Lima, Peru is home to the “World’s Best Restaurant”

The “world’s best restaurant” title belongs to a husband-and-wife-owned eatery in Lima, Peru.

Central received the prestigious accolade on Tuesday, June 20, during the annual “50 Best” ceremony in Valencia, Spain. Chefs Virgilio Martínez and Pia Leon were crowned the best based on their efforts in creating dishes that celebrate “the diversity of ingredients” as well as “the history and traditions of Peru.”

Forbes shared a statement from the event’s organizers, singing the praises of the innovative restaurant.

“Not a fine-dining temple in Paris or Tokyo – or even a game-changer in Catalonia or Copenhagen – but a husband-and-wife spot in Peru, a country perched on the furthest-western coastline of South America that’s also famous for being the home of a certain Paddington Bear.”

According to AFAR, in each course, the restaurant uses native ingredients found 10 meters below sea level or 3,750 meters above. One of their most recent menu items is “Diversity of Corn.” The outlet states the dish incorporates corn, ginger, honey, and tumbo (all grown at 2,010 meters) and a “Close Fishing,” using octopus, seaweed, and squid.

The owners took to social media to thank the people for seeing their food as a way to increase visibility in the rich culture and culinary world of Peru.

“Thanks to all the people who in different ways have accompanied us in the life of CENTRAL and have been part of this different route at different times since the opening,” the duo said. “We represent a territory, a diversity and a culture.”

Following Central was Barcelona’s own, Disfrutar. Two more Spanish restaurants took home the third and fourth spots: Diverxo and the Basque Asador Etxebarri, respectively. Denmark’s Alchemist rounded out the top five with its “holistic cuisine.”

View the complete list of “The World’s 50 Best Restaurants” below:

1. Central (Lima, Peru) – Best Restaurant in South America

2. Disfrutar (Barcelona, Spain) – Best Restaurant in Europe

3. Diverxo (Madrid, Spain)

4. Asador Etxebarri (Atxondo, Spain)

5. Alchemist (Copenhagen, Denmark)

6. Maido (Lima, Peru)

7. Lido 84 (Gardone Riviera, Italy)

8. Atomix (New York City) – Highest Climber, Best Restaurant in North America

9. Quintonil (Mexico City, Mexico)

10. Table by Bruno Verjus (Paris, France) – Highest New Entry

11. Trèsind Studio (Dubai, UAE) – Best Restaurant in the Middle East and Africa; New entry

12. A Casa do Porco (São Paulo, Brazil)

13. Pujol (Mexico City, Mexico)

14. Odette (Singapore) – Best Restaurant in Asia and Chef’s Choice: Julien Royer

15. Le Du (Bangkok, Thailand) – New entry

16. Reale (Castel di Sangro, Italy)

17. Gaggan Anand (Bangkok, Thailand) – New entry

18. Steirereck (Vienna, Austria)

19. Don Julio (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

20. Quique Dacosta (Dénia, Spain)

21. Den (Tokyo, Japan)

22. Elkano (Getaria, Spain)

23. Kol (London, England) – New entry

24. Septime (Paris, France)

25. Belcanto (Lisbon, Portugal)

26. Schloss Schauenstein (Fürstenau, Switzerland)

27. Florilège (Tokyo, Japan)

28. Kjolle (Lima, Peru) – New entry

29. Boragó (Santiago, Chile)

30. Frantzén (Stockholm, Sweden)

31. Mugaritz (San Sebastian, Spain)

32. Hiša Franko (Kobarid, Slovenia)

33. El Chato (Bogotá, Colombia) – New entry

34. Uliassi (Senigallia, Italy)

35. Ikoyi (London, England)

36. Plénitude (Paris, France) – New entry

37. Sézanne (Tokyo, Japan) – New entry

38. The Clove Club (London, England)

39. The Jane (Antwerp, Belgium)

40. Restaurant Tim Raue (Berlin, Germany)

41. Le Calandre (Rubano, Italy)

42. Piazza Duomo (Alba, Italy)

43. Leo (Bogotá, Colombia)

44. Le Bernardin (New York City)

45. Nobelhart & Schmutzig (Berlin, Germany)

46. Orfali Bros (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) – New entry

47. Mayta (Lima, Peru)

48. La Grenouillère (La Madelaine-sous-Montreuil, France) – New entry

49. Rosetta (Mexico City)

50. The Chairman (Hong Kong)

Martie Bowser is a journalist and public relations professional in Charlotte, NC. She enjoys amplifying the voices of POC and women that fill a void within their community. Her favorite things to cover include “person of interest” pieces, small business highlights, pop culture commentary, entertainment features, and everything about Beyoncé. Her bylines can be found in Blavity, Black Excellence, Signature Bride, Black Wall Street Times, and HipHop Weekly. Martie can be reached via email at martiebowser@detourxp.com.