The city of Rio hosts the Latin American edition of one of the most important gastronomy awards in the world

The city of Rio de Janeiro will host for the first time Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants, one of the world's leading gastronomy awards. The announcement was made this Wednesday (31/5) by Mayor Eduardo Paes, at the Palácio da Cidade, in Botafogo. Having already been held in Mexico, Argentina, Colombia and Peru, this will be the first time that Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants will be held in Brazil. In partnership with the City of Rio, the awards ceremony will be held on November 28, at the Copacabana Palace Hotel, and will bring together the most influential people in the region's gastronomic scene.

– Today we are announcing another very important event for the city of Rio de Janeiro. We are convinced of the role that Rio plays in the global South, a city that attracts people and organizations and that has a global role in a country of great importance to South America. Something that marks Brazilian identity, within our culture, is the enormous quality of our cuisine. This event draws attention to Latin American cuisine, and Rio has an exceptional, sophisticated culinary production, as well as street cuisine, pub cuisine, and informal spaces. And, from an economic standpoint, an event like this has an impact at the time it is held, but it gradually creates an identity for the city. The number of people who will visit us at the event is a gain, but the important thing is to build a narrative that allows the city to consolidate itself as an important center. It is an honor to host the 50 Best. Rio de Janeiro has this vocation to attract those who enjoy good food, good experiences, and those who want to have fun. We hope that everyone has fun and enjoys all the flavors that Rio has to offer – said Mayor Eduardo Paes.

For over a decade, Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants has recognized and celebrated the region's restaurant talent, innovation, heritage and variety. Rio de Janeiro's breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage offer an exquisite array of flavors, where traditional Brazilian cuisine intertwines with global influences, from the finest establishments to the most tantalizing street food. Rio de Janeiro is a vibrant culinary landscape that exemplifies the 50 Best ethos of showcasing the variety and depth of Latin America's culinary scene.

As restaurants across the region continue to recover from the effects of the pandemic, the 50 Best organization’s role in promoting and highlighting talent is more crucial than ever.

“We could not be more excited to bring the Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants awards program to Brazil with the support of our partner, the City of Rio de Janeiro. The decision to host this year’s awards in Rio epitomizes Brazil’s importance as a premier culinary destination and underscores Rio’s esteemed position in Latin America’s cultural and culinary scene,” said Charles Reed, CEO of William Reed, parent company of the 50 Best organization.

The municipal secretary of Tourism, Daniela Maia, highlighted that gastronomic tourism has grown throughout the world in recent years.

– Today, there is gastronomic tourism, people travel to go to restaurants. This has become a growing trend all over the world. Many cities have benefited from gastronomic tourism. The city of Rio has been growing naturally, we have our own natural cuisine, which is unique, laid-back, with bars, outdoor dining, and a mix of gastronomic styles. Big names from abroad have been coming to Rio de Janeiro, and this event is in line with this movement. It is yet another reason for tourists to come to the city of Rio.

About Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants

Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants was launched in 2013 to celebrate gastronomy across the region and provide diners from around the world with local insight and culinary recommendations. The Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants list is created by the Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants Academy, an influential group of 300 restaurant industry leaders in Latin America, each selected for their expert opinion on the Latin American gastronomic scene. The Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants list is published by William Reed, which also publishes The World's 50 Best Restaurants, launched in 2002; Asia's 50 Best Restaurants, launched in 2013; and The Middle East and North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants, launched in 2022.

About the city

Rio de Janeiro is a global city, known worldwide for its exuberant natural beauty and vibrant culture. In addition to the beaches, lagoons, forests and mountains that blend with urban life, Rio has a vibrant gastronomic scene, which reflects, in its aromas, textures and flavors, a unique way of life. From bars to haute cuisine, from traditional feijoada to seafood, the city offers tourists and locals a diverse and creative cuisine, rich in local ingredients and multiple influences. Renowned and award-winning chefs – Brazilian and foreign – delight the most discerning palates. And, even in the simplest places, there is always an open door to the street, a table on the sidewalk, a snack, a cold draft beer, a caipirinha and the Carioca way of serving the most sophisticated happiness. From traditional Brazilian food, with its indigenous, African and European touches, to the contemporary and cosmopolitan fusion of Asian restaurants, Rio is a city open to foreigners and to new things. From vegetarian cuisine to classic Brazilian barbecue, the city is open to everyone. Whether it’s a beachfront kiosk or a restaurant nestled in the forest, high in the mountains, Rio is a true gastronomic capital of Latin America. On the menu: the soul of Rio and the taste of a happy life.

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• News
• SMTUR

31 May 2023

Appointments: Gastronomy Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants City Hall of Rio award