This year, the ninth edition of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, will be unveiled via a virtual awards ceremony that will train the spotlight on the region’s diverse gastronomic scene. Here’s how to follow the action live as it happens
Watch the live announcement on Facebook:
Watch the live announcement on YouTube:
To watch the live announcement on Zoom, click here
When will Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2021 be announced?
The latest edition of the list will be revealed through simultaneous broadcast on Facebook and YouTube on Thursday, 25th March. It will start at 14:00 in India; 15:30 in Thailand; 16:30 in Singapore/China; 17:30 in Japan and 08:30 in UK.
What other events are taking place?
Ahead of the announcement, 50 Best has curated a series of digital events featuring some of the region’s most respected chefs. Discover the digital programme for the events here.
On Tuesday, 16th March, 50 Best will reveal the Essence of Asia collection, which will complement the annual ranking of Asia’s 50 Best. It will recognise establishments that represent the spirit of Asian gastronomy and those that have had a positive impact on their communities and local cuisine, whether during the recent crisis or over a sustained period.
The collection includes casual restaurants integral to Asia’s culinary ecosystem that preserve traditions, honour authentic flavours and provide a vital link to their communities. It spans the whole continent and is created from personal recommendations from the chefs and owners of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2020 and 2021, as well as from the 50 Best Discovery online guide and 50 Best’s network of local experts.
On Thursday, 18th March and Saturday, 20th March, the conversation around Essence of Asia will continue with two virtual episodes of the thought-leadership series #50BestTalks to be broadcast on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Facebook page from 08:00 UK time (16:00 HK/Singapore), featuring chefs Gaggan Anand and Margarita Forés.
For the first time, with a view to recognise more great restaurants than ever before, 50 Best will also be releasing the list of restaurants ranked between 51st and 100th in Asia on Monday, 22nd March.
Where do I watch the announcement?
The digital awards ceremony unveiling Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2021 will be free and open to watch for everyone, and will be livestreamed on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Facebook page and on the 50 Best Restaurants TV YouTube channel. The livestreams to both pages will be embedded in this article nearer the time.
What can I expect?
As well as the countdown from No.50 to No.1, culminating in the reveal of The Best Restaurant in Asia 2021, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, the virtual awards will include a celebration of the 51-100 list and Essence of Asia, the announcement of several special awards and virtual appearances from the region’s best-known chefs and restaurateurs.
How is 50 Best supporting the recovery of the hospitality sector?
In 2021, 50 Best aims to support restaurants of all types and at all levels across Asia and indeed the world. It is our hope that being part of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants will help chefs and restaurateurs promote their establishments – and the wider food sector as a whole – as they enter the next stage of recovery.
For the first time, with a view to recognise more great restaurants than ever before, 50 Best will be releasing the list of restaurants ranked between 51st and 100th in Asia on Monday, 22nd March. The list extension will be complemented by the Essence of Asia collection, outlined above and revealed on 16th March.
In 2020, the 50 Best organisation launched the 50 Best for Recovery programme, in partnership with founding donor S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, to provide tangible financial relief for the industry and offer helpful resources for restaurant businesses as they emerge from the coronavirus pandemic and seek actionable advice and support. Through this programme, 50 Best has raised US$1.25 million to date, which has been distributed to hospitality businesses across the world via direct grants and to non-profit organisations via donations. Find out more about 50 Best for Recovery here.
We look forward to seeing you online on Thursday, 25th March, for the revelation of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2021, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna. Meanwhile, follow us on Instagram, like us on Facebook, find us on Twitter #Asias50Best and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
