The South Korean capital will play host to the region’s largest gastronomic awards and event line-up  this spring

50 Best announces that Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 awards, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, will be hosted in Seoul, South Korea, on 25 March 2025.  

After a successful 2024 edition, Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants will return once more to Seoul, a city rapidly gaining prominence as a global culinary destination. Several Korean establishments already hold top spots in various 50 Best rankings, reflecting the nation’s growing influence on the world’s dining landscape. Visitors to Seoul will enjoy the vibrant charm and sophisticated culture that the city has to offer, with everything from ancient palaces and serene temples to bustling markets and the scenic Han River – all set against a backdrop of a deeply rooted and evolving culinary heritage.

Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 will comprise an extensive events programme, developed in collaboration with official host destination partners, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), and the Seoul Metropolitan Government. This will culminate in the much-anticipated awards ceremony taking place on 25 March, when the 2025 ranking of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants will be revealed, including the highly coveted title of The Best Restaurant in Asia.  

William Drew, Director of Content for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, says: “We’re excited to deepen our connection with South Korea as we bring Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 awards back to Seoul in March after a captivating event programme last year. The city’s culinary scene is nothing short of electrifying, with superb talent including visionary chefs, innovative restaurateurs and boundary pushing dining concepts that have impressed both Asia and the world. We look forward to gathering the restaurant community in this dynamic city to celebrate the very best in gastronomy”.  

The programme in Seoul will feature a range of signature events that form the core of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants celebrations. Among these are the thought-provoking #50BestTalks – a forum addressing key issues in hospitality and society; the 50 Best Signature Sessions – a series of collaborative dining events open to the public where 50 Best chefs team up with celebrated local talent for exclusive one-off experiences; the Chefs’ Feast, showcasing Seoul’s finest culinary creations and local ingredients; along with a ‘Meet the Chefs’ media roundtable. The countdown and awards ceremony will cap off the exciting line-up of events.

Special Awards and the 51-100 list

Ahead of the live awards ceremony, a selection of pre-announced accolades are bestowed to celebrate noteworthy establishments across Asia. These awards undergo a meticulous selection process and are intended to highlight emerging and established restaurants and individuals in the region.

These include:

• Asia’s Best Female Chef Award, as voted for by the 350-plus members of Asia’s 50 Best  Restaurants Academy, providing an opportunity to celebrate women in gastronomy who persist in pushing the limits of excellence through their skills, expertise, and artistry.
• Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award, as voted for by the 350-plus members of Asia’s 50  Best Restaurants Academy, recognising excellence in restaurant service and dining experiences.
• American Express One To Watch Award, recognising restaurants that demonstrate the  gastronomic excellence, innovation and culinary potential to break into Asia’s 50 Best  Restaurants ranking in future years.
• The extended 51-100 list of establishments is also revealed in advance of the awards ceremony and is created from the overall voting process. It underscores 50 Best’s commitment to championing the diversity of talent behind Asia’s dining landscape and offers visitors a wider selection of establishments to discover.

The 50 Best Brand will continue to highlight even more restaurants, bars and hotels worldwide  through the 50 Best Discovery platform and its 50 Best lists, special awards and content series. Over  the past 20-plus years, 50 Best has established itself as a trusted guide to current and emerging  trends in the industry while fostering diversity, innovation, and inspiration across the hospitality sector.

Organised by 50 Best’s parent company, William Reed, Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants is a snapshot of the opinions and experiences of more than 350 restaurant industry experts in Asia. 50 Best works with professional services consultancy Deloitte as its official independent adjudication partner to help protect the integrity and authenticity of the voting process. See more details on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants voting process here.

About S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna

S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna are the main sponsors of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna  are the leading natural mineral waters in the fine dining world. Together they interpret Italian style worldwide  as a synthesis of excellence, pleasure and well-being.