When it comes to fine dining, the best restaurants in Latin America are often in the capital cities, including Lima, Mexico City, Bogotá, and Buenos Aires. A notable exception is Brazil, where the best restaurants are located near the coast, particularly in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
Many of Latin America's top chefs have trained in Europe or the United States and brought those skills back home to start their own restaurants.
As a result, they can help train the next generation of chefs. In my late twenties, I began spending time in Latin America, first on vacations to Costa Rica, Belize, and Guatemala, and later living in Medellín, Colombia, and Lima, Peru.
I loved living as an expat in Latin America and may return one day to do so again. There's a beautiful energy to it. Music infuses daily life, and dancing fills the nights. Living in a culture and country that is not your own is an adventure every day.
One way I educated myself was through the local food, whether from street vendors in Colombia or fine dining establishments in Peru. This article features restaurants I've been to that have appeared on the annual ranking of Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants.
Table of Contents
My Best Meals
Lima, Peru
Central Restaurante
November 18, 2014
If you asked me to pick my favorite spot in Latin America, based on my lunch there, it would be Central Restaurant in Lima.
The Mater Elevations tasting menu features ingredients sourced from over a dozen Peruvian ecosystems, including the Pacific Ocean, the Andes Mountains, and the Amazon jungle.
Chef Virgilio Martinez and his wife, Pia León, provide unforgettable creativity. As Central has grown in popularity, securing a reservation has become increasingly challenging, so planning ahead by a few months is essential.
Central held the #1 spot in Latin America from 2014 to 2016 and again from 2021 to 2022. Its global recognition peaked in 2023 when it was named the best restaurant in the world on The World's 50 Best Restaurants list.
Maido
February 5, 2018
Maido is the only restaurant in this story that I've been to three times. However, it was only during the most recent visit in 2018 that I experienced the tasting menu. Nikkei cuisine, a fusion of Japanese cooking techniques and Peruvian ingredients, is best experienced at Maido.
We have Chef Mitsuharu to thank. In 2019, Maido was named the best restaurant in Latin America for the third consecutive year, and in 2025, it followed in Central's footsteps to become the number one restaurant in the world, as recognized by The World's 50 Best Restaurants.
Astrid y Gaston
December 18, 2011
My first fine dining experience in Lima took place at Astrid y Gastón, which was ranked #42 in the world (and the only Peruvian restaurant on the list).
It was my second time ordering a tasting menu (the first was at El Cielo in Medellín) and my first time committing to a three-hour meal by myself.
Highlights included the maracuya sour cocktail, fresh bread, guinea pig taco, ceviche, and desserts. The 11-course lunch at chef Gastón Acurio's flagship restaurant, which he opened with his wife Astrid, was just 170 soles ($63).
Astrid y Gaston has since moved to a new location, and I look forward to returning the next time I'm in Lima. In 2021, Astrid y Gastón was ranked #4 in Latin America.
Osso
February 23, 2018
Chef-owner Renzo Garibaldi opened Osso in 2013 after training in sustainable butchery in the U.S. and France. Osso has two locations, the original in La Molina and the second spot in San Isidro (where I ate).
You go to Osso for the meats, sausages, and burgers, all grilled to perfection. Osso ranked #33 in Latin America for 2023.
La Mar Cebicheria
November 22, 2014
There's no dish more synonymous with Peruvian food than ceviche, and perhaps no better place to order it than La Mar (which means "The Sea" in Spanish).
Opened in 2005, La Mar is a part of Gastón Acurio's global restaurant empire. The first location opened on La Mar Avenue, a neighborhood known for ceviche restaurants in the Miraflores district. He has since expanded La Mar to Buenos Aires, Bogotá, Santiago, Miami, and San Francisco.
My first few experiences with ceviche weren't that great. But, as I continued to try it at nicer restaurants such as Astrid & Gastón and La Mar, I came to appreciate it. La Mar ranked #30 in Latin America for 2024.
Rafael
November 20, 2014
A former lawyer, Chef Rafael Osterling opened Rafael in 2000 and has been serving modern Peruvian cuisine ever since. Rafael ranked #19 in Latin America for 2024.
