It was a night to celebrate Latin American cuisine in all its diversity and richness, honouring its past and looking towards its future after a year and a half of so many difficulties and uncertainties. The list of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards 2021 presented on 22 November was a compilation of previous editions of the ranking, since its creation in 2013.
For the first time, the 100 best restaurants in Latin America were chosen based on the aggregation of the complete voting data throughout eight editions of the awards, between 2013 and 2020 - the year in which the ceremony was cancelled because of the pandemic.
The best of the last decade were chosen according to a decade of voting from a jury made up of professionals from across the region. Lima's Central, by chefs Virgilio Martínez and Pía León, was recognised as the best of the decade in Latin America, followed by Maido (also in Peru), D.O.M. (Brazil), Astrid y Gastón (Peru) and Pujol (Mexico), among the top five.
Among the 100 restaurants announced for the night, many were newcomers to the list, demonstrating an effort to recognise restaurants that helped shape the region's dining scene.
All restaurants listed are open or intend to reopen. Those that closed were recognised as part of the program, but without being part of the ranking. "We believe in the importance of recognising closed restaurants for their role over the years, making a great contribution to Latin American cuisine," said Laura Price, one of the presenters of the event, which was broadcast online.
Special awards
In addition to the main list, the event also awarded the restaurants and professionals who stood out in these months for their exceptional work during the pandemic. To recognise them, some exceptional awards were created, such as the Rising Star Female Chef Award, which went to chef Marsia Taha (Gustu, Bolivia), and the Icon Award, given to Rodrigo Oliveira and Adriana Salay (Mocotó, Brazil) - both of which had already been announced.
However, it was also a celebration of new and unprecedented awards. Anafe restaurant, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was recognised with the One to Watch award. Celele, a Caribbean cuisine restaurant in Cartagena, Colombia, received the Art of Hospitality Award 2021.
For the Sustainable Restaurant category, Corrutela restaurant was chosen, which has just announced its reopening in São Paulo, Brazil. Finally, chef Eduardo García, from the renowned Máximo Bistrot in Mexico City, Mexico, received the Chef's Choice Award-Best Reinvention for his work during the pandemic.
See below the list of the 100 best restaurants of the decade according to Latin America's 50 Best 2021 - Pasado y Futuro.
Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants 2013-2021 Pasado y Futuro: The List
1. Central Lima, Perú
2. Maido Lima, Perú
3. D.O.M. São Paulo, Brasil
4. Astrid y Gastón Lima, Perú
5. Pujol Ciudad de México, México
6. Boragó Santiago, Chile
7. Maní São Paulo, Brazil
8. Quintonil Ciudad de México, México
9. Tegui Buenos Aires, Argentina
10. Don Julio Buenos Aires, Argentina
11. A Casa do Porco Sao Paulo, Brazil
12. Sud 777 Ciudad de México, México
13. La Mar Lima, Perú
14. Leo Bogotá, Colombia
15. Pangea Monterrey, México
16. Parador La Huella José Ignacio, Uruguay
17. Osso Lima, Perú
18. Harry Sasson Bogotá, Colombia
19. Chila Buenos Aires, Argentina
20. Rafael Lima, Perú
21. El Baqueano Buenos Aires, Argentina
22. Lasai Río de Janeiro, Brazil
23. Mocotó São Paulo, Brazil
24. Isolina Lima, Perú
25. El Chato Bogotá, Colombia
26. Ambrosía Santiago, Chile
27. Roseta Ciudad de México, México
28. Aramburu Buenos Aires, Argentina
29. Mishiguene Buenos Aires, Argentina
30. Maito Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá
31. 99 Santiago, Chile
32. Alcalde Guadalajara, México
33. Máximo Bistrot Ciudad de México
34. Elena Buenos Aires, Argentina
35. Nicos Ciudad de México, México
36. Gustu La Paz, Bolivia
37. La Cabrera Buenos Aires, Argentina
38. Le Chique Cancun, México
39. Fiesta Lima, Perú
40. Corazón de Tierra Guadalupe, México
41. Oteque Río de Janeiro, Brasil
42. Criterión Bogotá, Colombia
43. Alto Caracas, Venezuela
44. Amaranta Toluca, México
45. 1884 Restaurante Mendoza, Argentina
46. La Picantería Lima, Perú
47. Restaurante 040 Santiago, Chile
48. Gran Dabbang Buenos Aires, Argentina
49. Manu Curitiba, Brasil
50. Oviedo Buenos Aires, Argentina
51. Oro Río de Janeiro, Brasil
52. Kjolle Lima, Perú
53. La Bourgogne Punta del este, Uruguay
54. Tuju São Paulo, Brasil
55. Andrés Carne de Res Chía, Colombia
56. Mayta Lima, Perú
57. La Docena Guadalajara, México
58. De Patio Santiago, Chile
59. Crizia Buenos Aires, Argentina
60. Narda Comedor Buenos Aires, Argentina
61. Mil Moray, Perú
62. Manzanilla Ensenada, México
63. Casa Oaxaca Oaxaca, México
64. Tomo 1 Buenos Aires, Argentina
65. Evvai São Paulo, Brasil
66. Fasano São Paulo, Brasil
67. Sucre Buenos Aires, Argentina
68. Glouton Belo Horizonte, Brazil
69. Cosme Lima, Perú
70. Tierra Colorada Gastro Asunción, Paraguay
71. El Mercado Lima, Perú
72. Merotoro Ciudad de México, México
73. Restaurante Grazón Garzón,
74. El Cielo Bogotá, Colombia
75. Tordesilhas São Paulo, Brasil
76. Carmen Medellín, Colombia
77. Soeta Vitória, Brasil
78. Mérito Lima, Perú
79. Laja Ensenada, México
80. Osaka Buenos Aires, Argentina
81. Café Misterio Montevideo, Uruguay
82. Restó Buenos Aires, Argentina
83. La Brigada Buenos Aires, Argentina
84. Salvo Patria Bogotá, Colombia
85. Dulce Patria Ciudad de México, México
86. Arturito São Paulo, Brasil
87. La Mar Buenos Aires, Argentina
88. Komah São Paulo, Brasil
89. Lo De Tere Punta del Este, Uruguay
90. Corrutela São Paulo, Brazil
91. Celele Cartagena, Colombia
92. Pakuri Asunción, Paraguay
93. Nuema Quito, Ecuador
94. Ali Pacha La Paz, Bolivia
95. Pitiona Oaxaca, México
96. Costanera 700 Lima, Perù
97. Alo's Buenos Aires, Argentina
98. Deckman's El Mogor Valle de Guadalupe, México
99. Mesa Franca Bogotá, Colombia
100. Cuatros Mares Punta del Este, Uruguay
