Each year, the The World’s 50 Best Restaurants spotlight one extraordinary woman with the title of World’s Best Female Chef. This accolade is one that traces a powerful narrative that these women have reshaped the path for females in this industry. It spotlights the true character of these chefs through their leadership, innovation, cultural pride and creativity.
World’s Best Female Chefs
Hélène Darroze
France – 2015
A custodian of French gastronomic heritage, Darroze brought warmth and personal storytelling to haute cuisine. Her Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris and London reflect a devotion to terroir and emotional cooking — proving refinement and heart can exist on the same plate.
Dominique Crenn
USA/France – 2016
The first female chef in the United States to earn three Michelin stars, Crenn transformed dining into poetry at Atelier Crenn in San Francisco. Her menus blurred the lines between art and cuisine, marking a shift toward narrative-driven tasting experiences
Ana Roš
Slovenia – 2017
Self-taught and fearless, Roš placed Slovenia firmly on the global culinary map through Hiša Franko. Her hyper-local, terroir-focused cuisine celebrated wild landscapes and seasonal storytelling long before sustainability became a global buzzword.
Clare Smyth
United Kingdom – 2018
A champion of modern British cuisine, Smyth’s restaurant Core in London redefined elegance with simplicity. Her win signalled a renewed global respect for ingredient-led, precision cooking rooted in tradition.
Through her Bogotá restaurant Leo, Espinosa fused anthropology and gastronomy. Her work elevated indigenous communities and ingredients, proving that food can be both cultural preservation and innovation.
Reygadas championed seasonality and sustainability at Rosetta in Mexico City. Her win further cemented Mexico’s culinary influence while spotlighting conscious sourcing and social responsibility.
From São Paulo, Torres blended Brazilian soul with contemporary execution. Her work reflects the vibrancy of South American dining culture — dynamic, expressive and proudly local.
Chef Pam brought modern Thai-Chinese cuisine to the forefront at Potong in Bangkok. Her win symbolises the growing global appreciation for Southeast Asia’s refined culinary artistry.
These women have inspired the next generation of chefs to step into leadership roles with confidence, creativity and conviction. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we honour their accolades, as well as their leadership.
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