Peruvian Lima’s Central is voted Latin America’s best restaurant

The stars of the culinary world gathered in Mérida, Yucatán, in Mexico, at the presentation of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2022 list, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna.

The ceremony celebrated the excellence of establishments from 21 different destinations and ten new restaurants on the list before naming Lima’s Central as The Best Restaurant in Latin America 2022.

Central, from chefs Virgilio Martínez and Pía León, took first place on the annual list for the first time since 2016.

The distinction was presented one year after Central was named The Greatest Restaurant in Latin America 2013-2021, as part of the exclusive, retrospective list of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2021: Pasado y Futuro.

Central is in the top three, followed by the Argentinean Don Julio and Peruvian Maido. Casa do Porco, owned by Janaina and Jeferson Rueda, ranked fourth.

“The past three years have spurred significant changes in the industry, which has lent itself to several new restaurants and destinations highlighted in the 2022 list.

“It is an honor that we can again celebrate the resilience and gastronomic richness of the region,” said William Drew, director of content for Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants.

Seven more special awards were announced at the awards ceremony. The Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award was presented to Oteque in Rio de Janeiro.

Ecuadorian chef Pía Salazar of Nuema in Quito was named Latin America’s Best Pastry Chef, sponsored by República del Cacao.

The Beronia Latin America’s Best Sommelier, a new 2022 award, went to Pablo Rivero, sommelier and owner of Don Julio in Buenos Aires.

In Valle de Guadalupe, Fauna was recognized as the Highest New Entry Award winner with its rise to number 16.

The Maito in Panama City took the Highest Climber Award, moving up 36 places from the previous vote in 2020.

Jonatan Gómez Luna, from Le Chique in Cancun, received the Estrella Damm Chefs’ Choice Award.

Finally, Diacá in Guatemala City won the Flor de Caña Sustainable Restaurant Award.

50 Best works with professional services consultancy Deloitte as its official independent award partner to help protect the integrity and authenticity of the voting process and the resulting list of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2022.

With information from Estadão