The post The Best Restaurants in Lima: Where to Eat in Lima appeared first on Peru For Less.

Peru is known for its fascinating ruins, unique heritage and culture and delicious cuisine. For the last several years, many Peruvian restaurants have earned international praise and acclaim. With the vast culinary options that Peru’s capital city has to offer, it is with difficulty in selection, but great pleasure, that we recommend the best restaurants in Lima. 

First, read through our “General Tips for Dining in Lima” section. Learn about tipping, dress code and more to prepare you for what to expect while dining out. Then, we have merged our insider expertise and passion for food to recommend the 20 best restaurants in Lima for you to enjoy. These restaurants provide superior customer service, overall character and savory cuisine. Our selection of restaurants are listed below. 

1. Central
2. Maido 
3. Astrid & Gaston
4. Kjolle
5. Mayta
6. Isolina
7. La Mar
8. El Bodegon
9. El Mercado
10. Panchita
11. Osaka
12. Amaz
13. Cosme
14. Madam Tusan
15. Punto Azul
16. Fiesta Gourmet
17. Maras
18. Cala
19. Huaca Pucllana
20. La Rosa Nautica

Last updated by Melissa Dreffs in December 2020.

General Tips for Dining in Lima

Peru’s culinary fame can be seen on Pellegrino’s list of World’s 50 Best Restaurants. ranking in this prestigious list. Two restaurants in Lima consistently rank on the World’s 50 Best list: Central and Maido. Of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants, Lima’s restaurants earned an impressive 10 spots. 

Among the many culinary gems in Peru, Lima is renowned for its ceviche. To enhance the cultural value of your seafood favorite, don’t forget to accompany your meal with a national Peruvian drink, such as a pisco sour cocktail or a purple corn beverage called chicha morada.

Given the wide array of cuisines and restaurants, the cost of food in Peru varies greatly. Nevertheless, there are restaurants to fit every budget and taste. It is not an accident that many modestly-priced restaurants are dominated by seafood options, as it’s the food genre that Lima does best. 

Discover some general tips for dining in Lima below. 

• Suggested tipping: about 10%
• Payment: credit cards and cash generally accepted. It is best to confirm this with the wait staff beforehand. 
• Dress Code: casual/flexible
• Transportation: walk from your hotel in Lima or arrange a scheduled transfer, taxi arranged through your hotel’s front desk or rideshare app like Uber
• Most restaurants in Lima offer some vegetarian and gluten-free options. However, we recommend reading through our vegetarian guide and gluten-free guide for more details and tips.

1. Central

Enjoy a top-quality, avant-garde dining experience at Central restaurant. The food at Central defines chef Virgilio Martinez Veliz’s concept of haute Peruvian fusion. This very chic restaurant, Central in Lima continues to earn international recognition for its innovation, unique flavors and approach to Peruvian cooking. 

It is no surprise that Martinez’s “office” resembles a laboratory with herbs, spices, essences, a collection of books and even a whiteboard to scribe the ideas that become his culinary masterpieces. He also has an organic garden on site to garnish and flavor his creations.

The current premises of Central are balanced by the exquisite care that goes into the presentation of each dish. Every meal is a tribute to creation. The design not only compliments the dynamics of your plate but also brighten and tickle your mind with its poetic placement.

Central offers various tasting menus typically ranging from 11 to 17 courses. As new ideas come about, the menus evolve with the chef’s ideas and seasonality of ingredients. Each course at Central corresponds to a specific altitude, highlighted ingredients native to that area. From sea level in Lima to the high Andes of Cusco, the range of ingredients is both intriguing and rewarding.

Central Restaurant at a Glance

• Address: Av. Pedro de Osma 301, Barranco
• Phone: (+51 1) 242-8515
• Website: https://www.centralrestaurante.com.pe/en/ 
• Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 12:30 to 7:30 p.m., Sunday 12:30 to 3:00 p.m.
• Price range: approximately $100 to $150 per person for a tasting menu. Drinks pairing menu and a la carte beverage options available separately. 
• Reservations for Central must be made far in advance. Make your reservation online.

2. Maido

Maido by acclaimed chef Mitsuharu Tsumura is one of the best restaurants in Peru. This restaurant has the Japanese influence in Peruvian cuisine on full display.

One of the best sushi restaurants in Lima, Maido makes use of the fresh ingredients from the sea using Japanese techniques and Peruvian flavors. A very popular dish at Maido, tiradito, is a favorite for Lima’s residents. While the main ingredients are quite simple — thinly sliced fish — the sauce makes this dish exquisite. An acidic blend with a touch of spice, the tiradito sauce perfectly complements the fish. 

Adventurous eaters can also try the tasting menu for a wide variety of Peruvian and Japanese flavors. Nigiris, seafood stew, guinea pig and leche de tigre are some of the possible bites on the tasting menu.

