Valencia to host the World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards

Yesterday, at Quique Dacosta’s Arros QD restaurant in London, 50 Best announced that The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023 awards will be hosted in the city of Valencia, Spain in June 2023. 

The capital of Turia brings together the 50 best restaurants in the world

During the month of June 2023, Valencia will embody the best of haute cuisine. Highlights for the programme in Valencia will include a series of key events which have become the cornerstone of 50 Best Restaurants celebrations: thought-leadership forum #50BestTalks; a 50 Best Signature Sessions series of collaborative dining events open to the public; a Chefs’ Feast showcasing the finest produce and cooking from the Spanish region and, of course, the awards ceremony and countdown itself. The world’s most renowned chefs will also impart their knowledge to local culinary students through a 50 Best educational event. The June event programme will be preceded by several special awards announcements, designed to honour the achievements of both individuals and establishments. The exact date of the awards ceremony will be confirmed in the coming months. 

How Valencia became a top destination on the international gastronomic map

In recent years, multiple appointments and events have praised Valencian gastronomy and the city's sustainable projects. Awards include the Michelin Guide Spain & Portugal 2022 gala, where 3 new stars were awarded to the city, bringing the total to 9 currently, as well as Valencia being named Smart City 2022, and European Green Capital 2024. The important titles that put Valencia on the map as a smart and sustainable city at the forefront of food and cuisine.

Valencia, a model of food sustainability

Few cities are as privileged to be able to source and supply seasonal produce with virtually no carbon footprint. From the Albufera Natural Park, where several local varieties of rice are grown (the main ingredient of the Valencian dish paella), to the Mediterranean Sea, which provides fresh fish to the Marina de Valencia fish market as well as many local restaurants and municipal markets. The city also has urban beekeeping, installed in around twenty hives on the roofs of public buildings, to pollinate and contribute to the biodiversity of city parks.