Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants for 2014 Revealed

Last night in Lima, the World's 50 Best organization announced Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants. Coming in at number one is chef Virgilio Martinez's Central in Lima. Número dos is chef Gastón Acurio's Astrid y Gastón, which took the top spot last year. Acurio announced this week that he would be retiring from Astrid y Gastón to pursue more philanthropic projects. Taking the third spot is chef Alex Atala's D.O.M. in São Paulo, Brazil. Mexico City's Pujol — whose chef Enrique Olvera is currently in the midst of opening one of New York City's most anticipated restaurants — falls three spots this year to land at number six.

Restaurants from Peru, Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico all dominated this year's list, which you can find in full below. You can also read Eater's Hangover Observations from the announcement ceremony and after parties. Here's Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants:

Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants

1. Central Lima, Peru
2. Astrid y Gastón Lima, Peru
3. D.O.M. São Paulo, Brazil
4. Maní São Paulo, Brazil
5. Boragó Santiago, Chile
6. Pujol Mexico City, Mexico
7. Maido Lima, Peru
8. Biko Mexico City, Mexico
9. Tegui Buenos Aires, Argentina
10. Quintonil Mexico City, Mexico
11. Malabar Lima, Peru
12. Mocoto São Paulo, Brazil
13. Roberta Sudbrack Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
14. Aramburu Buenos Aires, Argentina
15. La Mar Lima, Peru
16. Tarquino Buenos Aires, Argentina
17. Parador La Huella José Ignacio, Uruguay
18. El Baqueano Buenos Aires, Argentina
19. Pangea Monterrey, Mexico
20. Fiesta Lima, Peru
21. Chila Buenos Aires, Argentina
22. La Cabrera Buenos Aires, Argentina
23. Tomo 1 Buenos Aires, Argentina
24. Sud 777 Mexico City, Mexico
25. Manzanilla Ensenada, Mexico
26. MeroToro Mexico City, Mexico
27. Rafael Lima, Peru
28. Alto Caracas, Venezuela
29. Oviedo Buenos Aires, Argentina
30. Osaka Santiago, Chile
31. La Picanteria Lima, Peru
32. Gustu La Paz, Bolivia
33. Rosetta Mexico City, Mexico
34. Remanso Do Bosque Belém, Brazil
35. Olympe Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
36. Epice São Paulo, Brazil
37. Ambrosía Santiago, Chile
38. Attimo São Paulo, Brazil
39. Criterión Bogotá, Colombia
40. Francis Mallman 1884 Mendoza, Argentina
41. Amaranta Toluca, Mexico
42. Corazón de Tierra Ensenada, Mexico
43. Harry Sasson Bogotá, Colombia
44. Fasano São Paulo, Brazil
45. La Bourgogne Punta del Este, Uruguay
46. El Cielo Bogotá, Colombia
47. Sucre Buenos Aires, Argentina
48. Elena Buenos Aires, Argentina
49. Leo Cocina y Cava Bogotá, Colombia
50. Pura Tierra Buenos Aires, Argentina

Peru's Central takes top spot in Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants 2014

Virgilio Martinez's Central, in Lima, Peru, takes the top spot at the Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants 2014 with last year's winner Astrid y Gaston moving into second place.

The list of the top 50 restaurants was announced in an emotional ceremony held in Lima on September 3rd, along with 17 individual awards for chefs and restaurants across the region.

The ceremony - organised by William Reed Business Media, the people behind The World's 50 Best Restaurants – was attended by chefs, critics and leaders of opinion in the restaurant industry inform across the region and the globe.

Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants 2014, sponsored by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, celebrated the performance of Peruvian restaurant Central, which earned the title of The S.Pellegrino Best Restaurant in Latin America, climbing three places from last year. Central, under the leadership of chef-owner Martinez, was also named The S.Pellegrino Best Restaurant in Peru.

Central's diverse menu and unique dining experience has earned the restaurant this important recognition: from original appetizers such as 'pisco sour with coca leaves' and entrées like 'tiradito served with tiger's milk ceviche'. The restaurant's décor has also attracted significant attention – especially its urban orchard; home to a wide range of produce and continuous experiments with new varieties of fruit, herbs and vegetable varieties.

Gaston Acurio whose most recent ventures include the opening of La Mar in Miami and a relocation of his 20 year old flagship restaurant Astrid y Gaston to San Isidro, Lima was number two on the list. The 2013 winner was also ranked No.18 in this year's S.Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants awards.

D.O.M. and Maní, both in Sao Paolo Brazil, were ranked in third and fourth place respectively. Chilean restaurant Boragó was placed fifth. Boragó and D.O.M. were presented with The S.Pellegrino Best Restaurant in Chile and The S.Pellegrino Best Restaurant in Brazil awards respectively.

Finally, the S.Pellegrino Best Restaurant Awards by country were given to: Pujol in Mexico (No.6 in the list); Tegui in Argentina (No.9); Parador La Huella in Uruguay (No.17); Alto in Venezuela (No.18); Gustu in Bolivia (No.32); and Criterion in Colombia (No.39). The full list of Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants is available at www.theworlds50best.com/latinamerica/en/the-list

William Drew, Group Editor for Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants, said: "The list provides credible recommendations across the region. Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants is based on the opinions of over 250 members of the Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants Academy, an influential group of leaders in the restaurant industry who are recognised as experts in the regional culinary scene. The challenge to Latin American restaurants is great: the restaurants in this list will attract attention from across the world."

In addition to the recognition of restaurants in the top 50 places, individual awards were presented during this celebration of Latin American cuisine.

The One To Watch Award went to Ambrosía from Chile; the Veuve Clicquot Latin America's Best Female Chef Award was presented to Elena Reygadas from Rosetta, Mexico; the Highest Climber Award, sponsored by Zacapa went to El Baqueano in Argentina; the Highest New Entry Award, sponsored by LesConcierges went to Tarquino also in Argentina; The Diners Club® Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Alex Atala from D.O.M., Brazil; and the Chefs' Choice Award, sponsored by Telefónica, went to Peru's Gastón Acurio.

The 2014 edition of the Awards introduced a new category: Latin America's Best Pastry Chef, sponsored by Cacao Barry®, which was presented to Buenos Aires-based chef Osvaldo Gross.

· All Gastón Acurio Coverage on Eater [-E-]
· All World's 50 Best Coverage on Eater [-E-]