Mario Castrellón was among the earliest chefs to pioneer the vision of a new Panamanian contemporary cuisine. The first restaurant from Central America to appear in Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2016, Maito is a meeting point for the diversity of cultures, flavours and ingredients of Panama. Its influence in the region is growing so fast that in 2022 it won the Highest Climber Award and this year it maintains its title of The Best Restaurant in Panama.

Panamanian fine dining would not exist without Chef Mario Castrellón. In addition to being one of the country’s most successful culinary entrepreneurs, he
is the visionary behind the restaurant that put Central America on the global gastronomic map. In 2022, he
won the Highest Climber Award from The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, and today, following its recent renovation, the restaurant proudly holds the No. 18 spot on the World’s 50 Best list.