Ranking of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2020

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The list of Latin America‘s 50 Best Restaurants in 2020 was released yesterday during a virtual ceremony. The prestigious list, now in its eighth edition, recognizes the excellence and diversity of Latin America’s culinary scene in one of the most challenging times for the restaurant industry worldwide. The announcement of the list is intended to assist restaurants in entering the next critical stage of recovery.

For the first time, Don Julio in Buenos Aires takes the No.1 spot, securing its status as The Best Restaurant in Latin America. Restaurateur and sommelier Pablo Rivero leads this Argentinian parrilla grill, which has achieved international recognition for its exemplary hospitality, wine list, and distinct approach to ingredients.

All the beef at Don Julio comes from grass-fed Aberdeen Angus and Hereford cattle, raised in the Buenos Aires countryside, and aged for at least 21 days to reach optimum maturity.

Lima’s Maido – three-time Best Restaurant in Latin America – gives up the throne landing at the No.2 spot, while Central, also from Lima, ranks at No.3. Central is also honored with the Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award, where the Academy of voters complimented its laid-back but highly professional style of service.

These two restaurants are followed by A Casa do Porco in São Paulo at No.4 and Pujol in Mexico City at No.5. Pujol also takes home the Flor de Caña Sustainable Restaurant Award.

Peru has the greatest number of entries on the 2020 list with 11 restaurants, including Mayta, which is the recipient of the Highest Climber Award, sponsored by illycaffè. Argentina follows closely with 10, adding two new entries in El Preferido de Palermo and Osaka – both in Buenos Aires.

This year, Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants features six new entries in total. Lima’s Mérito receives the Highest New Entry Award, sponsored by Aspire Lifestyles, after taking the No.37 spot on the list. Osaka and El Preferido de Palermo in Buenos Aires, rank at No.36 and No.47 respectively; Nuema in Quito, Ecuador is at No.48; Celele in Cartagena, Colombia is at No.49; and Corrutela in São Paulo, Brazil is No.50.

William Drew, Director of Content for Latin America’s Best 50 Restaurants, says: “Having built a platform in the international restaurant and hospitality industry over almost 20 years, we at 50 Best feel that we have an important role to play in helping to boost the recovery of the sector.”

“In our eighth edition of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants, we are proud to celebrate Latin America’s excellence in gastronomy with a special focus on the solidarity of its restaurant community. This year, more than ever, we have seen restaurants come together in an unprecedented way and our hope is that by working together, we will soon thrive again.”

The top 10 ranking:

For the first time, the Don Julio grill in Buenos Aires is ranked No.1, securing its status as the Best Restaurant in Latin America (Franco Fafasuli).

1. Don Julio (Buenos Aires, Argentina) *Best Restaurant in Latin America, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna/Best Restaurant in Argentina
2. Maido (Lima, Peru) *Best Restaurant in Peru
3. Central (Lima, Peru) *Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award
4. A Casa do Porco (São Paulo, Brazil) *Best Restaurant in Brazil
5. Pujol (Mexico City, Mexico) *Best Restaurant in Mexico/ Flor de Caña Sustainable Restaurant Award
6. Boragó (Santiago, Chile) *Best Restaurant in Chile
7. El Chato (Bogotá, Colombia) *Best Restaurant in Colombia
8. Mishiguene (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
9. Rosetta (Mexico City, Mexico)
10. Osso (Lima, Peru)

The Latin America’s Best Pastry Chef Award 2020 is presented to Sofia Cortina of La Vitrine in Mexico City, Mexico. Cortina was classically schooled in French patisserie and has worked the pastry section of some of the world’s leading restaurant kitchens. She creates indulgent cakes and delicate fruit-topped éclairs along with her signature dish – a twist on the classic French dessert, Vacherines, that combines layers of meringue, coulis, and light sorbets.

