Features

Parken-based restaurant named world’s best

Geranium, which is situated in the Parken stadium complex in Copenhagen, has been named the world’s best restaurant.

Geranium, located on the eighth floor of Parken, emerged victorious in the prestigious World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2022, an awards ceremony that this year honoured gastronomic excellence from 24 territories across five continents.

Taking over the top spot in the annual rankings from fellow Copenhagen-based restaurant Noma, which was elevated to the Best of the Best hall of fame, Geranium, led by chef Rasmus Kofoed, had finished second in last year’s list.

Geranium’s mission is to create food that awakens the senses, and Kofoed’s cooking and vision, including his recent decision to go meatless, have won accolades and fans worldwide. Geranium was joined in the top three by Central in Lima and Disfrutar in Barcelona, respectively.

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list is voted for by 1,080 international restaurant industry experts and well-travelled gourmets who make up The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy.

William Drew, director of content for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, said: “Rasmus Kofoed, Søren Ledet and their team have created an unforgettable dining experience, taking seasonal cooking to superlative heights and delivering precise, beautiful and elegant food that combines art and flavour alongside a ground-breaking drinks programme.

“Geranium has cemented its status as a global culinary destination and a much-deserved winner of the coveted title, The World’s Best Restaurant 2022, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna.”

The long-term future of Geranium’s home venue has been called into question of late. The Danish Football Union (DBU) in February outlined its interest in becoming a co-owner of Parken, the home of the national team and Superliga club FC København.

The DBU’s announcement came after Parken Sport & Entertainment (PS&E), parent company of the stadium and FC København, in January announced it was seeking a new owner for the 38,000-seat venue.

PS&E said it was “looking for opportunities” to sell the group’s property portfolio, which along with Parken also includes office towers and two aquatics centres in Rødby and Billund. A full or partial divestment of the portfolio is being looked at, with the intention that PS&E would remain the operator of both the stadium and FC København.

The DBU said it may be interested in becoming part of an ownership group for Parken, but added that this would require “other actors, investors and the right conditions” before a co-ownership model could be realised.