A Foodie’s Guide to Lima, Peru – 9 Best Restaurants You Can’t-Miss

Peru is a fantastic destination, filled with natural beauty, mesmerizing cultural activities, great attractions, and delicious cuisine. Peru’s capital city, Lima, is a small Peru itself and its vibrant food includes ingredients from all climates and regions.

Considered by many as the food capital of Latin America, it is home to the most prize-winning restaurants in the world. If you are a foodie, you must travel to Peru’s charming capital!

1. Central

Being number 6 on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2019 says a lot about Central Restaurante. Located in the charming Barranco District and being in the hands of the talented Peruvian chef, Virgilio Martínez Véliz, Central is a place where all foodies get to indulge in an incredible redefined Peruvian cuisine, filled with indigenous ingredients from the Andes highlands, Peru’s coastal region, and the Amazon rainforest.

Central is a once-in-your-life place: experience food from different regions in Peru. The magnificence of this country is represented in each dish they serve. . 📸@chef__giuseppe

2. Maido

Second on ours, but first on the Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2019 list, Maido is one of the best restaurants in Lima, Peru. This is an excellent choice for curious foodies interested in finding out the outcome of a meeting between Peru and Japan on a plate. The combination of these two cuisines is called Nikkei, and chef Mitsuharu ‘Micha’ Tsumura is famous for achieving taste perfection.

3. Malabar

No foodies should say no to indulging in exotic Amazonian ingredients cooked using ancient Andean cuisine. That’s why eating at Malabar is a must when visiting Lima. The ingredients used at this welcoming place are rare, collected from the Amazon and the Andes, including wild fruits, roots, and algae.

Read More: Peruvian Food: Top 10 Popular Dishes You Must Try

Classic, seafood, hot or mixed … these are some versions of Ceviche that Malabar has had over the years. . 📸@zealdmalabarperu

4. Astrid y Gaston

Astrid y Gaston deserves a place on our list of best restaurants in Lima, Peru, with a rich history and a special menu created as a tribute to the city., With Peking-style guinea pig bao among its star dishes, this high-end restaurant is welcoming all curious travelers who want to amaze their taste buds.

Cocoa truffles from the Amazon jungle, handbags made by Andean women, dishes by Peruvian artists, books, and local products. Astrid & Gaston has a store where you will find products from local producers, researchers, and Peruvian artisans. . 📸@astrid_y_gaston/

5. Isolina

When you want to get closer to the city's soul and indulge in the most delicious comfort food available, go to Isolina. Besides tasting nostalgic Peruvian dishes, you also get to admire the historic house in Barranco that hosts the restaurant and its fantastic vibe of an old family home.

Read More: Best Time to Visit Peru’s Highlights

6. Rafael

In a beautiful Art Deco townhouse in the lovely Miraflores area, Rafael is a restaurant that welcomes you with a fantastic fusion of traditional native ingredients and Italian, Asian, and Nikkei influences. The menu includes appealing dishes like ceviche, tiraditos, sashimi, and pizza.

7. La Mar

If you love seafood and you want to indulge in a creative list of ceviches paired with a tasty pisco sour or two, chef Gustavo Montestruque’s La Mar is the best choice. Remember that this restaurant is trendy, so expect to wait in line for a while before getting a lovely table.

8. Osso

Osso is number 9 on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2019 list for many good reasons, one being that Osso is the best place for meat lovers who want to indulge in a perfect grill or barbecue. Besides delicious dishes, you will also find a noisy and music vibe at Osso, the ideal place for a casual evening with other carnivorous friends.

9. Amaz

If you have the chance to indulge in traditional Amazonian cuisine, don’t miss it. At Amaz, you get to taste the cuisine of the Amazon, mixed with a modern international feel. Besides the delicious food, the best part of Amaz is that its menu is specially designed for sharing, making this restaurant the perfect place to visit with your favorite people.

Modern ‘amazon’ interior design at Amaz restaurant. 📸@amazrestaurante

These are nine of the best restaurants in Lima, Peru, but this charming city has such a great restaurant scene that the list can continue for a long time. Until we add more suggestions, don’t be shy, and give these restaurants a try when you have the chance.

Plan your trip with time; it is essential to make the reservation a few months in advance; restaurants are pretty much fully booked all the time.

Start by Checking our suggested 3-week Wonders of South America trip.

Orr contacts us, and we can design your perfect gourmet trip to South America. Bon Appetite!

Maria ✨

Co-founder at Across South America

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