The restaurant, located inside a red townhouse in Miraflores, feels bright and spacious. Beautifully tiled floors, contemporary art, and white tablecloths add touches of elegance.
I had a fantastic 3-course à la carte meal:
- Roast duck foie gras with toast and peaches
- Grilled yellowfin tuna with basil emulsion, creamy potatoes, and baked tomatoes
- Praline, Guanaja chocolate, emulsified cacao, and Toblerone ganache (one of 14 options on the dessert menu)
Isolina Taberna Peruana
February 15, 2018
Located in the bohemian Barranco district of Lima, Isolina serves traditional family-style Peruvian food. My friends Eric and Karen said they excel at dishes, including organ meat.
On a dinner date, I wasn't feeling too adventurous, so I ordered a meat-stuffed deep-fried potato to start and the reliably delicious, Asian-inspired lomo saltado (beef stir fry).
Isolina is one of this list's most casual and least expensive restaurants. In 2021, it ranked #24 in Latin America.
Malabar
July 27, 2016
Pedro Miguel Schiaffino trained at the Culinary Institute of America in New York City before becoming a chef. He returned to Peru in 2004 and opened Malabar, a modern Peruvian restaurant that sources fresh, in-season ingredients for its dishes.
I had a pleasant seven-course dinner here. When I dined there in 2016, Malabar ranked #38, but it has since closed permanently.
Amaz
February 19, 2018
In 2012, eight years after opening Malabar, chef Schiaffino opened Amaz to highlight, promote, and preserve the Amazon's natural resources and culinary traditions.
That same year, I visited the Peruvian Amazon for the first time, spending a week at several jungle lodges in Tambopata National Reserve.
Chef Schiaffino's fellow CIA graduate, the late Anthony Bourdain, featured Amaz Restaurante on a 2013 episode of Parts Unknown. In 2018, it ranked #48 in Latin America and has since closed.
Related: Lima's Best Restaurants
Mexico City
Pujol
May 4, 2013
Pujol has long been regarded as the best restaurant in Mexico City and Central America, as well as one of the finest in Latin America.
On my first visit to Mexico City in 2013, I dined at the original 13-table restaurant in Polanco, one of the capital's wealthier districts.
I was delighted with the 10-course tasting menu, featuring signature dishes such as Mole Madre and Mole Nuevo. It was an incredible deal at the time: just 890 pesos ($69).
In 2013, Pujol ranked #3 in Latin America and #17 worldwide. It has maintained its high standards, ranking #24 in Latin America for 2024 and #33 globally in the same year.
See also: Cosme NYC by Enrique Olvera
Quintonil
August 15, 2017
Chef Jorge Vallejo, whose resume includes time at Pujol and Noma in Copenhagen, opened Quintonil in 2012 with his wife, Alejandra Flores.
Vallejo manages the kitchen and menu, while Flores handles the front of the house. Together, they've grown Quintonil into one of Mexico City's top restaurants.
I invited a friend to join me for the tasting menu, and we both enjoyed it; however, we agreed that Pujol was the better of the two restaurants.
I had planned to return in March 2020 to give it another shot; however, world events put those plans on hold. In 2024, Quintonil ranked #9 in Latin America, and in 2025, it reached #3 on The World's 50 Best Restaurants.
Sud 777
April 15, 2018
One of my new favorite restaurants in Mexico City is Sud 777, about a 30-minute drive south of Condesa, the park-filled neighborhood where I usually stay. It's worth the trip to experience the creative dishes from chef and co-owner Edgar Núñez's kitchen.
Highlights from my 11-course lunch included:
- Cucumber and clarified melon tart
- Smoked watermelon
- Marlin donut with Xcatix mayonnaise and fried leek
- Onion, caramel, and salted yogurt ice cream
The two-story interior is also a relaxed and casual space. Happy hours with DJs are held on the lower level, while meals are served on the second floor overlooking the action. In 2024, Sud 777 ranked #47 in Latin America.
Related: Mexico City's Best Restaurants
Rosetta
April 19, 2018
Chef Elena Reygadas opened Rosetta in 2010 after training at the French Culinary Institute in New York and working abroad in London. By 2014, she was recognized as Latin America's Best Female Chef.
