Kjolle in Lima wins the “Art of Hospitality Award 2025”
When hospitality becomes an art form: The Kjolle restaurant in Lima was honored with the Art of Hospitality Award, sponsored by Buchanan’s 18, at Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025. This is one of the most important awards for exceptional service and goes to the team led by chef-owner Pía León—a woman who has been redefining Peruvian cuisine for years.
An experience combining identity, design, and emotion
Located in the heart of the creative Barranco district, in the historic Casa Tupac, Kjolle combines culinary curiosity with cultural depth. Since opening in 2018, the restaurant has established itself as Central's independent sister restaurant with a strong character. Amazonian wood, handmade ceramics, textiles, and art objects create an atmosphere where design, heritage, and craftsmanship merge.
The centerpiece is a nine-course tasting menu that takes guests on a sensory journey through Peru's diverse ecosystems, featuring ingredients such as mashwa, olluco, mochero chili, chuncho cocoa, and native potato varieties.
Hospitality as an attitude
“At Kjolle, hospitality means creating meaningful experiences. It is an act of closeness in which everything – our team, the food, the atmosphere – is in harmony,” says Pía León. For William Drew, Director of Content at the 50 Best Awards, Kjolle embodies “the perfect balance between innovation, identity, and warmth.” The open kitchen area allows guests to watch the creative process unfold – transparency and emotion are just as much a part of the concept here as the dishes themselves.
The woman behind the success
Pía León has long been considered a symbol of modern Latin American cuisine. As former head chef at Central—the “World's Best Restaurant 2023”—and winner of the title “World's Best Female Chef” (2021), she stands for curiosity, creative precision, and social commitment.
With the interdisciplinary research project Mater, which she leads together with Virgilio and Malena Martínez, León explores the connection between gastronomy, art, and indigenous knowledge. Warmi, a collective that preserves traditional dyeing techniques and empowers women in local communities, was also created under the umbrella of this project.
A symbolic award
The Art of Hospitality Award is presented annually by a jury of around 300 industry experts from across Latin America and honors restaurants that impress with exceptional service and authentic hospitality.
The award is sponsored by Buchanan's 18 Special Reserve, the official whisky partner of Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants 2025. “Kjolle embodies the warmth and excellence that our founder James Buchanan embodied throughout his life,” says Vivianne Bernui, Luxury & Innovation General Manager LAC at Diageo.
Outlook for the gala
The Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 awards ceremony will take place on December 2, 2025, in Antigua, Guatemala. In addition to Kjolle, other special awards will also be presented, such as the Champions of Change Award and the American Express One To Watch Award. All results are independently verified by Deloitte to ensure transparency and credibility.
© Camila Novoa