Maido at a Glance

• Address: San Martin 399, Miraflores
• Phone: (+51 1) 313-5100
• Website: https://maido.pe/en/ 
• Hours: Monday to Saturday 1:00 to 8:30 p.m., Sunday closed
• Price range: approximately $100 per person for a tasting menu. Drinks pairing menu and a la carte beverage options available separately. $35 to $55 a la carte (appetizer, main course and drink)
• Reservations for Maido must be made far in advance. Make your reservation online.

  Colorful, intricate plating is common throughout Maido’s entire menu. Photo by Maido Cocina Nikkei on Facebook.

3. Astrid & Gaston

Astrid & Gaston, or Astrid y Gaston, is among Lima’s top dining options. Perhaps the best way to understand the restaurant is to know more about its creators, famous Peruvian chefs Astrid Gutsche and Gaston Acurio. Acurio left law school in his third year of study to pursue his real passion: food. He and Astrid met while he was studying at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, and they moved to Peru to open a French restaurant. 

However, they could not deny the unique spices, products and techniques that Peru has to offer. They swapped the cream and butter for combinations of aguaymanto (goldenberry), ají amarillo (spicy yellow pepper), Peruvian native quinoa and more. Today, Acurio has become a voice of Peruvian culture, cuisine and biodiversity. Today, he is the owner of 11 restaurants and chains in cities across the world, such as Miami, Paris and Doha, Qatar. 

The dining experience at Astrid & Gaston is one that enriches the soul while filling your tummy with sublime yet daring flavor combinations. The menu offered at Astrid & Gaston changes every six months, presenting innovative contrasts and compliments of colors, flavors and textures. Try their famous cuy pekines (Pekinese guinea pig) and Punch A&G, one of Lima’s best Pisco Punch cocktails.

Astrid & Gaston at a Glance

• Address: Av. Paz Soldán 290, San Isidro
• Phone: (+51 1) 442-2777
• Website: http://en.astridygaston.com/ 
• Hours: Tuesday to Saturday noon to 8 p.m., Sunday noon to 5 p.m., Monday closed
• Price range: approximately $35 to $55 per person (appetizer, main course and drink)
• Reservations for Astrid & Gaston can be made in advance but are not always necessary. Make your reservation online. 

4. Kjolle 

A new highlight in the Lima culinary world, Kjolle, pronounced KO-yay, is the independent project headed by acclaimed chef and co-owner of Central, Pia Leon. Opened in 2018, Kjolle has since earned high praise from local and international audiences. 

Named after an orange-flowered shrub that grows in extreme altitudes, Kjolle represents the unique ingredients cultivated across Peru. In the tasting menu, find ingredients such as olluco (a tuber similar to a potato), kiwicha (similar to quinoa) and tumbo (banana passionfruit). If ordering a la carte, try the paiche, an Amazonian fish with yuca, cocona (a fruit from the Amazon) and Amazonian spices known as mishkina.

Kjolle at a Glance

• Address: Av. Pedro de Osma 301, Barranco
• Phone: (+51 1) 242-8575
• Website: https://www.kjolle.com/en/default.html 
• Hours: Wednesday to Saturday 12:30 to 8:00 p.m., Sunday 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., Monday and Tuesday closed
• Price range: approximately $80 per person for tasting menu, $35 to $55 per person (appetizer, main course and drink) a la carte. 
• Reservations for Kjolle can be made in advance but are not always necessary. Make your reservation online. 

5. Mayta

Since 2008, Mayta has evolved into a top restaurant in Lima. The name Mayta comes from the indigenous language, Aymara, meaning “noble land”. An homage to Peru and its incredible biodiversity, Mayta represents the best of Peruvian cuisine. 

Led by chef Jaime Pesaque, the menu covers some traditional Peruvian staples, like ceviche, but also expands into international territories. Besides ceviche, try the arroz con pato, rice with duck, a staple of Northern Peru, or risotto de chupe, a risotto with flavoring of an Arequipa favorite, spicy shrimp stew. 

Mayta also has one of the best pisco bars in Lima. Try the classic pisco sour, a chilcano or any number of specialties of the house.

Mayta at a Glance

• Address: Av. La Mar 1285, Miraflores
• Phone: (+51) 937-220-734 and (+51 1) 422-6708
• Website: https://www.maytalima.com/en/ 
• Hours: Monday to Saturday noon to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., Sunday noon to 4:00 p.m.
• Price range: approximately $25 to $45 per person (appetizer, main course and drink)
• Reservations for Mayta can be made in advance but are not always necessary. Make your reservation online. 

6. Isolina

Isolina is one of the best restaurants in Barranco, Lima’s bohemian neighborhood. One of the best traditional Peruvian restaurants, Isolina revives techniques and flavors long lost to time. 

Best known for their stews, chilcanos and old tavern feel, Isolina’s chef, José del Castillo, followed in his mother’s footsteps to create his own restaurant. His mother, Isolina Vargas, was the proud restaurateur of La Red, a staple of Lima’s culinary scene from 1981 to 2009. Castillo opened Isolina in her honor, reviving recipes of Lima’s past. 

