running.

New York's Eleven Madison Park moved up one spot to No. 4 to claim the Best Restaurant in North America.

The top 50 list featured seven US restaurants including Alinea in Chicago, Per Se in New York, and newcomer Coi from San Francisco, The US Restaurant Saison in San Francisco scooped up The One To Watch Award.

For the first time, Britain had two restaurants in the top 10 with London's Dinner by experimental chef Heston Blumenthal in fifth place, up two spots from a year ago, and Brett Graham's The Ledbury in London's Notting Hill rising three spots from last year to 10th.

Related: World's Best Restaurants 2013