The Flor de Caña Sustainable Restaurant Award 2020 is presented to Pujol in Mexico City. The award recognizes the establishment in the list that achieves the highest overall sustainability rating, as audited by sustainability experts Food Made Good Global. Chef-owner Enrique Olvera and his team’s commitment to sourcing ingredients from local producers and preserving the region’s biodiversity has increased during the pandemic and Pujol’s commitment to its staff is unwavering.

The Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award 2020, which recognizes excellence in restaurant service and dining experience, is awarded to Central in Lima. Run by husband and wife duo Virgilio Martínez and Pia León, the restaurant itself is a showcase of Peru’s biodiversity. The service style is laid-back and welcoming but always highly professional, with the team trained to impart the stories behind the menu and ingredients with passion and personality.

Occupying No.24 on the list of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants, Lima’s Mayta is awarded with the Highest Climber Award 2020, sponsored by illycaffè, after climbing 25 places from No.49 last year. Chef Jaime Pesaque’s solo venture first gained a spot in Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2019 and was lauded for its inventive use of local ingredients and flavors, married with accomplished technique.

Finally, on the list at No.37, Mérito in Lima is presented the Highest New Entry Award 2020, sponsored by Aspire Lifestyles. At the restaurant, Venezuelan chefs Juan Luis Martínez and José Luis Saume update dishes from their homeland while giving Peruvian ingredients a new identity.

The complete list:

11. Quintonil (Mexico City, Mexico)
12. Oteque (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
13. D.O.M. (São Paulo, Brazil)
14. Pangea (Monterrey, Mexico)
15. Alcalde (Guadalajara, Mexico)
16. Tegui (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
17. Sud 777 (Mexico City, Mexico)
18. Kjolle (Lima, Peru)
19. Chila (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
20. Isolina (Lima, Peru)
21. Lasai (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
22. Astrid y Gastón (Lima, Peru)
23. Maní (São Paulo, Brazil)
24. Mayta (Lima, Peru) *Highest Climber Award, sponsored by illycaffè
25. Harry Sasson (Bogotá, Colombia)
26. Evvai (São Paulo, Brazil)
27. Leo (Bogotá, Colombia)
28. Parador La Huella (José Ignacio, Uruguay) *Best Restaurant in Uruguay
29. Rafael (Lima, Peru)
30. Le Chique (Cancún, Mexico)
31. Nicos (Mexico City, Mexico)
32. De Patio (Santiago, Chile)
33. Mocotó (São Paulo, Brazil)
34. Gran Dabbang (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
35. Mil (Cusco, Peru)
36. Máximo Bistrot (Mexico City, Mexico)
37. Mérito (Lima, Peru) *Highest New Entry Award, sponsored by Aspire Lifestyles
38. Osaka (Buenos Aires, Argentina) *New Entry
39. El Baqueano (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
40. Narda Comedor (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
41. Restaurante 040 (Santiago, Chile)
42. Maito (Panama City, Panama) *Best Restaurant in Panama
43. Aramburu (Buenos Aires, Argentina) *Re-Entry
44. Manu (Curitiba, Brazil)
45. La Mar (Lima, Peru)
46. Ambrosía (Santiago, Chile)
47. El Preferido de Palermo (Buenos Aires, Argentina) *New Entry
48. Nuema (Quito, Ecuador) *Best Restaurant in Ecuador/New Entry
49. Celele (Cartagena, Colombia) *New Entry
50. Corrutela (São Paulo, Brazil) *New Entry

The Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy is composed of more than 250 regional voting members, each of whom is hand-picked for his or her expert opinion of the Latin American restaurant scene. The votes of this Academy make up the Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants list, an annual barometer of taste.

The Academy is divided into four regions: Mexico & Central America, South America (North), South America (South), and Brazil. Each region has an Academy Chair and 62 other voting members, made up of journalists, food critics, chefs, restaurateurs, and well-traveled gourmands.

This year, each member submitted 10 votes on what they considered their best dining experiences of the previous 15 months (due to the pandemic, this year’s voting period ran from January 2019 to March 2020), with at least four of these votes going to restaurants outside their own country.

Source: infobae