As the calendar flipped from May to June, some of the world’s greatest chefs and restaurant owners gathered at London’s Guildhall for the unveiling of The World’s 50 Best Restaurant list for 2015.

The awards ceremony, now in its fourteenth year, brings together the supposed brightest and best in the culinary world. And following a slap up dinner at Fera at Claridge’s the great and the good, sponsors and members of the press headed off to the big event where they saw the Catalan restaurant of El Celler de Can Roca claim top spot.

Last year’s winner, Noma, dropped down a couple of places to third, with Osteria Francescana claiming the metaphorical silver medal.

William Brew, the group editor of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, said: “It has been a hugely exciting year with such a variety of culinary talents.

“As the appetite for reaching new gastronomic heights continues to grow we feel privileged to play a part in this journey of discovery and are proud to bring together this unique community of extraordinary talent within the industry.”

Over 900 international leaders in the restaurant and catering sector cast their votes.

El Celler de Can Roca opened its doors in 1986 and is run by three Roca brothers, head chef Joan, pastry chef Jordi and sommelier Josep. In 2013 they debut a theatrical multi-sensory production and last year they even closed their Girona-based restaurant mid-season to go off and explore the gastronomic delights of Latin America and the southern states of America. But, crucially, as the organisation said of the venue: “[It] has never forgotten its humble roots, its sense of familial warmth, or the need to serve remarkably delicious dishes and outstanding wines.”

The restaurant had finish second on three previous occasions and is part of an elite club that has been awarded three Michelin stars.

Two British restaurants made the top twenty, both for the second time in as many years. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal came in seventh, whilst The Ledbury came twentieth – both fell down a couple of places from last year’s list.

Interesting, one city has emerged as something of a culinary hot-spot, bumping traditional, western hot-spots down the pecking order: Step forward Lima!

The Peruvian capital has two restaurants (Central and Astrid Y Gaston) ranked inside the top fifteen, something which the likes of Paris, New York and London can only dream about.

The top twenty was as follows:

1. El Celler de Can Roa – Girona, Spain
2. Osteria Francescana – Modena, Italy
3. Noma – Copenhagen, Denmark
4. Central – Lima, Peru
5. Eleven Madison Park – New York, United States
6. Mugartiz – San Sebastian, Spain
7. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal – London, England
8. Narisawa – Tokyo, Japan
9. O.M – Sao Paulo, Brazil
10. Gaggan – Bankok, Thailand
11. Mirazur – Menton, France
12. L’Arpege – Paris, France
13. Asador Etxebarri – Atxondo, Spain
14. Astrid Y Gaston – Lima, Peru
15. Steirereck – Vienna, Austria
16. Pujol – Mexico City, Mexico
17. Arzak – San Sebastian, Spain
18. Le Bernardin – New York, United States
19. Azurmenti – Larrabetzu, Spain
20. The Ledbury – London, England

By Kasia Wyser-Pratte (Flickr) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons