The list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants was released this week. New York’s Eleven Madison Park, Per Se, Le Bernadin and Daniel; along with Chicago’s Alinea; and Napa Valley’s The French Laundry were the only U.S. restaurants included. The list was presented in the company of the world’s most influential restaurateurs, finest chefs and international media at London’s Guildhall.

The list is created from the votes of The Diners Club World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy, an influential group of over 900 international leaders in the restaurant industry. The Academy comprises 26 separate regions around the world, each of which has 36 members, including a chairperson, and each member can cast 7 votes. Of those 7, at least 3 votes must recognize restaurants outside of their own region.

The panel in each region is made up of food critics, chefs, restaurateurs and highly-regarded “gastronomes.” Members list their choices in order of preference, based on their best restaurant experiences of the previous 18 months. There is no pre-determined checklist of criteria.

2013 S.Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurant List:

El Celler de Can Roca Girona, Spain
Noma Copenhagen, Denmark
Osteria Francescana Modena, Italy
Mugaritz San Sebastian, Spain 
Eleven Madison Park New York, USA
D.O.M. Sao Paulo, Brazil
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal London, U
Arzak San Sebastian, Spain
Steirereck Vienna, Austria
Vendome Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
Per Se New York, USA
Frantzen/Lindeberg Stockholm, Sweden
The Ledbury London, UK
Astrid y Gaston Lima, Peru
Alinea Chicago, USA
L’Arpege Paris, France
Pujol Mexico City, Mexico
Le Chateaubriand Paris, France
Le Bernardin New York, USA
Narisawa Tokyo, Japan
Attica Melbourne, Australia
Nihonryori RyuGin Tokyo, Japan
L’Astrance Paris, France
L’Atelier Saint-Germain de Joel Robuchon Paris, France
Hof Van Cleve Kruishoutem, Belgium
Quique Dacosta Denia, Spain
Le Calandre Rubano, Italy
Mirazur Menton, France
Daniel New York, USA
Aqua Wolfsburg, Germany
Biko Mexico City, Mexico
Nahm Bangkok, Thailand
The Fat Duck Bray, UK
Faviken Jarpen, Sweden
Oud Sluis Sluis, Netherlands
Amber Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Vila Joya Albufeira, Portugal
Restaurant Andre Singapore
8 1/2 Otto E Mezzo Bombana Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Combal.Zero Rivoli, Italy
Piazza Duomo Alba, Italy
Schloss Schauenstein Furstenau, Switzerland
Mr & Mrs Bund Shanghai, China
Asador Etxebarri Atxondo, Spain
Geranium Copenhagen, Denmark
Mani Sao Paulo, Brazil
The French Laundry Yountville, USA
Quay Sydney, Australia
Septime Paris, France
Central Lima, Peru