Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, took over the city of Rio de Janeiro in late November for its first events programme held in Brazil. The event’s 11th edition dazzled with prestigious ceremonies, unique culinary experiences and stimulating conversations around gastronomy – enjoy the full low-down with our photo highlights
1. Rio sets the scene
The Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants events programme, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, took place in Brazil for the very first time in partnership with Rio de Janeiro City Hall, the official host destination partner. Stunning sunsets – such as the one pictured above over the Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana’s infinity pool – welcomed the community to the ‘Cidade Maravilhosa’.
2. Delicious liquid welcomes
Inés de los Santos, the founder and bartender of CoChinChina in Buenos Aires – No.26 in The World’s 50 Best Bars 2023 – shook up a storm at the ‘Welcome to Rio’ event for 50 Best stakeholders and partners on Sunday 26th November, slinging out cocktails such as the ‘Hay Choooclo!’, featuring Pisco Spirit of Peru, yellow corn juice, lemon juice and turmeric.
3. Legendary Brazilian chefs in the kitchen
Local icon Claude Troisgros, head of the Brazilian arm of the Troisgros hospitality empire, was joined in the kitchen by Chef Felipe Bronze of Oro in Rio de Janeiro (far left)– formerly named One To Watch in Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2017 – to curate a special dining experience at the ‘Welcome to Rio’ event, including the likes of delicate prawn with pamonha, a Brazilian preparation featuring corn whisked in coconut milk.
4. Alex Atala holds the room at #50BestTalks: Power of a Meal
Arguably the most influential Brazilian chef in the world and a strong ambassador of his country’s culinary strengths, D.O.M. chef-owner Alex Atala kicked off proceedings at the #50BestTalks event on Monday 27th November by captivating the audience with a passionate speech about Brazil’s biodiversity and the value that must be placed on small producers and indigenous ingredients.
5. The audience gets a taste of Guatemala
Chef Sergio Díaz and anthropologist Jocelyn Degollado treated the audience not only to some revealing insights into their creative process at their Guatemala City restaurant Sublime, but also to a specially designed bite representing their philosophy, featuring Guatemalan ingredients such as watermelon and pumpkin seeds.
6. Dolli Irigoyen regales the public with her life stories
Icon Award 2023 winner Dolli Irigoyen shared key moments from her career during a live interview at #50BestTalks: Power of a Meal, from how she got into gastronomy in order to feed her young twins to a handwritten note she received from a young cook about the impact her TV programmes and books have had on aspiring hospitality professionals.
7. Andoni Luis Aduriz cracks a few jokes
Celebrated chef Andoni Luis Aduriz of Mugaritz in Spain’s Basque Country, who won the Icon Award as part of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023, reflected on the power of a meal at #50BestTalks by telling tales from his travels across Japan and outlining the different ways something as simple as a grape can influence body, mind, culture and society. The chef also revealed his comic side on stage, keeping the audience well entertained with one-liners.
8. Gastromotiva cooks food with a conscience
Local non-profit Refettorio Gastromotiva, a collaboration between former #50BestTalks speaker David Hertz’s Gastromotiva association and Massimo Bottura’s Food for Soul initiative, provided sustenance for the audience with delicious Brazilian-inspired bites.
9. The Chefs’ Feast features samba and soul food
The traditional Chefs’ Feast – a special gathering for the representatives of the venues voted into Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023 – was held on Monday 27th November at the impressive Museu do Amanhã overlooking Guanabara Bay, featuring a live samba band, mouth-watering local dishes and outstanding cocktails.
10. Cocktails keep guests coming back for more
The unique drinks menu served at the Chefs’ Feast was curated by the teams from two award-winning Latin American bars: Tres Monos in Buenos Aires, No.11 in The World’s 50 Best Bars 2023, and Tan Tan in São Paulo (No.56), serving up creative cocktails featuring 50 Best’s drinks partners.
11. Female talent is on display
A host of Rio de Janeiro’s best female chefs cooked up a storm at the Chefs’ Feast, preparing myriad delicious plates – from sweetbread mini tacos to pork cooked in cachaça, and from a whole Amazonian paiche fish to traditional acarajé with shrimp, crab, nuts and coconut milk. Andressa Cabral, Bianca Barbosa, Morena Leite, Isabela Duarte, Ariani Malouf and Chef Dadá kept the Latin American culinary community well fed with their creations.
12. Famous chefs let their hair down
The Chefs’ Feast featured emotional reunions and long-overdue catch ups. Spot in the photos above Mishiguene’s Tomás Kalika from Buenos Aires, Quintonil’s Jorge Vallejo from Mexico City, Laura Hernández Espinosa from Leo in Bogotá and Carolina Bazán from Ambrosía in Santiago. Little did chef Vallejo know that his restaurant would receive the Highest Climber Award 2023, sponsored by Alaska Seafood, the very next day…
13. Meaningful connections are made
As part of the events programme in Rio de Janeiro, 50 Best hosted a networking lunch for female chefs, restaurateurs and sommeliers that saw hospitality professionals from eight different countries gather to connect and discuss the future of the regional gastronomic industry.
