The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2026 comes to Lima (Nov 4): how to book Maido, Central and Kjolle

Lima has been called the food capital of Latin America for years, and this November it gets the ultimate confirmation: the 2026 edition of the world's best-known restaurant ranking will be revealed in Lima on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. It's the first time in the list's 24-year history that the ceremony comes to Peru. If you love food and were thinking of visiting, this is the week.

What's happening

The list now goes by The 50 Best Restaurants (formerly The World's 50 Best Restaurants), and the organizers moved this year's event from Abu Dhabi to Lima, with PromPerú, the national tourism board, as partner. According to the official announcement:

November 3: the 50 Best Talks, the event's day of talks.
November 4: the awards ceremony with the 1-50 ranking, streamed live on the 50 Best YouTube channel. Before the ceremony, the 51-100 list and several special awards are revealed.
50 Best Signature Sessions: ticketed sessions in which Lima restaurants host visiting chefs. Both locals and visitors can book seats; the full line-up will be announced by 50 Best.

The ceremony itself is an industry event, but the Signature Sessions and the city's restaurants are open to anyone who books in time.

Maido: last year's number one

Maido, the Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian) restaurant of chef Mitsuharu "Micha" Tsumura, was named The World's Best Restaurant 2025. Because of that, at the 2026 ceremony it moves into the "Best of the Best" group, making it the second Lima restaurant to reach number one, after Central.

Where: Calle San Martín 399, at the corner of Calle Colón, in Miraflores.
How to book: online through the official Maido website (maido.pe), for 1 to 10 people. Reservations open two months ahead, on the first day of each month, and availability is limited. For changes, email reservas@maido.pe.
Tip: if you're aiming for a specific night, note the date bookings open and be online that morning (Lima time).

Central: the 2023 number one

Central, by Virgilio Martínez and Pía León, was named The World's Best Restaurant 2023 and has been in the "Best of the Best" group since. Its menu is a journey through Peru's ecosystems by altitude.

Where: Av. Pedro de Osma 301, in Barranco, the bohemian district just south of Miraflores.
How to book: through the "Reservas" link on the official Central website, or by email at reservas@centralrestaurante.com.pe. Lunch is served Monday to Saturday and dinner in the evening; check the times on the website.

Kjolle: Pía León's own restaurant

Kjolle is chef Pía León's restaurant and was on the 1-50 list at the 2025 ceremony. It shares the address with Central, Av. Pedro de Osma 301 in Barranco, which makes it easy to plan both on one trip, although each needs its own reservation.

How to book: through the reservations section of the official Kjolle website, or by email at reservas@kjolle.com. It opens Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.

Tips for getting a table that week

Book as early as you can. With the ceremony in town, demand for tables will be higher than usual all week.
Use only the official channels (each restaurant's own website or email). Be wary of resold reservations.
Have a plan B. Lima is much more than its famous names: our guide to eating in Miraflores has cevicherías and neighborhood favorites where you'll eat wonderfully without booking months ahead.

Your base for a food trip: Miraflores

Maido is in Miraflores itself, and Central and Kjolle are a short taxi ride away in Barranco, so Miraflores is the natural base for this week. Lima Penthouse is an oceanfront penthouse on the Miraflores seafront: three bedrooms for up to four guests, a full kitchen and a terrace looking out over the Pacific. It's the kind of place where, between tasting menus, you can pick up fish and fruit at the Surquillo market, cook something simple and watch the sunset from the terrace.

If you're thinking of coming for the 50 Best week, check your dates on our home page sooner rather than later, and take a look at our guide to Barranco for what to do before or after dinner at Central or Kjolle.