April 23 (Bloomberg) -- El Bulli, Ferran Adria's gastronomic temple in northern Spain, is the best restaurant in the world, followed by the U.K.'s Fat Duck, both for the second year in a row, Restaurant magazine announced tonight in London.

Pierre Gagnaire, in Paris, was third, followed by the French Laundry, in Yountville, California; Tetsuya's, in Sydney; and Bras, in Laguiole, France. All top six are unchanged from last year, when El Bulli overtook the Fat Duck. El Bulli and Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck are known for innovative cuisine.

The highest climber is Noma, in Copenhagen. The highest new entry is Alinea, in Chicago. The best in Asia goes to Bukhara, in New Delhi. The S.Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants are picked by 22 panels of food writers, critics and chefs.

``Ferran Adria is often talked about as the most influential chef since Escoffier,'' Restaurant Editor Joe Warwick said in a telephone interview. ``You can see that in this list. It includes several restaurants -- like Alinea in Chicago, Noma in Copenhagen and, of course, the Fat Duck --influenced by his style.''

Not a single London restaurant made the top 10 of the annual awards, which were announced in a ceremony at the city's Science Museum.

The Fat Duck is situated at Bray, about 30 miles west of London. The top restaurants in the British capital were Nobu in 17th place, Hakkasan (19th) and Gordon Ramsay Royal Hospital Road (24th).

Paris Leads With Nine

Paris is the city with the largest number of eateries in the top 50, with a total of nine; London has six and New York four, Warwick said. France is the top country, with the U.S. second, the U.K. third, and Spain and Italy tied for fourth.

Alice Waters, the founder of Chez Panisse, in Berkeley, California, received the Lifetime Achievement award. The Breakthrough award went to Ramsay's Maze restaurant, in London, which was voted No. 54.

The Readers' Choice award went to Pied a Terre, London, where chef Shane Osborn holds two Michelin stars.

1.  El Bulli                            Spain
2.  The Fat Duck                        U.K.
3.  Pierre Gagnaire                     France
4.  The French Laundry                  U.S.
5.  Tetsuya's                           Australia
6.  Bras                                France
7.  Mugaritz                            Spain
8.  Le Louis XV                         Monaco
9.  Per Se                              U.S.
10. Arzak                               Spain
11. El Celler de Can Roca               Spain
12. Gambero Rosso                       Italy
13. L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon          France
14. Hof van Cleve                       Belgium
15. Noma                                Denmark
16. Le Calandre                         Italy
17. Nobu London                         U.K.
18. Jean Georges                        U.S.
19. Hakkasan                            U.K.
20. Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athenee      France
21. L'Astrance                          France
22. Can Fabes                           Spain
23. L'Ambroisie                         France
24. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay            U.K.
25. Troisgros                           France
26. Le Bernardin                        U.S.
27. Martin Berasategui                  Spain
28. Le Gavroche                         U.K.
29. Le Cinq                             France
30. Charlie Trotter's                   U.S.
31. Dal Pescatore                       Italy
32. Daniel                              U.S.
33. Rockpool                            Australia
34. St. John                            U.K.
35. Chez Dominique                      Finland
36. Alinea                              U.S.
37. Bukhara                             India
38. DOM                                 Brazil
39. Oaxen Skaergaardskrog               Sweden
40. Chez Panisse                        U.S.
41. Enoteca Pinchiorri                  Italy
42. Cracco Peck                         Italy
43. L'Arpege                            France
44. The River Cafe                      U.K.
45. Oud Sluis                           The Netherlands
46. Combal Zero                         Italy
47. Le Quartier Francais                South Africa
48. Taillevent                          France
49. Bocuse                              France
50. Les Ambassadeurs                    France

Lifetime Achievement                    Alice Waters
Breakthrough Award                      Maze, London
Readers' Choice                         Pied a Terre, London

(Richard Vines is London food critic for Bloomberg News. The opinions expressed are his own.)

To contact the reporter on this story: Richard Vines in London at rvines@Bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: April 23, 2007 15:13 EDT