On the 20th of June 2023, Central made history by becoming the first venue in South America to take the ultimate culinary crown and be named The World’s Best Restaurant, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna. As the news sinks in for husband-and-wife team Virgilio Martínez and Pía León, they share their hot take on what the accolade means not only to them and their team, but also to all of Peru
On a day that will be remembered by Peruvian cooks and food fans all over the world, a dining experience completely focused on the country’s ecosystems and their diverse flavours has been voted by a panel of 1,080 global gastronomic experts as the world’s best. Central, in the Peruvian capital of Lima, has long been an obligatory site of pilgrimage for foodies, but marks several firsts on taking home the top honours at The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023, becoming both the first South American venue to take the No.1 spot as well as the first co-run by a female chef.
Pía León joined future husband Virgilio Martínez’s restaurant Central in its first year of opening nearly 15 years ago, and since then, the power couple have elevated Peruvian gastronomic culture to the very highest level on the global stage. Central’s world-famous menu sees the chefs take inspiration from the country’s biodiverse ecosystems, with each dish representing a specific area of the country – from 15 metres under the Pacific Ocean to 4,200 metres up in the Andes.
Click here to read more on the World's Best Restaurants website.