World's best restaurants you can get a table at: The 50 second-best restaurants

In the middle of the Boqueria market, from sunrise to sunset, the Santiago family serve upsized tapas such as squid and poached eggs, poached clams, baccala salad, tripe with chickpeas, grilled octopus, fried artichokes and sweet green chillis called pebrots. You'll have to queue to sit on one of their stools, but it's worth the wait. Quiosc Modern, Mercado de la Boqueria, 364. $70 for two. (No phone, no website, you just have to find it in the middle of the markets).

KAFER DACHGARTEN RESTAURANT, BERLIN

It's on top of the Reichstag (Germany's federal parliament) so you must go through intensive security checks before the lift doors open. Most dishes have traditional German names, but have been updated with lightness and wit – even the schnitzel. Top taste is the duckburger with beetroot salad. From the verandah you can survey the rooftops of Berlin. Just outside the doorway you can look down upon the parliamentarians through the bombproof glass ceiling. Deutschen Bundestag, Platz der Republik, Berlin. $150 for two, without wine. feinkost-kaefer.de

DUBLE, ISTANBUL

Pronounced Dublay, this restaurant calls itself a "meze bar" but the tasty treats are more diverse and more adventurous than the label might suggest – like hummus with roasted peanuts or local prawns wrapped in pastirma (spiced beef) and grilled. Because it's atop the Palazzo Donizetti hotel, the view is spectacular. Go at twilight to see the colours of the Bosphorous and to avoid the late-night DJ spinning old Turkish pop songs. Mesrutiyet Caddesi 85, Istanbul. $90 for two, without raki.

VAKST, COPENHAGEN

It's easy to find a good meal in Copenhagen; more challenging is trying to find a restaurant that won't break your budget. Give thanks for the Cofoco group, which boasts an impressive portfolio of sophisticated, stylish eateries that offer great-value set menus. Perhaps their most inviting property is the lovely Vakst, with greenhouse-inspired interiors and a menu big on classics with a twist. Sankt Peders Stræde 34. DK750 for two (three courses); hostvakst.dk

L'AGUA, NICE

Two eccentric brothers run this "bistrot de la mer" near the old port. Serge Frasca displays a blackboard menu full of mysterious fish names such as loup, lotte, palomide and chapon, and speaks mostly Nicois dialect. Chef Alexis Frasca does a lot of shouting in the kitchen, but is all charm when he emerges to explain in English what he's cooking that day. His treatment of local seafood and seasonal vegetables is more sophisticated than the simple decor might suggest, and his desserts are worth saving space for. 41 Boulevard Stalingrad, Nice. $150 for two, without wine.

PIZZERIA EMMA, ROME

This is exactly what every visitor to Rome is looking for: a simple, unpretentious and yet reliable restaurant in the historic centre, the sort of place you can sit with a nice glass of wine and some extremely good pizza and not feel like you're caught in touristy hell. Welcome to Pizzeria Emma. Via del Monte della Farina 28, Rome, Italy. Meal for two about $80. emmapizzeria.com

LA CRUCHE D'OR, STRASBOURG

It's a tiny, wood-panelled Alsatian restaurant run by a family who care about the classics. They do impeccable kidneys or sweetbreads in cream and mustard sauce), sole meuniere, choucroute (sausage and cabbage) and sweeties such as creme brulee, baba au rhum, and chocolate mousse. Best espressos in France. La Cruche d'Or, 6 Rue Des Tonneliers, Strasbourg. $100 for two, without wine. la-cruche-dor.strasbourghotelsweb.com

CAL JOAN, TARRAGONA, SPAIN

In what the locals call "a formerly dubious tavern", Joan Cobos and his daughter Esther have been cooking superb seafood since 1997, including a definitive paella and fideua (a Catalan kind of pasta). You'd best start with a thick seafood soup, into which you'd stir aioli or romesco sauce from bowls on the table. You'd finish, of course, with crema Catalana, orange-infused custard topped with toffee. Espinach 2, Tarragona. $120 for two, without wine.

