El Chato named Latin America's No.1

El Chato in Bogotá was named the best restaurant in Latin America for 2025 at the Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants awards announced on June 2 in Antigua Guatemala, according to the organizers. The restaurant is led by Colombian chef Álvaro Clavijo, whose dining room has become one of Bogotá’s highest-profile fine-dining destinations. The official ranking placed El Chato at No. 1 on the 2025 list, ahead of restaurants from Peru, Argentina and elsewhere in the region. The list is published by William Reed under the 50 Best brand. ### Where was the award announced, and what exactly did El Chato win? Antigua Guatemala hosted the June 2 ceremony where Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 was revealed, the organizers said. In that ranking, El Chato was listed at No. 1 and described as “The Best Restaurant in Latin America 2025,” the title attached to the top position on the annual list. (theworlds50best.com) Bogotá was one of several cities represented near the top of the ranking, but El Chato finished above Kjolle in Lima at No. 2 and Don Julio in Buenos Aires at No. 3, according to the published results. The official 2025 story said the list ran from No. 50 to No. 1 and was announced from Antigua Guatemala. (theworlds50best.com) ### Who is behind El Chato? Álvaro Clavijo is the chef associated with El Chato, according to the official 50 Best listing and the published 2025 results. The restaurant is based in Bogotá and has been one of Colombia’s most visible entries on the regional ranking. (theworlds50best.com) Bogotá also appeared elsewhere on the broader regional ranking, with Leo and other Colombian restaurants included on the list published by 50 Best. That placed El Chato’s win within a wider showing for Colombia on the 2025 ranking. ### How does Latin America’s 50 Best decide the ranking? (theworlds50best.com) The Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy is the voting body used to produce the list, according to the organization’s academy and voting pages. The group comprises 300 members selected for their expertise on the Latin American restaurant scene, and 50 Best says none of the organizer’s employees or sponsors vote. (theworlds50best.com) The official FAQ says each expert can cast up to 10 votes for restaurants where they had their best experiences during the previous 18 months before the voting deadline. The voting system page says at least four of those choices must be outside the voter’s own country, and members cannot vote for restaurants they own or in which they have a financial interest. (theworlds50best.com) The academy is divided into five regions — Mexico, Central America, South America (North), South America (South) and Brazil — to represent the Latin American restaurant scene, according to 50 Best. The organization says the panel is gender-balanced and includes food writers, critics, chefs, restaurateurs and “highly regarded foodies.” (theworlds50best.com) ### What does the official list show beyond No. 1? The 2025 ranking published by 50 Best put Kjolle in Lima at No. 2, Don Julio in Buenos Aires at No. 3, Mérito in Lima at No. 4 and Celele in Cartagena at No. 5. The published list also showed the geographic spread of the upper tier, with restaurants from Colombia, Peru, Argentina and Chile among the leading positions. (theworlds50best.com) The official site says Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants was launched in 2013 and that the 2025 edition was its 13th. William Reed said details of the next edition would be announced later, while the full 2025 ranking and voting material remain available on the Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants website. (theworlds50best.com 1) (theworlds50best.com 2)