Must-see restaurants in South America

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    Andrés Carne de Res

    Bogotá

    This legendary steakhouse blows everyone – even repeat visitors – away with its all-out fun atmosphere. The 75-page menu of classics like arepas (corn…

  • Central

    Lima

    Part restaurant, part laboratory, Central reinvents Andean cuisine and rescues age-old Peruvian ingredients not used elsewhere. Dining is an experience,…

  • Leo

    Bogotá

    Chef Leo Espinosa is the culinary priestess for innovative Colombian fine dining. Her epic 12-course tasting menu (COP$210,000) paired with wine and…

  • Maido

    Lima

    True artistry and exquisite flavors make Maido an excellent stop for top-notch nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian) fare that has put it on World's Best lists. The…

  • Cotelé

    Puerto Montt

    This quincho (barbecue hut) steakhouse has a long-standing reputation for its meticulous grillmen, who honor the meat with Picasso-level focus. Grill…

  • Via Via

    Ayacucho

    The upstairs plaza-facing balcony has the best views in Ayacucho to accompany your meal of Peruvian-European fusion cuisine, made from ethically sourced,…

  • Gringo Mike's

    San Gil

    What isn't good here? In a moody, candlelit courtyard you'll find this US-UK operation thrilling homesick travelers with a surplus of American-portioned…

  • Tisiano

    Mar del Plata

    You have two dining choices here. Up front is the craft cocktail bar where they rotate four platos del día, at fixed and affordable prices. However, you…

  • MIL

    The Sacred Valley

    New in 2018, this lauded Virgilio Martinez restaurant is more an experience than a meal. A set menu showcases the incredibly diverse local Andean…

  • Cicciolina

    Cuzco

    On the 2nd floor of a lofty colonial courtyard mansion, Cicciolina may be Cuzco’s best restaurant. The eclectic, sophisticated food is divine, starting…

  • Abendbrothaus

    Santa Catarina

    This Sunday-only feast is the most coveted table in Santa Catarina for marreco (stuffed Garganey, a kind of small duck); in fact, the menu's only item…

  • Maní

    São Paulo

    Rustic-chic Maní will astound you. Run impeccably by the 2014 Veuve Cliquot World's Best Female Chef, Helena Rizzo, it's often rightfully touted as Sampa…

  • Carmen

    Medellín

    Run by an American-Colombian couple, both of whom are Cordon Bleu chefs, Carmen prepares sophisticated international cuisine with a heavy Californian…

  • Platillos Voladores

    Cali

    Cali's best fine-dining experience, Platillos Voladores offers an interesting and varied menu of beautifully presented gourmet dishes that feature a…

  • Ostradamus

    Santa Catarina

    Atmospheric tables line the glass-enclosed deck at this incredibly cinematic seafood restaurant. You can slurp oysters served over a dozen ways, but don't…

  • Helena Adentro

    Zona Cafetera

    Run by a talented young local chef and his Kiwi partner, this hip restaurant serves up some of the best food in the Zona Cafetera, with innovative takes…

  • Gustu

    La Paz

    Credited with sparking La Paz' culinary renaissance, and launched by the Danish culinary entrepreneur Claus Meyer (of Noma fame), this groundbreaking…

  • Época de Quesos

    The Pampas & the Atlantic Coast

    An essential, exquisite stop, and the most romantic restaurant in Tandil. It's got rustic style to spare, but the food is the thing, thanks to piles of…

  • Chirimoya

    Salta

    Colorful and upbeat, this artsy, world-class vegan restaurant is the most inventive and consistently excellent kitchen in the entire region. Here pasta is…

  • Cafe Elixir

    Amazon Basin

    You don't find this sort of cafe very often in Peru, let alone in Yarinacocha. Lovely coffee (the city's best), freshly squeezed juices and 100% homemade…

  • Boragó

    Santiago

    Chef Rodolfo Guzman earned a coveted spot among the World’s 50 Best Restaurants by elevating Chilean cuisine to new heights at this Vitacura restaurant,…

  • Waunana

    Cali

    We could say that the chef's creativity puts the 'wau' in 'Waunana,' but better yet, we'll mention the brave and often spectacular pairings of local…

  • Singular Restaurant

    Puerto Natales

    The perfect port in a storm, part supper club of yore, part modern bistro, with exquisite food and attentive service. Leather sofas and polished wood meet…

  • Lo Nuestro

    Guayaquil

    Housed in a century-old mansion complete with wooden shutters and period furniture, Lo Nuestro is one of the most atmospheric places in Guayaquil to feast…

  • Ali Pacha

    La Paz

    Locals thought it absurd on so many levels to open a high-end vegetarian restaurant with degustation menus in La Paz's downtrodden Casco Viejo…

  • Popular Cocina Boliviana

    La Paz

    The concept of waiting in line for a restaurant doesn't exist in La Paz, but that's exactly what you'll need to do to get into Popular. Seasonal three…

  • Coco Surf

    The Galápagos Islands

    This sidewalk cafe serves up some of the tastiest seafood dishes in all of the Galápagos, and you'll hardly notice the high price points once the live…

  • Mini-Mal

    Bogotá

    You'll be hard-pressed to find a more creative Colombian menu than at this excellent Chapinero Alto hot spot, which has resurrected some of the country's…

  • Prudencia

    Bogotá

    This doozy of dining and design is run by Colombian-American husband-and-wife team Mario and Meghan. The sunlit canopy, an unorthodox marriage of bamboo…

  • Astrid y Gastón Casa Moreyra

    Lima

    The standard-bearer of novoandina cooking in Lima, Gastón Acurio’s flagship French-influenced restaurant, run by Lima native Diego Muñoz, remains a…

  • Salomé

    Rio de Janeiro

    Run by the same people behind Ipanema's enormously popular Canastra, Salomé brings a dash of style to the Leme beachfront. The easygoing open-sided bistro…

  • Isolina

    Lima

    Go old school. This is home-style criollo (spicy Peruvian fare with Spanish and African influences) food at its best. Isolina doesn't shy away from tripe…

  • Canasto Picnic Bistró

    Bogotá

    This artistically driven and sustainably minded bistro near Parque El Virrey is all the rage in the city. Breakfast items like avocado toast with smoked…

  • El Born

    Rio de Janeiro

    Named after Barcelona's hippest, foodie-loving neighborhood, El Born fires up some of Rio's best tapas plates, such as Galician-style octopus, spicy…

  • Churrascaria Palace

    Rio de Janeiro

    This elegantly set dining room is one of the best churrascarias (traditional barbecue restaurants) in town. Aside from juicy, high-quality cuts of meat,…

  • Abasto

    Bogotá

    Make a pilgrimage to Usaquén to indulge in the creative breakfasts and delectable mains and desserts at this rustic-trendy restaurant. Inventive arepas …

  • ámaZ

    Lima

    Chef Pedro Miguel's wonder is wholly dedicated to the abundance of the Amazon. Start with tart jungle-fruit cocktails and oversized tostones (plantain…

  • Sant Just

    Bogotá

    This wonderful French-owned cafe serves a daily changing menu of Colombian-leaning French fare. Whatever the kitchen makes that day – fresh juices,…

  • Elena

    Recoleta & Barrio Norte

    If you’re looking to splurge on a night out, Elena is a great destination. Located at the Four Seasons hotel, this highly rated restaurant uses the best…

  • Agave Azul

    Bogotá

    This outstanding restaurant is a trip, both literally and figuratively, through truly authentic Mexican cuisine by way of Chicago, New York and Oaxaca…

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