Central named The World's Best Restaurant

We are delighted to share the news that Central restaurant, co-owned by Le Cordon Bleu alumni Virgilio Martínez and Pía León, has been named The World's Best Restaurant 2023, the number one spot in the list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023.

In addition to this accolade, Central has retained the title of Best Restaurant in South America for another year and Pía’s solo project, Kjolle, has placed at 28 on the 50 Best list for this year.

Virgilio Martínez studied cuisine, pâtisserie and boulangerie at Le Cordon Bleu, splitting his studies between the Ottawa and London institutes, before graduating in 2000. Pía León graduated from Le Cordon Bleu Peru in 2006 with a Diplôme de Cuisine. The couple met when Pía joined the brigade at Central Restaurante in Lima.

In 2014 Central was first named the Best Restaurant in Latin America, and Pía achieved international recognition when she was named as the World's Best Female Chef in 2021.

Le Cordon Bleu are always delighted to take the opportunity to celebrate the success of our alumni, and we extend our warmest congratulations to Virgilio Martínez, Pía León and their team.