41 California restaurants are among the ‘most outstanding’ in the world, rankings show

California has dozens of the “most outstanding” restaurants in the world, a new report finds.

Forty-one restaurants were highlighted in the 2022 Forbes Travel Guide.

The findings, published on April 26, include 253 restaurants, 1,282 hotels and 295 spas. Inspectors for the Forbes Travel Guide went undercover to find “the best of the best.”

Each restaurant review included highlights, things to know, the food and amenities.

The highlights section gives the reader a glimpse of the overall dining experience. Under the things to know section, readers get an idea of the establishment’s dress code and reservation suggestions.

Some reviews also highlighted the chef or drinks.

Cities across the state landed Five-Star ratings, including San Diego, San Francisco, Napa, Sonoma, Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur. Nine restaurants were rated with the highest honor.

The guide also included 21 restaurants with Four-Star ratings and 11 recommended dining spots.

Five-Star restaurants:

• Addison Restaurant — San Diego

• Atelier Crenn — San Francisco

• Aubergine at L’Auberge Carmel — Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur

• Benu — San Francisco

• The French Laundry — Napa

• Manresa — San Francisco

• The Restaurant at Meadowood — Napa

• Saison — San Francisco

• SingleThread Farms Restaurant — Sonoma

Four-Star restaurants:

• The Belvedere — Los Angeles

• Bourbon Steak Orange County — Orange County

• Campton Place — San Francisco

• Caruso’s — Santa Barbara

• Erna’s Elderberry House Restaurant — Tahoe and Yosemite

• FARM — Napa

• Gary Danko — San Francisco

• Jean-Georges Beverly Hills — Los Angeles

• Lucia Restaurant & Bar — Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur

• Mar’sel at Terranea — Los Angeles

• Navio — San Francisco

• Olivella — Ojai

• Parallel 37 — San Francisco

• Ponto Lago — San Diego

• Providence — Los Angeles

• Quince — San Francisco

• Raya — Orange County

• The Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil — Napa

• Sierra Mar Restaurant — Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur

• Solbar — Napa

• The Steakhouse at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa Rancho Mirage — Palm Springs

Recommended:

• A.R. Valentien — San Diego

• Avec Nous — Los Angeles

• Catch — Los Angeles

• CUT Beverly Hills — Los Angeles

• Farmhouse Inn Restaurant — Sonoma

• Layla at MacArthur Place — Sonoma

• Lucy Restaurant & Bar — Napa

• Madera — San Jose

• One Pico — Los Angeles

• The Polo Lounge — Los Angeles

• Spruce — San Francisco

This story was originally published April 28, 2022 at 1:54 PM with the headline "41 California restaurants are among the ‘most outstanding’ in the world, rankings show."

Helena Wegner

McClatchy DC

Helena Wegner is a McClatchy National Real-Time Reporter covering the state of Washington and the western region. She’s a journalism graduate from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She’s based in Phoenix.