Five chefs, a mixologist and a restaurant on the Island are recognized in the Outstanding Restaurant, Outstanding Pastry Chef, Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service and Best Chef: South categories
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Puerto Rico is once again making its mark on the national culinary stage. This Wednesday, the James Beard Foundation announced the semifinalists for the prestigious 2026 James Beard Awards, and the Island stands out with five nominations that reflect the diversity and excellence of its culinary scene.
The Puerto Rican semifinalists range from high-end farm-to-table cooking to craft cocktails, artisan pastry and Japanese-Caribbean fusion. The semifinalist announcement comes on the same day the Academia Iberoamericana de Gastronomía (AIBG) named Puerto Rico the new "Capital Iberoamericana de la Coctelería," at the Feria Internacional de Turismo (Fitur) in Spain.
Meet the Puerto Rican semifinalists for the 2026 James Beard Awards:
Outstanding Restaurant
Vianda, San Juan
The restaurant of Amelia Dill and chef Francis Guzmán, who was already a semifinalist in 2025 in the Outstanding Chef category presented by Hilton, now competes for the Outstanding Restaurant recognition. Vianda is a reference point for farm-to-table cooking in Puerto Rico, where every dish is made with fresh ingredients from the restaurant's own garden. This move up in category reflects the impact the concept has had on the local and international culinary scene.
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker
Lucia Merino, Lucia Patisserie, San Juan
For the second consecutive year, Lucia Merino receives recognition in this category. After being a semifinalist in 2025, the pastry chef continues to establish Lucia Patisserie as a destination for lovers of fresh pastries, seasonal cakes and artisan bread. Her consistency in the most prestigious awards in American gastronomy speaks to the level of excellence she maintains.
Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service
Nicky Fas, Pantera, Caguas
From Pantera, the cocktail bar she leads in the Ciudad Criolla, Nicky Fas has stood out for her creativity and technical command. Her rum-based cocktails with Puerto Rican tropical flavors have positioned her as one of the most innovative mixologists in the Caribbean, raising the bar for cocktail culture outside the metro area.
Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR)
Raúl Correa, René Marichal and Xavier Pacheco, Bacoa Finca + Fogón, Juncos
Joerick Rivera, Bakku, Rincón
In the most competitive regional category, Puerto Rico places two semifinalists representing distinct but equally exceptional culinary philosophies.
The trio of chefs behind Bacoa Finca + Fogón, Raúl Correa, René Marichal and Xavier Pacheco, restored a hacienda in Juncos and turned it into a top-tier culinary destination. Their approach to sustainable Puerto Rican cooking, prepared over wood fire with ingredients from their own farm, celebrates the Island's culinary heritage with a contemporary focus. René Marichal appeared alongside the late Anthony Bourdain in "Parts Unknown: Life After Maria," highlighting the resilience of Puerto Rican gastronomy.
For his part, Joerick Rivera has made Bakku the best-kept secret in western Puerto Rico. This Japanese crudo bar in Rincón, where Rivera works directly with local fishermen to source the freshest product, offers an intimate experience that fuses Japanese techniques with the marine abundance surrounding the Island.
What's next?
Nominees will be announced Tuesday, March 31, and winners will be revealed at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony Monday, June 15, 2026, at the Ópera Lírica de Chicago. Here you can find the full list of semifinalists.
Zoom out. The James Beard Awards represent the highest distinction in American gastronomy, comparable to the Oscars of the film world.
Puerto Rico has been adding wins in recent years: in 2025, Identidad Cocktail Bar won the inaugural Best New Bar award. That win follows the 2023 victories of Natalia Vallejo of Cocina al Fondo, who became the first Puerto Rican chef to win Best Chef: South, and La Casita Blanca in Santurce, which became the first restaurant on the Island to receive a James Beard Award as America's Classic: South Region.
Cover photo: Nicky Fas, of Pantera, and a salmon nigiri plate from Bakku in Rincón. (Instagram/Social media)
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
