Edwin Rodríguez
Bogotá-born chef whose Quimbaya became Europe's first Michelin-starred Colombian author-cuisine restaurant.
- Michelin stars
1- Repsol Soles
1- Restaurants
- 1
Edwin Rodríguez is a Bogotá-born chef who opened Quimbaya in Madrid's Chamberí district in January 2020, serving contemporary Colombian cuisine built on tasting menus that draw from the country's Caribbean, Pacific, Andean, Orinoquía, and Amazon regions. Quimbaya holds one Michelin star (since the 2022 guide) and one Repsol Sol (since February 2022), both renewed annually through 2026, making it the first Colombian author-cuisine restaurant in Europe to hold a Michelin star. Rodríguez trained at SENA in Bogotá and worked under chef Pepe Rodríguez at the Michelin-starred El Bohío before opening his own restaurant.
From @edwinrodriguez_chef on Instagram
Dónde comer carne salada en Montería, Córdoba 🔥🇨🇴❤️ . Es increíble cómo una experiencia tan cotidiana para una persona como Luis puede llenar de tanta alegría a quienes vienen de afuera, como el chef Edwin Rodríguez @edwinrodriguez_chef , Mama Luz @mamaluzcocina y el viejo Jose Chato Barbosa @jose.c
Sazón Córdoba es mucho más que shows de cocina en vivo. Es vivir nuestro territorio, encontrarnos con nuestra gente y compartir las raíces que nos hacen sentir orgullosos de ser cordobeses. Que la tradición de esta hermosa región siga siendo el eje central de cada convocatoria, de cada encuentro y d
Biography
Early years
Rodríguez was born in Bogotá, into a family with no cooks in it. His mother arranged his place at SENA (Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje) to study classical French cuisine as he was finishing school. While he studied, he was picked as a kitchen auxiliary at a five-star hotel on Bogotá's Avenida Séptima, an experience that showed him how a professional kitchen runs.
Career
He worked in leading Bogotá hotels and clubs before setting his sights on Europe. He tried for France first but ran into visa trouble, then followed Spain's culinary movement under chefs like Ferran Adrià instead, applying for nearly six years before landing a work contract that brought him to Madrid in 2007. Within months chef Pepe Rodríguez brought him on as his right hand on major Madrid projects at the Michelin-starred El Bohío. Rodríguez opened Quimbaya in Madrid's Chamberí district in January 2020, funded with his own savings and loans; the restaurant closed for several months that year due to COVID-19 and reopened in September. It earned a first Michelin recommendation in May 2021 and its star that December, effective from the 2022 guide, the first Colombian author-cuisine restaurant in Europe to hold one. It has also carried a Repsol Sol since February 2022, both renewed annually through the 2026 editions.
Philosophy
Rodríguez describes his approach as honoring Colombian home cooking rather than chef-driven invention, built around hogao (a Colombian sofrito) as what he calls a foundation running through the country's cuisine. His tasting menus move through Colombia's Caribbean, Pacific, Andean, Orinoquía, and Amazon regions.
Restaurants
Edwin Rodríguez in our guides
Editorial guides featuring Edwin Rodríguez’s restaurants.
Accolades
- ·1 Michelin star, Quimbaya (since the 2022 Guide Michelin España, renewed through 2026)
- ·1 Repsol Sol, Quimbaya (since February 2022, renewed through 2026)
- ·Brand Ambassador for Colombia (2022)
- ·Recognized as a 'Star Colombian' by Colombia's Embassy in Spain (2022)
Frequently asked
Does Edwin Rodríguez have a Michelin star?
Yes. His restaurant Quimbaya in Madrid has held one Michelin star since the 2022 guide, renewed every year through 2026.
What kind of food does Quimbaya serve?
Contemporary Colombian cuisine built around tasting menus that move through Colombia's Caribbean, Pacific, Andean, Orinoquía, and Amazon regions, including dishes like sobrebarriga, tacacho with tucupí, and pandebono.
Where is Quimbaya located?
Calle Zurbano 63, in Madrid's Chamberí district.
Where did Edwin Rodríguez train?
He studied classical French cuisine at SENA in Bogotá, then worked under chef Pepe Rodríguez at the Michelin-starred El Bohío after moving to Madrid in 2007.
Why did Edwin Rodríguez move to Spain?
He'd hoped to go to France but ran into visa trouble, so he followed Spain's culinary movement under chefs like Ferran Adrià instead, applying for nearly six years before landing a work contract in 2007.
Is Quimbaya the first Colombian restaurant in Europe with a Michelin star?
Yes. It became the first Colombian author-cuisine restaurant in Europe to hold a Michelin star, awarded in December 2021 and effective from the 2022 guide.