Mérito

In Lima's chic Barranco district, chef Juan Luis Martínez has quietly turned Mérito into a culinary pilgrimage, landing it a spot at No. 26 on the World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 list. Born in Caracas and trained at La Casserole du Chef, Martínez masterfully fuses the vibrant flavors of his native Venezuela with Peru's rich culinary heritage, creating dishes that are as much about memory as they are about taste. His two-floor restaurant, opened in 2018, has become a beacon for those seeking a bold, personal take on South American cuisine, where every plate tells a story of home and discovery.