Lima Restaurants

If you love seafood, go here. A wonderfully creative modern twist on Peruvian food, with delicious original plates. My boss used to say “their food is poetry”. Go during the day, as the restaurant closest at 5pm. In Peruvian culture, ceviche is only eaten during the daytime because traditionally it wouldn’t be fresh at night. It’s a beautiful semi-outdoor setting decadent with plants. I usually sit at the bar, have a glass of wine & order several small plates as I watch the staff artfully create all the delicious plates. You can’t go wrong. Some of my favorites have been grilled scallops in several different preparations. A plate full of the biggest uni I’ve ever seen in my life. Several unique options for ceviche.

The best Peruvian Nikkei food. Young chefs who trained at the world famous Maido (along the top 10 restaurants in the world for several years) decided to go for their dream & open their own restaurant. The prices are better than Maido’s, you can actually get a table, & the food is top notch. So many delicious Peruvian Nikkei options, including creative sushi rolls, ceviches, and mains like a decadent uni rice. All the seafood is high quality — fresh fish, scallops, razor clams, uni and more. Their chefs are top notch & the service is incredible.

Go here with a group of people and share several dishes. My favorite dish is the Mancha Pecho — a cilantroy green pasta served with this delicious potato/peanut/pork stew and meat. This is Peruvian “creole” food — traditionally the food afro-Peruvians invented using the scraps of the higher classes. Try the famous anticucho - skewers of beef hearts. They also have a lot of stews of tripes and innards. The restaurant is a beautiful experience in and of itself but my guilty pleasure is ordering the Mancha Pecho to my hotel room by delivery (on the Rappi app)

This place is a vibe! Definitely go with a group of people. The best way to enjoy is to pick a whole fresh fish and have them prepare it several ways. We had: ceviche, grilled fish (they cooked it so perfectly crispy on the outside and still soft in the middle) and asked them to make a broth with the bones at the end. To drink you can try a traditional fermented Chicha drink (tastes like a strong earthy kombucha), or a rose petal chilcano!

Fun food court with several options of different restaurants. Kind of a food truck vibe with a shared bar in the middle. Usually pretty busy. Fun place to go to start off a night out.

Go here to try seafood prepared the traditional Peruvian way.

Go here to try seafood prepared the traditional Peruvian food, no fusion or flares. If you like shellfish (but the really fishy intense kind)… order the ceviche de conchas negras, I loved it.

Top 10 restaurant in the world for several years in a row. Fancy Peruvian Nikkei food. If you’re willing to splurge, and if you can get a table, it lives up to its hype. I’ve never actually done the tasting menu, but have had luck getting a table for 2 just dropping by at 8:30/9pm — you can be seated but only order ala carte off the menu. More affordable, and still absolutely delicious. If you are looking for a more casual version of this restaurant, try Tomo’s — started by two young chefs who were trained here.

Great authentic Italian food. You know it’s the real deal when the front of the store is a market selling imported ingredients from Italy. Don’t leave without trying their pistachio ice cream. Right across the street from Huaca Pucllana archeological site if you want to get a bite before or after touring.

Simple, basic vegetarian food. Great for a clean lunch to break up all the heavy eating. They have even have a daily vegetarian “almuerzo” (typical Peruvian daily rotating lunch special — famous for being cheap, starting with a soup, and a main dish).

Fancier vegetarian option. Beautifully crafted plates & a nice outdoor seating option

Casual Asian food if you’re craving a quick bite. I love the shitake bao (steamed bun) sandwiches

Chain restaurant of Peruvian food. There are several of them around Miraflores. Solid option for exploring Peruvian food if you are just arriving, but nothing showstopping, unique, or particularly memorable.

I love their milhojas strawberry/cream/puff pastry

Great live music - traditional Peruvian criollo music

Alternatives: Tomo’s - can’t recommend it enough Maido

I just found this restaurant totally overpriced. Good Alternative: Siete (actually they’re owned by the same owner)

El gran apadano