ANTICHE CARAMPANE, VENICE

The name literally translates from Venetian dialect as "Old Sluts" – a reference to the building's history as a brothel during Venice's golden age 400 years ago. The same cheeky tone appears in the sign on the window, warning "No pizza, no lasagna, no menu turistico". Instead they specialise in tiny shellfish caught in the lagoon and refined forms of pasta. DD Antiche Carampane, Rio Tera de le Carampane, 1911, Sestiere San Polo, Venezia. $120 for two, without wine. antichecarampane.com

SITZWOHL, INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA

Multi-hatted chefs Elisabeth Geisler and Irmgard Sitzwohl take the joint helm at this restaurant, housed in a former school hall divided into intimate, semi-private dining spaces. Classy, reimagined versions of traditional Tyrolean food is at the fore, such as delicious mushroom dumplings or the pan-fried bacon, onion and potato dish Grostl, but Mediterranean influences are apparent too. Save room for an elegant version of Austrian apricot pancakes.Stadtforum, Innsbruck; $110 for two; restaurantsitzwohl.at

SALUMERIA ROSCIOLI, ROME

This might just be the ideal version of a Roman trattoria: all of the classic pasta dishes, the likes of carbonara and amatriciana, cacio e pepe and gricia, served up in friendly but fancy surrounds near Campo dei Fiori. The salumi – processed meats – at Roscioli are great, but the pasta is the showstopper. Via dei Giubbonari 21/22, Rome, Italy. $80 for two. salumeriaroscioli.com

MERCADO DE RIBEIRA, LISBON

Many of Lisbon's best chefs and the city's most well-known restaurants, as well as stockists of the area's best wine and makers of its best pastries, reside under one roof at Mercado de Ribeira, a modern marketplace featuring a huge selection of the tastiest food the city has to offer. The only problem is deciding what to order. Av. 24 de Julho 49, Lisbon, Portugal. $55 for two. timeoutmarket.com

COOKIES CREAM, BERLIN

Cookies Cream is one of those hip Berlin venues that requires directions rather than an address. Walk down the delivery bay next to the Westin Grand Hotel, head up the fire stairs, push open the door and you will find yourself in an inviting eyrie that serves some of the city's best food, which just happens to be vegetarian. Order the parmesan dumplings if they are on. 55 Behrenstrasse, Berlin. 88 euros for two (three courses); cookiescream.com/cream

FURREYYA GALATA BALIKCISI, ISTANBUL

You've got to love a city where the signature dish is a fish sandwich. Done right, even a fish sandwich can be a thing of beauty, and no-one does them better than this little hole-in-the-wall near the Galata Tower. You won't often find a spare seat at the handful of tables, but you can always take your sandwich to go. Serdar-i Ekrem Sok. 2, Galata. $4 for a fish sandwich. No website.

TRATTORIA MILANESE, MILAN

Swanky, fashionable Milan finds its beating heart at this family-run trattoria dating from 1933 where a bevy of assorted relatives are either working or dining on authentic, unfussy Milanese classics – things like the saffron-hued risotto alla Milanese (either with or without osso bucco), breaded cotoletta and zabaglione with toasted panetone. As Mallory Wall, maitre d' at Melbourne's Cafe Di Stasio says, "Try and sit in the room to the right as you walk in and feel at one with the soul of Milan … pretend you're Italian for a couple of hours." Via Santa Marta 11, Milan. $120 for two. No website.

TRATTORIA AL MORO, ROME

An old-fashioned charm-pot of a restaurant, Al Moro is tucked in a backstreet near the Trevi fountain in Rome's central tourist district, but remains very much a restaurant for locals (who certainly know how to dress nicely for lunch or dinner). Relax on a squishy banquette and be cosseted by waiters of the old school, who will give newcomers sage advice on the classic Roman menu – in particular steering them in the direction on the spaghetti al moro, a spicy play on the classic carbonara.

