Best fine dining destinations in South America
Best fine dining destinations in South America
Award-winning modern restaurants and innovative food hubs in South America
Andean and coastal cuisines have helped one part of the continent become one of the world's most respected food regions over the past two decades, drawing on extraordinary biodiversity and indigenous tradition. A different country further south offers an entirely different but equally serious culinary identity built around beef.
The destinations on this list range from tasting-menu restaurants built around native ingredients rarely seen outside the region to steakhouse culture, where the quality of the meat itself does most of the talking.
Booking well ahead is essential at the continent's most celebrated restaurants, several of which regularly rank among the best in the world and fill up months in advance. Visiting during the week rather than on weekends also tends to make securing a table at the most in-demand restaurants noticeably easier.
Lists by region
City in Peru
Cusco
Gateway to the Incan Empire's Heart
Chef Virgilio Martínez runs Mil Centro beside the Moray terraces in the Cusco region. The restaurant lies at about 11,500 feet. Its tasting menu follows altitude zones and the seasons. Corn appears throughout in forms such as masa and chicha. Peru has more than 55 documented native corn varieties.
City in Colombia
Bogotá
Vibrant Culture in the Andean Highlands
El Chato, led by chef Álvaro Clavijo, ranked first on the 2025 Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants list. Leo, Afluente and Humo Negro from the same city also made the list at 23rd, 34th and 41st. Menus here lean on regional Colombian products from across the country.
City in Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
The heartbeat of Brazil's coast
In Michelin's 2025 listing, Lasai and Oro hold two stars each. Lasai serves a surprise tasting menu centred on vegetables at a ten seat counter. Oro presents tasting menus that draw on the regions of Brazil. Oteque, Oseille and Casa 201 hold one star each.
City in Brazil
São Paulo
A vibrant mix of culture and cuisine
Evvai and Tuju earned three Michelin stars on 13 April 2026. Reports call them the first in Latin America to do so. Evvai draws on Italian immigration to Brazil. Tuju builds its seasonal menu around phases called Humidity, Rain, Wind and Drought. D.O.M. by Alex Atala spotlights native Brazilian ingredients.
City in Peru
Lima
Historic Charm Meets Coastal Vibes
Two Lima restaurants have topped the World's 50 Best Restaurants list. Central under Virgilio Martínez won in 2023 and Maido under Mitsuharu Tsumura won in 2025. Maido serves Nikkei cuisine that blends Peruvian and Japanese cooking. Central draws on ingredients from the coast, the Andes and the Amazon.
City in Argentina
Mendoza
Wine, Andes and Adventure Bliss
The 2026 Michelin Guide awards one star to nine Mendoza restaurants. Cal, Centauro and La VidA are new this year. Others include Angélica Cocina Maestra, Zonda Cocina de Paisaje, Azafrán, Brindillas and Casa Vigil. Cal also holds a Green Star for its sourcing and respect for seasonality.
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