Dishes like cau cau con sangrecita, a tripe and potato stew with blood sausage, and guiso de mollejas, a chicken sweetbread stew, are among the unique options at Isolina. Fans of more typical food options can try their version of lomo saltado, a beef stir-fry, or seco de asado de tira, a cilantro and beef stew. Keep in mind the main dishes are massive, with plenty to share between 3 people.

Isolina at a Glance

• Address: Av. San Martín 101, Barranco
• Phone: (+51 1) 247 5075
• Website: https://isolina.pe/en/home/ 
• Hours: Monday to Friday noon to 11:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Price range: approximately $15 to $30 per person (appetizer, main course and drink)
• Reservations for Isolina can be made in advance but are not always necessary. Make your reservation online. 

7. La Mar

It is evident that to chef and restaurateur Gaston Acurio, a restaurant is much more than a place for dining. It’s a social and cultural reflection of everything that comes before creating each dish: from the fishermen’s daily catch to the farmers who nurture and harvest produce to the chef who lovingly prepares each meal to the waiter who charismatically presents it to you. Savor the path of production and reciprocity at La Mar.

La Mar Cevichería is Acurio’s proposal for internationalizing Peruvian cuisine via its national dish: ceviche. Acurio is working on conquering the North American palate and has opened La Mar franchises in California and Florida. In the Lima restaurant, one can expect to enjoy no less than the top-quality food given Acurio’s reputation.

Customers enjoy healthy portions of ceviche or a sampler of creative approaches to the traditional Peruvian causa, a mashed potato casserole layered with seafood, topped with sauces, spiced with ajís and flavored with local herbs, over a casual atmosphere. Contrast your acidic dishes with the robust taste of chocolate-lucuma cake or compliment it with a tangy mango-passionfruit sorbet.

La Mar at a Glance

• Address: Av. La Mar 770, Miraflores
• Phone: (+51 1) 421-3365 
• Website: https://lamarcebicheria.com/en/Lima 
• Hours: Monday to Thursday noon to 5:00 p.m., Friday to Sunday noon to 5:30 pm.
• Price range: approximately $20 to $40 per person (appetizer, main course and drink)
• Reservations for La Mar can be made in advance but are not always necessary. Call to make a reservation. 

8. El Bodegon

Lima offers a wide variety of culinary flavors that will not leave you unsatisfied. It is often believed that price dictates the quality of a meal, but such a rule of thumb does not necessarily apply to the multitude of excellent restaurants in Lima. 

El Bodegon is a small but mighty contender on this list of best restaurants in Lima. Big portions of classic dishes make this Miraflores restaurant a great option for a hearty meal. The sopa criolla, Creole soup, is a flavorful boost on a chilly day. Start with pastel de choclo, a sweet corn pie, or causa con más cangrejo que causa, a spicy crab and mashed potato casserole. 

Aji de gallina, a spicy chicken stew, and el lomito al jugo el Bodegón, a beef stir-fry, are two of the most recommended classic Peruvian dishes at the restaurant. End the meal with their exquisite chocolate cake or mille-feuille, two of the best desserts in Lima.

El Bodegon at a Glance

• Address: Av. Tarapacá 197, Miraflores
• Phone: (+51 1) 444-4704
• Website: https://www.elbodegon.com.pe/ (Spanish only) 
• Hours: Open daily from noon to 9:00 p.m.
• Price range: approximately $15 to $35 per person (appetizer, main course and drink)
• Reservations for El Bodegon can be made in advance but are not always necessary. Call to make a reservation. 

9. El Mercado

Acclaimed chef Rafael Osterling created a cozy, open restaurant right in the heart of Miraflores known as El Mercado, or the market in English. The chef’s vision for this restaurant was to create an ample, open environment and maximize counter space, emulating a real market. The design creates a friendly environment where diners can easily approach and access the preparation areas. This restaurant has become a lunchtime niche where one can escape and enjoy a wide range of dishes ranging from the traditional to the creative. 

You must try Osterling’s sushi inspired causa. Ignite your appetite with an array of ceviches or something a little more exotic like the Pulpo a La Parrilla, grilled octopus served with mushrooms, native potatoes and parsley sauce. Although El Mercado does an exemplary job on seafood preparation, rest assured you can find pasta and rice dishes as well as soups and salads.

Don’t forget dessert! Try the picarones, fried pumpkin and sweet potato doughnuts drizzled in clove and cinnamon syrup.

El Mercado at a Glance

• Address: Hipolito Unanue 203, Miraflores
• Phone: (+51) 974-779-517
• Website: http://www.rafaelosterling.pe/en/el-mercado.html (Spanish only) 
• Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 12:30 to 5:00 p.m., Mondays closed
• Price range: approximately $15 to $25 per person (appetizer, main course and drink)
• Reservations for El Mercado are typically not necessary. You can still make your reservation online.