Vicolo delle Bollette 13, Rome; $120 for two; ristorantealmororoma.com

RISTORANTE TULLIO, ROME

Just off Rome's Piazza Barberini lurks this smartly upscale classic Roman restaurant beloved by well-heeled Romans and visiting foreign dignitaries. For more than 60 years the smart family-run operation has been perfecting the art of Italian simplicity. An entree can just be as simple as a single perfect artichoke on a plate, and make sure you order the house specialty of braised abbachio (goat). Via San Nicola da Tolentino 26, Rome. $140 for two. tullioristorante.it

QUIMET Y QUIMET, BARCELONA

Quimet y Quimet is iconic – though no one who works there would ever say so. It's that sort of place, the perfect laidback Barcelona tapas bar, the establishment you've been looking for all this time, the tiny, rowdy, cheap, fun, and above all delicious Spanish eatery of your dreams. Carrer del Poeta Cabanyes 25, Poble Sec, Barcelona, Spain. $25 for two. No website.

RISTORANTE MAJORE, SICILY

Get some pork on your fork. Yes, everything at this 121-year-old restaurant in the tiny hill town of Chiaramonte Gulfi, outside Ragusa, is testament to the inestimable deliciousness of our porcine friends. Based on classic recipes of Sicily's mountainous south-east, the set menu is a whirlwind of salumi, pasta, risotto, stuffed chops, and more, and the waiters have the full quiver of Sicilian red (and white) wines at their disposal. Via Martiri Ungherisi, Chiaramonte Gulfi. $120 for two. majore.it

See also: The 25 best places to eat in Europe

UNITED KINGDOM & IRELAND

REX WHISTLER RESTAURANT, TATE BRITAIN, LONDON

Who said there was no such thing as English cuisine? The gallery with the world's best Turner collection has a restaurant as patriotic as the painter, offering the likes of Jerusalem artichoke soup, pigeon breast with pickled berries, Hampshire trout with watercress, baked apple with toffee sauce. You sit surrounded by an extraordinary mural, painted in 1926, of fantasy hunting scenes. Tate Britain Gallery, Millbank, Westminster, London. Lunch only. $150 for two (and ask the amiable sommelier to find matching wines from the massive list). tate.org.uk

FOREST AND MARCY, DUBLIN

This cosy restaurant-wine bar, around 10 minutes walk from St Stephen's Green, is a beast with two personalities. Wednesdays and Thursdays it is all about the small plates, such as foie gras custard tart or a clever update of a classic Irish potato bread, teamed with bacon and cabbage relish. On weekends, the tasting menu (featuring many of the same dishes) takes over. 126 Leeson Street Upper, Dublin 4. Tasting menu €90 for two; forestandmarcy.ie

CRABSHAKKE, GLASGOW

On a chilly night, there is no better place to warm up than this welcoming neighbourhood joint. The menu showcases the best of Scottish seafood, from oysters and langoustines to scallops, mussels and yes, even fish and chips. Kick it off with a steaming bowl of shellfish chowder, or a sizzling plate of Queenie scallops in garlic butter. 1114 Argyle Street, Finneston. £55 for two; crabshakk.com

ST JOHN BREAD AND WINE, LONDON

Legendary big sibling St John is on the extended World's 50 Best list – at No. 91 – but Fergus Henderson's signature brand of nose-to-tail cooking can also be experienced at his East London offshoot just near Spitalfields market. Originally born as a bakery, it's now the home of everything from stonkingly good English breakfasts (including the best bacon buttie you'll ever have) to the famous roast bone marrow and parsley salad. 94-96 Commercial Street, London. Breakfast for two about $40, lunch/dinner $80. stjohnbreadandwine.com

ASIA

UOSHIN IZAKAYA, TOKYO

A Japanese izakaya is a beautiful thing, a smoky den dedicated to both the drinking of sake and the eating of delicious food. And few places execute these worthy pursuits as successfully as Uoshin, a small, friendly bar in the Ebisu district that serves incredibly good, multi-course seafood meals paired with all-you-can-drink sake. Heaven. Ebisu Minami 1-2-9, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Meal for two about $60 for two. No website.