Rosetta offers diners a charming interior, including a two-story, light-filled dining room and several smaller rooms. It's a great date spot.
I had a terrific 3-course à la carte lunch here, including a fresh heirloom tomato salad, great braised short rib with creamy polenta, and a pink mole dessert.
Reygadas also operates a small bakery, Panadería Rosetta, a block away. In 2024, Rosetta ranked #48 in Latin America, and in 2025, it was #46 globally.
Dulce Patria
April 23, 2018
Mexican chef Martha Ortiz's Dulce Patria restaurant features plush, red seating that stands out against the white walls and tablecloths. The colorful experience extends to the menu as well.
I enjoyed multi-colored quesadillas, pork loin medallions in a yellow mole sauce, and cacao ice cream. In 2018, Dulce Patria ranked #48 in Latin America.
Maximo
April 24, 2018
I had been eyeing Maximo in Mexico City's Roma neighborhood for a few years, as it was just a block from my friend's apartment.
When we finally made a dinner reservation during my last visit, I found it too dark inside to take photos without relying on a flash.
We ordered the 4-course tasting menu, including several seafood dishes, a meat dish, and two desserts. It has since moved to a new location, and I'd like to try it again. Maximo ranked #43 in Latin America for 2024.
Bogotá, Colombia
Leo
July 18, 2018
Three years after I left Colombia, I returned to visit friends and explore the burgeoning restaurant scene in Bogotá, the capital. A highlight of my trip was a culinary tour of Colombia, courtesy of the tasting menu at Leo, chef Leonor Espinosa's flagship restaurant.
The experience was similar to the Mater Elevations menu at Central in Lima, with ingredients for dishes from across the country. I also partook in juice pairings.
Colombia is one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet. Like Peru, its geography encompasses oceans, deserts, the Andes Mountains, and the Amazon jungle.
Chef Espinosa utilizes the country's bounty to create dishes that are beautifully presented in a stylish, modern restaurant. It's a family affair, too, with her daughter working as a sommelier.
In 2024, Leo ranked #10 in Latin America, and the year before, it was #43 on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list.
Harry Sasson
July 19, 2018
Tucked in a faux-Tudor mansion in the heart of Bogotá's trendy Chapinero Alto neighborhood, chef Harry Sasson has been serving Colombian diners for 24 years. In 2021, Harry Sasson ranked #18 in Latin America.
Walking into the building through the main entrance, you'd never suspect a gorgeous rear dining room encased in glass and white steel beams.
Natural light floods into the space, which would be just as relevant if it were attached to a modern art museum. Here, meat is king, so I dined on a phenomenal filet with green and black peppercorns, served with tarragon butter and brandy sauce.
El Chato
February 4, 2019
Opened in 2017 in Chapinero Alto, El Chato is a contemporary bistro and the first restaurant by chef Alvaro Clavijo. Clavijo studied at a hospitality school in Barcelona before working in some of the world's best restaurants in the U.S. and Europe.
I took a date to El Chato for dinner, so honestly, I can't say I focused much on the food, nor did I get decent photos due to the dim lighting.
I want to return for lunch the next time I'm in Bogotá to give it the complete Feastio treatment. El Chato ranked #3 in Latin America for 2024, and #25 in the world the same year.
Related: Bogotá's Best Restaurants
São Paulo, Brazil
D.O.M.
November 15, 2016
I first visited Brazil in 2016 for a friend's grand wedding on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. I'd arrived a few days earlier, allowing enough time to dine with the soon-to-be newlyweds at D.O.M., Brazil's best restaurant.
We had a wonderful dinner at the chef's table, located near the glass-encased kitchen, which included the signature palm heart fettuccine, pictured above.
Chef Alex Atala was featured in Season 2, Episode 2 of Chef's Table. In 2016, D.O.M. was ranked #3 in Latin America and #11 worldwide.
There you have it, my ever-growing list of the best restaurants in Latin America. It has been amazing to watch the various cuisines of this region, including Peruvian, Mexican, Colombian, and Brazilian, gain international popularity.
While many of these restaurants are expensive by local standards, they represent an excellent value for international travelers from the U.S., Europe, and Asia. That cost-to-quality ratio is one of the many reasons I keep going back for more!
