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Álvaro Clavijo (chef-owner)

El Chato is the contemporary Colombian bistro that chef-owner Álvaro Clavijo opened in 2017 in a converted house in Bogotá's Chapinero Alto, and which was crowned No. 1 on Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants in 2025. Clavijo — who cooked at Per Se, L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon and Noma before returning home — applies rigorous global technique to the biodiversity of Colombia, building tasting and à la carte menus that change with what producers bring in: heart of palm with rambutan, coconut and seaweed; beef tartare with tendon, yacón and mushroom garum; sea snail with golden-berry chicharrón. The dimly lit, 80-seat dining room is studied yet unpretentious, lined with wine and shelves of fermenting ceramic vessels, with an open kitchen at its heart.

Experiences