INDIGO, GEORGE TOWN

Tucked into the remarkable, blue-coloured Cheong Fatt Tze traditional Chinese courtyard mansion in George Town, Penang, Malaysia, this understated restaurant has east-west fusion dishes that reflect the east-west blend of Penang's vibrant culture. Hometown chef Beh Weng Chia has worked in Australia, the USA and Japan and is particularly adept with seafood, though his crispy duck leg and short ribs in soy caramel are lip-smacking too. 14 Leith Street, George Town, Penang; $120 for two; cheongfatttzemansion.com

FUKU, TOKYO

How can food on a stick taste so good? How can a simple piece of char-grilled chicken, or a mushroom, or a potato, be elevated to such a level? You might never figure it out. But the joy at Fuku, a tiny, upmarket yakitori joint in suburban Tokyo, is taking the time to try. Nishihara 3-23-4, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Meal for two about $60.

EASTERN & ORIENTAL, JAKARTA

Many Aussie travellers will know chef Will Meyrick's food from his Bali diners, Sarong and Mamasan. Eastern & Oriental delivers a variation on his successful formula, with classy cocktails and pan-Asian plates – think soft shell crab salad with rose apple and shredded coconut – served amid a dimly lit, colonial chic interior. Menara Rajawali lt.1, Jl. Dr. Ide Anak Agung Gde Agung Lot#5.1, Kawasan Mega Kuningan, RT.5/RW.2, Kuningan Tim., Setia Budi, Kota Jakarta Selatan. About 650,000 rupiah for two. eandojakarta.com

YAT LOK, HONG KONG

A roast goose specialist in Hong Kong's bustling Central district, Yat Lok is a rare case of the overused term "institution" being right on the money. The place itself is an unprepossessing cafeteria where diners are packed in like a game of Tetris, the service is legendarily brusque and paper napkins cost extra – but with a plate of sublime crisp-skinned roast duck and a dish of sweet plum sauce, who really cares? About $20 for two.

LI QUN, BEIJING

If Peking duck's your thing, set your compass for Li Qun. Quite literally: it's a tiny family-run place hidden deep inside one of Beijing's typically maze-like hutongs, and it can prove maddeningly hard to find (tip: grab a pedicap and get the driver to do the navigating for you). Persevere, however, because Peking duck Nirvana awaits. Moist, slightly smoky meat, crisp skin, and thin perfect pancakes make the best kind of equation, and the humble courtyard establishment is a million miles away from the city's duck tourist traps. 11 Beixiangfeng Hutong, off Zhengyi Lu, Chongwenmen, Beijing. $60 for two. No website.

ENG SENG, SINGAPORE

In the hotly contested fight over where to find Singapore's best black pepper crab, this simple shop is a frontrunner. A bit of forward planning is needed – it's best to ring up and order the crab in advance on the day, as they tend to run out around 8pm – but the effort is rewarded by meaty crab in a sweet, sticky, addictive sauce punctuated by coarsely ground peppercorns. They do a mean chilli crab as well. 247 Joo Chiat Place, Singapore. $100 for two. No website.

