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L'Eau Vive
This unique restaurant has menús prepared and served by a French order of nuns; it features dishes from all over the world, as well as some exotic cocktails. The restaurant is in a quiet, colonial-style house and is a welcome relief from the Lima madhouse, though it can be a bit hard to find. Ring the doorbell to gain access. The nuns are supposed to sing an 'Ave Maria' at .
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La Canta Rana
Literally translated as 'the Singing Frog', this unpretentious place is a great cevichería serving all manner of seafood. Portions tend to be small, but it has great lunchtime and weekend ambience. There's no obvious sign; look for the green walls.
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La Casera
Little more than a relaxed fast-food joint, this simple and brusque place serves typical Peruvian food at economical prices.
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La Costa Verde
Located directly on the Barranco beachfront, this sophisticated restaurant is recommended for its excellent seafood.
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La Hamaca
This high-class restaurant takes an intimate atmosphere to another level with tables in private booths, each carefully decorated with antique touches. It serves a limited menu of typical Peruvian food. You'll know you've arrived when you see the outdoor hamaca (hammock).
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La Merced
This restaurant, usually bustling with business people doing lunch, has a bland exterior that gives no clue to its spacious interior and intricately carved wooden ceiling. At busy times you may have to wait for a table.
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La Muralla
Handily located in the Parque de la Muralla archaeological complex, La Muralla is a smart and newish dining venue. Its daily buffet is its main attraction and has a wide array of carefully prepared Peruvian dishes. You can also get a late breakfast here too.
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La Rosa Nautica
This famous restaurant is in a fabulous building at the end of Playa Costa Verde's historic pier. The location and atmosphere are unique: the ocean is floodlit, surfers sometimes skim through the pilings, and you can clearly hear and smell the waves below. Take a taxi to the pier and walk the last 100m. Recommended dishes include the grilled sea bass, and the mouthwatering crayfish, crab and tomato cocktail.
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La Tiendecita Blanca
On the Óvalo by Parque Central, this has been a Miraflores landmark for over half a century. It has a superb, if pricey, Swiss pastry selection.
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La Tranquera
An Argentine-influenced recommendation for meat, meat and more meat is this 30-year-old favorite. It serves a parrillada (grilled meats) that supposedly serves five, but looks more fit for 10. There's also a special selection of meats, such as cuy (guinea pig) rabbit and game.
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La Trattoria
Recommended for tasty, homemade pasta that you can watch being made, La Trattoria is a simple, laid-back Italian restaurant with a quiet ambience.
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Las Brujas de Cachiche
Las Brujas weaves its image around the tale of the village of Cachiche near Ica, where legendary temptresses and sorcerers meddled with the populace. It's one of the best places in town for quality Peruvian food.
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Las Mesitas
A good but run-of-the-mill choice, Las Mesitas has decent service, light meals and an array of tempting Peruvian desserts.
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Las Tejas
For a good variety of Peruvian fare featuring shellfish, kebabs and rice-based dishes, try this small snug place, set below road level near Hostal el Patio. It has live criollo (coastal) music at Thursday to Saturday.
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Manhattan Restaurant
This sophisticated, mellow hideaway has good menús , as well as a happy hour from to closing time at . The tasty sopa a la criolla (mildly spiced, creamy noodle soup with beef and peppers) and the escalope pollo con verdana (chicken escalopes) make for a filling meal.
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Manos Morenas
Manos Morenas is an informal peña ( bar or club featuring live folkloric music) that's highly recommended locally for both its top-notch criollo food and its live criollo music (after ) Tuesday to Saturday.
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Matsuei
Japanese cuisine can be enjoyed at it best at this classy restaurant-cum-sushi-bar. The sashimi and maki rolls beg for consumption, yet you won't go wrong with the delicate texture of the tempura and yakitori dishes.
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Pachamanca
This spot, with a have-a-go-at-anything menu and a location near the backpackers' hotels, is popular with gringos and locals alike.
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Panko's
Panko's is a busy central Lima bakery offering a mouthwatering array of sweets, pastries and drinks, as well as pies and hamburgers.
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Pardo's Chicken
An ubiquitous chicken-and-fries restaurant that largely manages to escape the atmosphere of a fast-food place. Pardo's also does ribs and anticuchos (shish kebabs).
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Puerto Perdido
Two blocks southwest of Lima Golf Club, this seafood restaurant serves excellent ceviche and is popular with a young crowd.
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Punta Sal
Another great seafood restaurant, Punta Sal is one of the best places for traditional ceviche. Try the assassin ceviche with black scallops and sea urchins if you dare. Very reasonably priced for a classy restaurant.
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Punto Italiano
Italian cuisine with a Sardinian twist is dished up at this popular and homey trattoria-style venue. Handmade ravioli is filling and full of taste while the carne tagliata (veal with tagliatelle) with Sardinian cheese is divine. Don't forget the top Punto Italian pizza.
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Quattro D
This place has perhaps the best Italian ice cream in town, boasting 36 different flavors, as well as delicious cakes and good coffee. It even offers up their own take on pizza if coffee and cakes are not sufficient for you.
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Queirolo
An atmospheric old restaurant popular for its set lunches and its role as a drinking-and-gathering spot for limeños . You can't mistake it - its walls are filled with wine and spirit bottles.
