Central tops Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants

S.Pellegrino was once again proud sponsor of Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants, celebrating gastronomy across the region with a virtual awards ceremony on 22nd November 2021.

For this year's edition, given the impact of the pandemic on the restaurant sector, it was decided to create a one-off "greatest hits" list: Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2021: Pasado y Futuro. Based on the aggregated votes of all previous editions, it identified the best restaurants in the region over the last nine years. The overall winner of this impressive title was Lima's Central restaurant, run by chefs Virgilio Martínez and Pía León.

A series of special awards were also announced, honouring individuals and restaurants helping to create positive change in the region.

The one-off title of Latin America’s Rising Star Female Chef was awarded to Bolivian chef and hospitality pioneer Marsia Taha of Gustu in La Paz, an emerging talent putting forward a new vision of gastronomy.

Intended to recognise a recently-opened restaurant showing originality and promise, the American Express One To Watch Award went to Anafe in Buenos Aires.

Meanwhile, the Macallan Icon Award was won by Rodrigo Olivieria and Adriana Salay, the husband-and-wife team behind Mocotó and Quebrada Alimentada in São Paulo, who champion food accessibility to challenge Brazil’s hunger problem.

The Estrella Damm Chefs’ Choice Award – Best Reinvention was created to honour a chef who has successfully reinvented themselves or their restaurant during the pandemic. This special prize went to Eduardo García of Máximo Bistrot in Mexico City.

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

Finally, the Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award was presented to Celele restaurant in Cartagena, Colombia, run by S.Pellegrino Young Chef Sebastián Pinzón and chef Jaime Rodríguez. The award recognised their efforts to go above and beyond to support their customers in these challenging times.

You can find out more and see the full list of winners at Fine Dining Lovers.