See also: The 17 best places to eat in Europe

THE AMERICAS

MALABAR, LIMA

Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino tends to fly under the radar on the Lima food scene – however, his menu of traditional Amazonian ingredients fused with modern techniques, presented in fine-dining surrounds, deserves to be far better known. Sample the likes of guinea pig with kim chi, or smoked paiche, an ancient Amazonian fish. Camino Real 101, San Isidro, Lima, Peru. $90 for two $90. malabar.com.pe

LA CABRERA, BUENOS AIRES

La Cabrera will probably never make the 50 Best list, because there's nothing too inventive going on here. It's just a classic Argentinean "parrilla", or steakhouse; however, there's nothing wrong with that. This is steak done to perfection, cooked with love and served in style. There's a great wine list too. Jose Antonio Cabrera 5099, Buenos Aires, Argentina. $85 or two about lacabrera.com.ar

FOOD & WINE STUDIO BY PILAR RODRIGUEZ, COLCHAGUA VALLEY, CHILE

Chile is not a country known for its cuisine; however, in the wine country of Colchagua Valley, former fashion designer turned chef Pilar Rodriguez is doing something special, presenting an intimate food and wine experience in her tiny kitchen and dining room. It's only open on weekends – be sure to book ahead. KM37 Carretera Del Vino, Santa Cruz, Chile$180 for two. pilarrodriguez.cl

NIGHTINGALE, VANCOUVER, CANADA

The city's Downtown district got a well-needed, original restaurant when Nightingale opened last year, offering seasonally changing, unpretentious dishes in an industrial-chic, heritage building. This is noted local chef David Hawksworth's third Vancouver restaurant, and focuses on shared dishes, designed to be enjoyed with boutique beers or Canadian wines. Thumbs up for many creative vegetable dishes: who knew roasted cauliflower could taste this good? 1017 West Hastings Street, Vancouver; $100 for two; hawknightingale.com

ALLRED'S RESTAURANT, TELLURIDE, US

Few ski resorts can claim to have great restaurants on the slopes, but Allred's sits atop a gondola station. It has a warm atmosphere, very friendly service, fabulous mountain views from its cathedral-like windows and excellent upmarket, Italian-influenced, contemporary American food such as marinated elk loin with roasted pistachios and caramelised onion, or succulent Colorado rack of lamb with eggplant-tomato jam. Station St Sophia, Telluride; $200 for two; tellurideskiresort.com

APRAZIVEL, RIO DE JANEIRO

Aprazivel is not a restaurant you stumble across by accident. Hidden behind a high wall in the hilltop Santa Teresa district, this family-run gem is a favourite with locals, thanks to its lush garden setting and panoramic views. The food lives up to the surroundings, with sophisticated dishes showcasing native ingredients and cooking traditions from across the country. Rua Aprazivel 62, Santa Teresa. 220 reais for two (two courses); aprazivel.com.br

AU PIED DE COCHON, MONTREAL

Described by Anthony Bourdain as "the restaurant I'd been waiting for my whole life", this Montreal diner is resolutely vegetarian-unfriendly. Chef Martin Picard throws foie gras onto just about every plate: stuffing it in pork trotters, mashing it into croquettes, slamming it on top of poutine. It shouldn't work, but you know what? It really does. 536 Duluth Est. $C120 for two; aupieddecochon.ca

GJELINA, LOS ANGELES

This laidback, all-day diner is exactly the sort of place you want to visit when you are in LA; so much so, that it's worth braving the hour-long wait at weekends and the mandatory 20 per cent service charge. Self-taught chef Travis Lett offers an eclectic menu, but the highlights are vegetable dishes such as coal-roasted baby leek with burrata, meyer lemon and bottarga. 1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice. $US80 for two; gjelina.com

JOHN DORY OYSTER BAR, NEW YORK

The always-buzzing John Dory flirts with the idea of the themed restaurant (hello, kitschy seafood decorations) while remaining faithful to the ideal of top quality sustainable seafood, sympathetically served. Housed at the super-cool Ace Hotel in Manhattan's Midtown, English chef April Broomfield well and truly delivers on the oceanic brief with scallops crudo, poached lobster, clam chowder and whelks with garlic and parsley butter – plus there's a nightly oyster happy hour to sample the best bivalves from both US coasts. 1196 Broadway, New York; $120 for two; thejohndory.com

