Experience a food trip in Bolivia! Restaurant Gustu in La Paz, with its nature-oriented gastronomic cuisine based on 100% local ingredients, elevates the country's culinary traditions. It is one of the best restaurants in Latin America.

The story of restaurant Gustu

Gustu, meaning "flavor" in the Quechua language, was born from the vision of Danish culinary entrepreneur Claus Meyer. Since its opening in April 2012 in La Paz, the restaurant quickly captured the attention of international media including the New York Times, Food and Wine, The Guardian…

At Gustu, they believe in one principle: "it is possible to change the world through food". The establishment was part of the Melting Pot Bolivia NGO network, functioning as a culinary school for underprivileged Bolivian youth. The philosophy here centers on zero-kilometer sourcing—meaning all base ingredients, dishes, and beverages come exclusively from Bolivian territory.

Global recognition

Como Sur – South American Gastronomy awarded Gustu the title of best restaurant in South America twice: first in 2013, then again in 2016, when its chef Kamilla Seidler was also named best chef of Latin America. The establishment claimed 32nd place in 2014, then 17th position in 2015, in the ranking of the 50 best restaurants in Latin America by British publication Restaurant magazine; Gustu simultaneously won the S. Pellegrino Best Restaurant in Bolivia Award. In 2019, filmmaker Michael Lei chose the Melting Pot Bolivia NGO and Gustu as the subject of his film "A Taste of Sky".

About its founders

Claus Meyer is a world-renowned restaurateur, activist, and culinary author. He receives credit as co-founder of Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark, a two-Michelin-starred establishment. He pioneered the philosophy of New Nordic cuisine and founded the Melting Pot Bolivia NGO.

Kamilla Seidler, a Danish chef trained in Copenhagen, honed her craft in prestigious European kitchens including "Manoir aux Quat'Saisons" in the United Kingdom and "Mugaritz" in Spain, before taking the helm at Gustu in 2013. She is also co-founder of Noma restaurant. She left Gustu in 2017 to advance her culinary vision, inspired by zero-kilometer philosophy and indigenous recipes, across the globe.

Dining at Gustu

Thanks to establishments like Gustu, Bolivia is gradually catching up with its neighbors—Peru, Brazil, and Argentina—on the international culinary stage.

A charming setting

Gustu is located in the Calacoto district, in the lower section of La Paz where altitude feels somewhat less oppressive than in the higher reaches. Nestled among embassies and NGOs dotting the cobbled streets, the restaurant occupies a large building with bay windows offering views of the Andean peaks. Its interior design stands boldly alongside international benchmarks: minimalist, clean décor with subdued lighting and gray walls… Much like the cuisine, most materials come from within the country, curated under the direction of Bolivian designer Joyce Martín. Details throughout nod to local culture—Andean-inspired striped cushions, for instance. The kitchen is partly open, allowing you to observe the chefs working like true artisans.

From local to plate

For Gustu's chefs, the aim is not to simply prepare typical Bolivian dishes, but rather to draw inspiration from indigenous culinary traditions to craft refined, flavorful creations. Moreover, Bolivia's vast pantry provides more than enough to sustain high-end gastronomy.

Beyond its main menu of seven appetizers, seven main courses, and seven desserts, Gustu offers several other options: "snacking" menu, "5-course tasting," "5-course vegetarian," "Bolivia menu," and more. Notable dishes include caiman tail with soft peppercorn marinade and kohlrabi slices, black leafcutter ant cepe with avocado emulsion and beetroot slices, Lake Titicaca trout, and buffalo meat.

For beverages, choose from 112 wine selections, 20 beer varieties, aguardiente, singani (spirit), brandy, and an array of non-alcoholic drinks—all sourced from Bolivian territory.

Practical information

The Calacoto district is located in Zona Sur in La Paz, in the lower part of the city via Avenida Ballivián. Micros serve the area, though taking a taxi to reach restaurant Gustu is safer.

Hours

Restaurant Gustu in La Paz is open Monday to Saturday, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Pricing

Gustu's pricing structure is as follows:

• Snacking menu: 20–30 Bolivianos per dish
• "5-course tasting" menu: 375 Bolivianos
• "5-course vegetarian" menu: 330 Bolivianos
• "7-course tasting" menu: 490 Bolivianos
• "Bolivia" menu: 825 Bolivianos
• Wines and spirits: 120–215 Bolivianos