Must-see restaurants in Lima

  • Central

    Lima

    Part restaurant, part laboratory, Central reinvents Andean cuisine and rescues age-old Peruvian ingredients not used elsewhere. Dining is an experience,…

  • Maido

    Lima

    True artistry and exquisite flavors make Maido an excellent stop for top-notch nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian) fare that has put it on World's Best lists. The…

  • Astrid y Gastón Casa Moreyra

    Lima

    The standard-bearer of novoandina cooking in Lima, Gastón Acurio’s flagship French-influenced restaurant, run by Lima native Diego Muñoz, remains a…

  • Isolina

    Lima

    Go old school. This is home-style criollo (spicy Peruvian fare with Spanish and African influences) food at its best. Isolina doesn't shy away from tripe…

  • ámaZ

    Lima

    Chef Pedro Miguel's wonder is wholly dedicated to the abundance of the Amazon. Start with tart jungle-fruit cocktails and oversized tostones (plantain…

  • El Bodegón

    Lima

    Dimly lit with polished hardwood and offering snappy service, this corner taverna feels more Buenos Aires than Lima; we're just thankful it's here. This…

  • Barra Chalaca

    Lima

    This casual ceviche and seafood bar combines masterful cooking and playful rapport for the win. Watching the prep cooks from your bar stool, order…

  • IK

    Lima

    Combining ancestral traditions with the Peruvian vanguard of molecular gastronomy is a tall order, but most feel that IK pulls it off with style. The…

  • La Mar

    Lima

    A good-time cevichería (restaurant serving ceviche) with outstanding service and wonderful ceviche and tiraditos (Japanese version of ceviche), alongside…

  • La Panetteria

    Lima

    One of the neighborhood favorites, this bakery serves up a wide variety of breads, from traditional baguettes and French rolls, to playful experiments…

  • Pescados Capitales

    Lima

    On a street once lined by clattering auto shops, this industrial-contemporary destination serves some of the finest ceviche around. Try the ‘Ceviche…

  • Caleta la Punta

    Lima

    A must for original, well-prepared (but not spicy) ceviche – the vegetarian mango ceviche won best at the prestigious Mistura food festival. Serves…

  • Origen Tostadores de Cafe

    Lima

    This artisan coffee shop breaks coffee-making down to a science and has all the chemistry-set-style machines to prove it. Just blocks from Museo Larco, it…

  • La Picantería

    Lima

    Just blocks from the famous Surquillo market, diners share two long tables to feast on sea urchin omelette, stuffed rocoto peppers and stewed osso buco…

  • Matsuei

    Lima

    Venerated Japanese superchef Nobu Matsuhisa once co-owned this sushi bar. Its new location is posh and atmospheric. Diners come to try some of the most…

  • Aji de Gallina (Peruvian dish)

    Café Tostado

    Lima

    Call it a cultural experience. This barely converted auto-repair shop long ago transformed into a bastion of traditional cooking, with long wooden tables…

  • Panchita

    Lima

    A Gastón Acurio homage to Peruvian street food in a contemporary setting ringed by folk art. Skewered meats are grilled over an open flame to melt-in-your…

  • Colonia & Co

    Lima

    For extraordinary coffee, fresh blended juices and wonderful brunch, come to this cheerful modern cafe. Straight from Seattle, the Slayer espresso machine…

  • La 73

    Lima

    Named for an iconic local bus, this contemporary bistro serves Peruvian–Mediterranean fare, with sustainable fish. Some dishes seem rushed, but standouts…

  • El Punto Azul

    Lima

    Awash in Caribbean blues, this pleasant family eatery dishes up fresh ceviches, tiraditos (Japanese-style ceviche, without onions) and family-sized rice…

  • Las Brujas de Cachiche

    Lima

    Quality Peruvian cooking with the live ambience of a tinkling piano. Brujas’ menu has wonderfully prepared classics such as ají de gallina (spicy chicken…

  • El Pan de la Chola

    Lima

    In South America, finding real, crusty whole-grain bread is rarer than striking gold. Enter this small brick cafe that bakes four scrumptious varieties,…

  • Blu

    Lima

    Creamy, dense chocolate, bright herbs, Madagascar vanilla or tart jungle fruit: this is Lima's best gelato, made fresh daily. Keep an eye out for carts…

  • Rafael

    Lima

    A consistent favorite of discerning palates, here chef Rafael Osterling produces a panoply of fusion dishes, such as tiradito bathed in Japanese citrus or…

  • Raw Cafe

    Lima

    The raw-food movement has arrived in Lima and this popular vegan cafe is proof. Think beet burgers, pizzas with cashew cheese, salads with toasted coconut…

  • Hanzo

    Lima

    With a full bar, this atmospheric fusion house is a lively place for sushi but it’s not for purists. Maki acevichado and butter rolls made with fried rice…

  • Cafe Bisetti

    Lima

    Locals leave their designer dogs out front of this roasting house where some of the finest lattes in town are served with fresh pastries or bitter…

  • Delifrance

    Lima

    Stock your picnic basket with authentic, fresh-baked pain au chocolat, baguettes, brioche, top-quality deli meats and cheeses or the lovely French…

  • Bao?

    Lima

    Just as the restaurant scene in Lima began to lean towards the upscale and grandiose, this little steam-bun place found its way into the hearts of many –…

  • Cafe A Bistro

    Lima

    Sandwiched between a gas station and a Chinese restaurant, this restaurant is unexpected, and then some. Serving up classic American breakfasts such as…

  • Maestro Tzu

    Lima

    This wonderful upscale restaurant has a prime spot in LarcoMar. It's run by second-generation Chinese restaurateurs using cherished family recipes…

  • Mirasol

    Lima

    With views of the Pacific Ocean, Mirasol offers fresh seafood and creole dishes in a comfortable, casually elegant atmosphere. Situated nearly half way up…

  • Malabar

    Lima

    With an Amazonian bent, chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino’s seasonal menu features deftly prepared delicacies such as crisp, seared cuy (guinea pig) and…

  • La Nacional

    Lima

    If you’re looking for traditional Peruvian dishes such as pastel de choclo (a savory corn casserole with layers of meat and cheese) or lomo saltado (stir…

  • Wa Lok

    Lima

    Serving seafood, fried rice as light and fresh as it gets, and sizzling meats that come on steaming platters, Wa Lok is among the best chifas (Chinese…

  • Agallas

    Lima

    A country mile from the tourist traps, this hip cantina and cevichería in La Victoria serves six heavenly versions of marinated fish with metal cups of…

  • Ana Avellana

    Lima

    A jolly light-blue exterior invites you inside to gaze at Ana Avellana’s sweet and savory creations. A dense flourless chocolate cake or luscious Borgoña…

  • Mercado 28

    Lima

    This open 2nd-floor market houses more than a dozen restaurant stands attracting a mostly millennial crowd for cheap, informal dining. It's a hit,…

  • Segundo Muelle

    Lima

    A mainstay of impeccable service and renowned ceviches with innovative twists. Try the ceviche de mariscos a los tres ajíes, a stack of mixed fish and…

  • Fiesta Chiclayo Gourmet

    Lima

    The finest northern Peruvian cuisine in Lima is served at this busy establishment on Miraflores’ eastern edge. The arroz con pato a la chiclayana (duck…