AUSTRALIA

FIREDOOR, SYDNEY

Most people won't have the time to travel to the Basque Country just to sample the delights of Etxebarri, the fire-driven restaurant recently named the world's sixth best. They can, however, dine at Sydney's Firedoor, run by one-time Etxebarri chef Lennox Hastie, who has created a love letter to his former home. 23 Mary Street, Surry Hills, NSW. $140 for two about firedoor.com.au

PASTA ADAGIO, MELBOURNE

The ideal of the simple Italian joint serving impeccable pasta is realised in inner Melbourne, where chef Carmine Constantini is responsible for a dish of tagliatelle with ragu (please don't call it bolognese) that could have grown adults weeping over the Italian nonna they may or may not have had. The rest of the menu is no slouch either. Bridge Road, Richmond; $110 for two; pastaadagio.com.au

SEED WINEHOUSE, CLARE VALLEY

Given its location in sleepy Clare, South Australia, Seed Winehouse will probably never earn the acclaim of its siblings in the Barossa or McLaren Vale. However, this restaurant is dishing up some seriously great mod-Oz food, dishes such as wood-grilled octopus with PX vinegar, and Berkshire suckling pig, to those prepared to seek it out. 308 Main N Road, Clare, South Australia; $120 for two; seed.kitchen

FIVE OF THE BEST RESTAURANT TRAVEL EXPERIENCES

LI QUN, BEIJING

You feel you must be in the wrong place as you get close to Li Qun, one of Beijing's most famous duck restaurants, a 115-year-old establishment that's tucked deep into one of the city's labyrinthine hutongs. It's worth the risk of getting lost, however, to sample some of the crispiest, most succulent poultry in all the land. 11 Beixiangfeng Hutong, Dongcheng Qu, China. $6 for two. No website.

MIRADOR DE ULIA, SAN SEBASTIAN

There's plenty to love about the food at this San Sebastian eatery, a more approachable and affordable version of its famous three-Michelin-starred neighbours. However, the main attraction at Mirador de Ulia – or, "Ulia Lookout" – is the incredible view, taking in beaches, ocean and San Sebastian in its entirety. Ulia Pasealekua 193, Donostia, Spain; $350 for two. miradordeulia.es

SENZO, CUSCO

It feels like a travel experience just being inside Palacio Nazarenas, a beautiful hotel set in a former convent in Cusco, Peru. However, the best is yet to come: tucked away near the hotel's pool is Senzo, the Andean-focused restaurant helmed by Peru's star chef, Virgilio Martinez. Calle Palacio, Cusco, Peru. $200 for two; belmond.com/palacio-nazarenas-cusco/

ICE-Q, SOELDEN

It's not so much the way you get to Ice-Q, a high-end restaurant perched at the top of a mountain in central Austria, accessible by gondola year-round – it's how you leave that's most interesting. That is, on skis. Ice-Q sits at the top of some world-class alpine terrain, and provided you haven't overdone it on the wine, it's there to enjoy after lunch. Gaislachkogl Bergstation, Dorfstrasse 115, Soelden, Austria; $170 for two. ice-q.at/en

ITHAA, MALDIVES

At Ithaa, the world's first underwater restaurant, diners are encased in a glass bubble about five metres under the surface of the ocean, where they're surrounded by sharks, stingrays and tropical fish as they eat, no doubt, something similar. There are only 14 seats in this Maldives restaurant, and the prices are far higher than the dining room. Vaavu Magu, Rasdhoo, Maldives. $550 for two. hiltonmaldivesresort.com

FIVE OF THE BEST AFFORDABLE MICHELIN-STARRED EATERIES

TIM HO WAN, HONG KONG

Though the Tim Ho Wan empire has now spread far and wide, including to Australia, there's no substitute for trying the world's cheapest Michelin-starred dim sum in its home environment. The famous pork buns are worth the journey alone, though you won't want to miss any of the vast arrays of steamed and fried deliciousness. 2 Wharf Road, North Point, Hong Kong. $20 for two. timhowan.com

