Two Colombian restaurants got recognition at the World Culinary Awards 2025, one of the most prestigious gastronomic competitions in the world. ElCielo and Jairo were among the best for their innovation, culinary excellence, and contribution to positioning Colombian cuisine on the international stage.
Colombia once again shone on the global culinary scene during the ceremony held in Sardinia, Italy, where both restaurants, located in the nation’s capital, stood out for their creative proposals and commitment to local flavors. ElCielo, by chef Juan Manuel Barrientos, was named Best Restaurant in Colombia 2025, while Jairo, from the W Bogota Hotel, received for the second consecutive year the award for Best Hotel Restaurant in Colombia.
About the World Culinary Awards and the Colombian restaurants winners
The World Culinary Awards is an international competition that celebrates excellence in the global gastronomy industry. This annual event recognizes the world’s best restaurants, chefs, culinary destinations, sensory experiences, and hotel dining concepts.
The winners classify through a combination of public voting and evaluation by an international jury made up of gastronomy experts, who assess creativity, quality, service, and innovation.
In the 2025 edition, Colombia stood out with two major awards that reaffirm the country’s status as one of Latin America’s emerging culinary destinations.
ElCielo: A multisensory experience with a Colombian soul
Founded by the Paisa chef Juan Manuel Barrientos, ElCielo Bogota has become an icon of contemporary Colombian gastronomy. Located in the Zona G district of Chapinero, the restaurant offers a unique dining experience that combines cutting-edge culinary techniques, local ingredients, and sensory rituals designed to engage all the senses.
Its tasting menu, ranging from 15 to 22 courses, invites diners on a gastronomic journey that blends art, culture, and emotion. One of its most emblematic moments is the “chocolate hand-washing ritual,” a signature experience that reflects hospitality and creativity.
ElCielo uses native Colombian ingredients reinterpreted through molecular gastronomy and artistic presentation. Its elegant, minimalist setting makes it ideal for special occasions and memorable dining experiences.
The restaurant’s international recognition has grown with its global expansion. In addition to Bogota, ElCielo has locations in Medellin, Washington, D.C., New York — where it recently opened in collaboration with artist J Balvin — and Miami, where it earned a Michelin star, consolidating its reputation as an ambassador of Colombian haute cuisine around the world.
Jairo at the W Bogota Hotel: Luxury, art, and Colombian flavor
The restaurant Jairo, located inside the luxurious W Bogota Hotel, once again earned the title of Best Hotel Restaurant in Colombia, marking its second consecutive victory at the World Culinary Awards. This distinction reaffirms its status as one of the most refined and sophisticated dining experiences in the Colombian capital.
With a menu that fuses international cuisine with Colombian flavors, Jairo reinterprets local ingredients into gourmet dishes presented with modern elegance. Its atmosphere, inspired by the Muisca legend of Bachue, combines art, luxury, and cultural symbolism, paying tribute to Colombia’s rich heritage.
The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with prices ranging between US$31 and $50 USD per person, and has become a culinary hotspot for fine dining enthusiasts in the exclusive Usaquen district.