North America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 includes 14 Canadian locations. See the full list

At his exclusive Calgary restaurant Eight (No. 2), Darren MacLean explores Canada's cultural heritage. PHOTOS BY NORTH AMERICA'S 50 BEST RESTAURANTS

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With half of the restaurants in the top 10, Canada had a strong showing in the second edition of North America’s 50 Best Restaurants. Following Chicago’s Smyth in top place, Eight in Calgary took the No. 2 spot, winning the Highest New Entry Award. Restaurant Pearl Morissette in Lincoln, Ont., Dakar NOLA in New Orleans and Mon Lapin in Montreal rounded out the top five.

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The 2026 edition was announced at an awards ceremony in New Orleans on May 28. This year’s list includes 14 restaurants from Canada and 36 from the United States. Though two Caribbean restaurants made last year’s list, none ranked this year. (Mexico is included in Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants.) See the full list below.

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Led by husband-and-wife chefs John Shields and Karen Urie Shields, Smyth rose to No. 1 from No. 4 on the inaugural 2025 list. Last year’s top restaurant, Atomix in New York, fell to No. 7 in the ranking.

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“What sets Smyth apart is its deeply personal approach to cooking, rooted in a tight network of growers and purveyors. The result is an ever-evolving tasting experience that feels both intimate and precise, and one in which each dish reflects the season of the time,” according to 50 Best.

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Eight, where Darren MacLean offers a 20-course “Canadian reflection” menu to eight diners at four services each week, was named the Best Restaurant in West Canada 2026. Restaurant Pearl Morissette took the honour for central Canada, and Mon Lapin for the east.

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50 Best compares exclusive Eight to a speakeasy, tucked behind a door in a hotel lobby. “Each course is crafted with seasonal, local ingredients highlighting Canada’s cultural heritage. The chef’s table format allows guests to discuss the menu with the chef as he prepares the highly inventive plates, gaining insight into the technique and story behind each dish. The ever-changing menu might feature creations ranging from veal sweetbreads with kohlrabi kimchi to a chocolate tart infused with roasted mushrooms and smoked whipped cream.”

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Restaurant Pearl Morissette (No. 3), led by chefs Daniel Hadida and Eric Robertson in Ontario’s Niagara wine region, is widely lauded for its farm-to-table cuisine. Photo by North America's 50 Best Restaurants

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Other award winners include San Francisco’s Atelier Crenn (No. 44), which was honoured for its leadership in sustainability, “highest climber” Albi (No. 6) in Washington, D.C., and Restaurant Pearl Morissette, recipient of the Art of Hospitality Award for 2026. The two-star, 40-seat restaurant in Ontario’s Niagara wine region, led by chefs Daniel Hadida and Eric Robertson, is widely lauded for its farm-to-table cuisine.

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“What really sets Restaurant Pearl Morissette apart is how effortlessly the team combines creativity, sustainability and genuine care for their guests. Every visit feels personal and considered, and that’s exactly what the Art of Hospitality Award celebrates,” a spokesperson for North America’s 50 Best Restaurants said in a statement in April.

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Eighteen new restaurants made their debut on this year’s list, including Eight, Edulis (No. 25) in Toronto, Sabayon (No. 34) in Montreal, AnnaLena (No. 35) in Vancouver, Wild Blue (No. 47) in Whistler, B.C., and The Pine (No. 48) in Collingwood, Ont.

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“The second edition of North America’s 50 Best Restaurants celebrates the extraordinary diversity, creativity and excellence that define the region’s dining scene,” Faye Huggett, director of community for North America’s 50 Best Restaurants, said in a statement. “From pioneering dining institutions to bold new voices, the list reflects the depth and dynamism of North America’s rich culinary landscape.”