A Colombian Chef Wins Argentina’s First Michelin Star for a Foreigner

By The Rio Times | Created at 2026-07-24 10:46:37 | Updated at 2026-08-08 12:16:44 2 weeks ago

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Culture

Key Facts

—The milestone. Colombian chef Aris Pabón is the first foreign chef to earn a Michelin star in Argentina.

—The restaurant. His restaurant Centauro, in Mendoza, received its first star in the 2026 Michelin Guide, announced on July 13.

—The age. Pabón is just 24 years old.

—The concept. Centauro’s Cocinar Preguntas, or Cooking Questions, offers an eight-course tasting menu built around Argentine products.

—The journey. He moved from Barranquilla, on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, to Mendoza in the shadow of the Andes.

A 24-year-old Colombian just made culinary history in Argentina. Chef Aris Pabón became the first foreigner to win a Michelin star in the country, at a restaurant in Mendoza.

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Argentina’s fine-dining scene has been rising fast, and its latest star belongs to an outsider. Colombian chef Aris Pabón has become the first foreigner to earn a Michelin star in the country.

He did it young, and far from home.

From Barranquilla to Mendoza

Pabón left the Caribbean city of Barranquilla to cook in Argentina, settling in Mendoza, the wine region beneath the Andes. There he built Centauro, which earned a Michelin Mention in 2025 before winning a full star a year later.

At 24, he is among the youngest chefs to reach that level in the region.

Cooking Questions

Centauro’s concept, Cocinar Preguntas, frames each dish as a culinary inquiry, an eight-course tasting menu that invites diners into the creative process while showcasing products from across Argentina.

The restaurant was one of four to win their first Michelin star in the 2026 guide for Buenos Aires and Mendoza.

Why It Matters

A foreign chef topping Argentina’s Michelin ranks is a sign of how international the country’s kitchens have become, and how much talent its dining scene now attracts.

For the wider region, it is another marker of Latin American gastronomy earning global recognition on its own terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Aris Pabón?

Aris Pabón is a 24-year-old Colombian chef who became the first foreigner to earn a Michelin star in Argentina, at his restaurant Centauro in Mendoza.

What is Centauro’s concept?

Called Cocinar Preguntas, or Cooking Questions, it frames each dish as a culinary inquiry through an eight-course tasting menu built around Argentine products.

When did Centauro win its star?

Centauro received its first Michelin star in the 2026 Michelin Guide for Buenos Aires and Mendoza, announced on July 13, 2026, one of four restaurants to earn a first star.