April 21 (Bloomberg) -- El Bulli, Ferran Adria's experimental venue north of Barcelona, is the world's best restaurant, followed by Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck, near London, and Pierre Gagnaire, in Paris, Restaurant magazine announced tonight in London.

The top three are unchanged for the third year in a row in the S. Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards. Mugaritz, in Spain, came fourth, its highest showing, followed by the French Laundry, in California, and Per Se in New York. Per Se jumped from ninth place last year. Noma, in Copenhagen, rose to 10th from 15th.

Not a single London venue made the top 10 in the awards, which were announced in a ceremony at Freemasons' Hall in Covent Garden, attended by chefs from around the world, including Adria and Blumenthal. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay was 13th, up from 24th.

The rankings are decided by panels totaling 700 chefs, restaurateurs, food writers and critics in 23 regions. El Bulli won the first year, in 2002, came second in 2003, third in 2004, and second in 2005. Gordon Ramsay came second in 2002.

Among other London restaurants: St John came 16th this year, compared with 34th; Hakkasan was unchanged at 19th; Le Gavroche was 22nd, down from 28th, and Nobu slumped to 30th from 17th. In New York, Jean Georges advanced to 17th from 18th and Le Bernardin to 20th from 26th. Daniel dropped to 41st from 32nd.

Here is the list:

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

(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 21, 2008 15:00 EDT