14. The Copacabana Palace steals the show
On the evening of the awards ceremony on Tuesday 28th November, the iconic Copacabana Palace – which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year – provided the perfect glamorous background for guests arriving on the red carpet.
15. Chefs show off on the red carpet.jpg)
Who had the best red-carpet look – and who could pull of the best moves? Chefs from across Latin America arrived in style at the awards ceremony, from hyper-elegant Rodolfo Guzmán and Alejandra Tagle of Boragó in Santiago (left), Gabriel Oggero and Geraldine Gastaldo of Crizia in Buenos Aires (middle), and Fulvio Miranda and Delyanne Arjona of Cantina del Tigre (right), which went on to win the Highest New Entry Award 2023, sponsored by Aspire Lifestyles.
16. Steak and oysters provide sustenance
The glamorous drinks reception preceding the awards ceremony didn’t only feature outstanding drinks, but also plenty of delicious food, from grilled steak to raw oysters and everything in between.
17. Venezuela receives international recognition
Restaurant Cordero in Caracas, which serves a unique menu based exclusively on lamb, picked up the American Express One To Watch Award 2023 as a rising-star venue in Latin America. Chef Issam Koteich (far right) and business partner Pedro Khalil received the trophy on stage from Santiago Lastra of Kol in London (No.23 in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023).
18. Chefs bow to each other
When Mario Castrellón – who helms restaurant Maito in Panama City – was announced as the winner of the peer-voted Estrella Damm Chefs’ Choice Award 2023, he bowed on stage to Andoni Luis Aduriz, an established icon of the gastronomic industry who had the honour of handing over his well-deserved trophy.
19. Costa Rica makes a debut
Marking the first time that a restaurant from Costa Rica is voted into Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants, Sikwa – the creation of Chef Pablo Bonilla, based in the capital of San José – was ranked at No.47.
20. The audience celebrates an icon
When chef Dolli Irigoyen accepted the Icon Award 2023 on stage from Central’s chef and co-owner Virgilio Martínez, the audience stood up in celebration of these two titans of the gastronomic industry.
21. An emotional moment for Mexico
Guests erupted in jubilation when the winner of the Latin America’s Best Pastry Chef Award 2023, sponsored by República del Cacao, was announced as Maribel Aldaco. The young chef is one half of the team behind Fauna in Valle de Guadalupe, which clinched its highest ranking this year at No.5, becoming The Best Restaurant in Mexico 2023 in the process.
22. Hospitality comes first
As it celebrates its 25th anniversary, Monterrey restaurant Pangea was recognised with the Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award 2023 for its deeply nuanced, warm and luxurious service experience, overseen by Chef Guillermo González Beristáin and team.
23. Lima has the most exciting wine list in Latin America
Florencia Rey, who has spent years curating and innovating the perfect wine list and drinks pairing for Maido’s Nikkei cuisine, was recognised by the 300-strong voting Academy with the Beronia Latin America’s Best Sommelier Award 2023.
24. Janaína Torres Rueda flies the flag for Brazil
Previously announced as the winner of the Latin America’s Best Female Chef Award 2023, Janaína Torres Rueda was met with roaring applause as she received her trophy from the current holder of The World’s Best Female Chef title, Elena Reygadas.
25. Sustainability takes centre stage
Restaurant Manu in Curitiba, led by Manoella Buffara, was announced as the winner of the Flor de Caña Sustainable Restaurant Award 2023 for its impressive focus on analysing the ecological impact of its dining experience, as well as supporting producers and working to make its city greener and more inclusive.
26. Jubilations all around
The awards ceremony was punctuated by highly charged celebratory moments: from the team of Gustu in La Paz celebrating being The Best Restaurant in Bolivia, to chef Jaime Rodríguez of Celele throwing his arms up upon hearing of his restaurant’s No.16 ranking, and Leonor Espinosa and Laura Hernández Espinosa of Leo sharing an emotional hug.
27. Maido earns back the ultimate crown
Chef Mitsuharu Tsumura’s famous restaurant, Maido in Lima, was announced as this year’s No.1, earning back the title of The Best Restaurant in Latin America, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, which it previously held from 2017 to 2019. Tsumura joyously celebrated the achievement as a win for the Latin American region, recognising its growing influence on global gastronomy, while defining his personal brand of Nikkei as ‘sexy cuisine’.
28. The curtains close on 2023
The events surrounding Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023 saw outstanding chef talent, unforgettable culinary collaborations, thought-provoking debates and mouth-watering feasts take over Rio de Janeiro in late November. Stay tuned to our channels for the latest news on the 2024 edition!
Miss this year's awards? Watch the highlights here:
The list of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, was revealed on 28th November at a live awards ceremony in Rio de Janeiro. Browse the website, join the community on Instagram, follow us on Facebook, visit us on X and subscribe to our YouTube channel and newsletter to stay up to date with the latest news and announcements.
