The World’s 50 Best Restaurants is an annual publication highlighting the best 50 restaurants in the MENA region. In this year’s list, three Beiruti restaurants were featured: Em Sherif, Baron and Tawlet Mar Mikhail while Dubai-based Orfali bros came out on top for the second year in a row.

As far as countries are concerned, 18 out of the 50 restaurants mentioned are Dubai-based, 6 are Egypt-based, 5 are Amman-based and 3 are Lebanon-based.

Here’s what they wrote about the featured Lebanese restaurants:

Em Sherif:

What makes it special? As the quintessential Lebanese dining experience, Em Sherif offers guests a taste of traditional home cooking in a truly opulent setting designed to make you feel like you could be eating food served at the chef’s own kitchen table. Glittering chandeliers, lavish textiles in rich shades of pink and deep blue and live Arabic music perfectly complement the endemic produce from across the country.

Tawlet Mar Mikhail:

The open kitchen: Without physical barriers between the diners and the chefs, Tawlet is a space that encourages conversation – about the origins of the dishes, the significance of the food and the traditions from local communities. Much of the restaurant’s profits are dedicated to supporting local farmers and cooks, and the furniture and decor have been carefully selected from the region’s artists and designers.

Baron:

What makes it special? It’s a fun, unfussy venue hidden in the fashionable streets of the artsy Armenian Mar Mikhael sector in Beirut. Baron is sustainability-focused and prides itself on sourcing its ingredients from local markets, farmers and fishers. The the vibe is cosy at this intimate spot; the best seats in the house are at the bar, where you can watch the team at work in the open kitchen.