UNCLE BOON'S, NEW YORK CITY

Australian travellers pining for familiar flavours will love Uncle Boon's, a down-market NYC eatery that specialises in the spicy cuisine of northern Thailand. All the favourites are here – charcoal-grilled meats, larb, sticky rice – and they're done with enough flair to earn a coveted Michelin star. 7 Spring St, New York, US: $80 for two; uncleboons.com

THE HAND AND FLOWERS, MARLOW, UK

Though you can still get out of this gastro pub in Buckinghamshire having parted with little more than £30 per person, the Hand and Flowers now boasts not one, but two, Michelin stars. This is classic English fare done to absolute perfection, and would be worth it at twice the price. 126 West Street, Marlow, UK; $100 for two; thehandandflowers.co.uk

HILL STREET TAI HWA PORK NOODLE, SINGAPORE

The world's cheapest Michelin-starred cuisine. That's quite a title, and Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle does it proud, serving up exactly what it says on the box. This isn't even a restaurant, but a hawker stand, easily identifiable by the long queues and the wafting smell of frying pork mince and noodles. 466 Crawford Lane, Singapore. $12 for two. No website.

TSUTA, TOKYO

Anyone who questions whether a ramen noodle restaurant deserves a Michelin star has clearly not spent enough time getting acquainted with ramen noodles. Tsuta is one of two Tokyo noodle houses to claim a gong, and this one is famous for its "triple soup" made from vegetables, chicken and clams. 1-14-1 Sugamo, Toshima, Tokyo, Japan; $35 for two. No website.

FIVE OF THE BEST

CELEBRITY-CHEF SPIN-OFFS

BODEGA 1900, BARCELONA

Can't get a reservation for Tickets, chef Albert Adria's entry in the 50 Best? That's fine – neither can anyone else. You can, however, have the Adria experience elsewhere in Barcelona, most notably at Bodega 1900, Albert's approachable, affordable take on the classic Spanish vermouth bar. Don't miss the famous liquid olives, pioneered at El Bulli. Carrer de Tamarit 91, Barcelona, Spain. $140 for two. bodega1900.com

LA MAR CEBICHERIA, LIMA

Though his flagship restaurant, Astrid y Gaston, can be difficult to book, it's no problem to visit one of Gaston Acurio's other Lima eateries, including La Mar, which specialises in that Peruvian classic, ceviche. Acurio has something of a gastronomic empire in his hometown, making his food easily accessible. Av Mariscal La Mar 770, Miraflores, Peru. $80 for two. lamarcebicheria.com

SHORTMARKET CLUB, CAPE TOWN

South African chef Luke Dale-Roberts has been attracting all sorts of attention and awards for his No. 63-rated fine-diner the Test Kitchen. At the Shortmarket Club, meanwhile, in bustling central Cape Town, Dale-Roberts presents an affordable but still extremely delicious alternative to that experience. 88 Shortmarket St, Cape Town, South Africa. Meal for two approx $100. theshortmarketclub.co.za

ROCAMBOLESC GELATERIA, GIRONA

Jordi Roca, one of three brothers behind the world No. 3 restaurant El Celler de Can Roca, has a very accessible side business in central Girona: an ice-cream shop. Decked out as a Willy Wonka-style fantasyland, Rocambolesc does some amazingly good ice-cream – understandable when the creator is one of the world's best pastry chefs. Carrer de Santa Clara 50, Girona, Spain. $14 for two. rocambolesc.com

LONG CHIM, SYDNEY

No need to travel far to sample the cuisine of a 50 Best chef. Australian David Thompson, whose Bangkok eatery Nam scored a No. 28 placing in the most recent list, is also the man behind Long Chim, a high-end Thai restaurant in the Sydney CBD. Corner Pitt St and Angel Place, Sydney. $120 for two. longchimsydney.com

BEN GROUNDWATER