Pia León

With a three-year run at the top of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants list and five years in a row as one of the ten best restaurants in the world, Pía León co-owned Central, running the kitchen alongside her husband Virgilio Martínez for a decade before branching out on her own with Kjolle. This solo venture of Pía’s debuted on Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2019 at number 21, claiming the list’s Highest New Entry Award.

Pía’s dishes wield color to play a key role in the story she aims to tell. Growing out of the knowledge and products researched by Mater Initiative, Kjolle’s menu is divided according to the four regions of Peru: displaying the main ingredients from each area and mixing them with others from different regions.

Ingredients from the sea find their way into valleys, passing through lakes, mountains, and tropical forests. Pía and her team offer a unique experience, as diverse as the nature and culture of Peru. The nine-course tasting menu explores every corner of the country, featuring sea bass with razor clams; a selection of tubers including yucca, olluco and potato; and cured duck with squid, onion and kañiwa. Kjolle also has a vegetarian tasting menu and à la carte options.