Central restaurant in Lima tops Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants

Acqua Panna, along with S.Pellegrino, was delighted to be the main water sponsor of Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants, celebrating culinary excellence across the region with a virtual awards ceremony on 22nd November 2021.

In view of the pandemic's impact on the restaurant sector, it was decided to make this year's ranking a “greatest hits” list based on the votes of all previous editions since 2013. Named Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2021: Pasado y Futuro, the list was headed by Lima's Central restaurant, run by chefs Virgilio Martínez and Pía León.

Individuals and restaurants helping to create positive change in the region were celebrated in a series of additional awards.

First, Latin America’s Rising Star Female Chef was awarded to Marsia Taha of Gustu in La Paz, a young Bolivian chef with a new vision of gastronomy. 

Then there was the American Express One To Watch Award, which went to Anafe in Buenos Aires in recognition of its originality and promise.

The Macallan Icon Award, meanwhile, was won by Rodrigo Olivieria and Adriana Salay of Mocotó and Quebrada Alimentada in São Paulo, championing food accessibility to combat hunger in Brazil. 

Honoring a chef who has successfully reinvented themselves or their restaurant during the pandemic, the Estrella Damm Chefs’ Choice Award – Best Reinvention went to Eduardo García of Máximo Bistrot in Mexico City. 

Corrutela restaurant in São Paulo, which has recently reopened, won the Flor de Caña Sustainable Restaurant Award.

Finally, the outstanding work of Celele restaurant in Cartagena, Colombia, to support its customers in difficult times was rewarded with the Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award. Celele is run by Jaime Rodríguez and S.Pellegrino Young Chef Sebastián Pinzón.

Find out more and see the full list of winners at Fine Dining Lovers.