Getty ImagesBoro is expected to attract diners from around the world to its location in Medellín (Credit: Getty Images)Boro, Medellín
Chef Jaime Rodríguez has long been a pioneer of Cartagena’s dining scene, working to preserve lesser-known native ingredients and honour regional heritage. That work has brought significant recognition to his restaurant, Celele, where he was awarded the 2025 Sustainable Restaurant Award from World’s 50 Best.
Shari Bayer, author of the book Chefwise and host of the podcast All in the Industry, says, “Celele is all about community and helping to promote Cartegna, its farms and local businesses,” adding, “I’ve also never seen a chef use flowers as beautifully as he does.”
Rodríguez is now heading 700km south to Medellín, a city long associated with hearty cooking built around staples such as meat, corn and beans. The move makes sense: Medellín has emerged as a hotbed of creative talent, especially in the dining landscape, and many now regard it as one of the most exciting cities for dining in Latin America.
His new restaurant, Boro, opening this spring will be located within Wake Medellín, a $100m complex that describes itself as a luxury, wellness-focused hospitality destination. Boro will be one of a handful of restaurants here that are positioned to draw diners from around the world, but Boro is arguably the headliner. The menu will express the variety and richness of Colombia’s pantry, showcasing native ingredients from the Amazon, the Andes and the Caribbean, such as orejero, a native tree seed; iguaraya, a wild cactus; and borojó, an Amazonian fruit — all seen through the chef’s modern, innovative lens. As with Celele, Boro is positioned to give diners an intense sense of place and a dining experience that is singular to Medellín.
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