Lima, Peru — Food and Dining
Restaurants in Lima, Peru
Restaurants
Expensive
Astrid y Gastón
You can't really go wrong with a meal at this well-established, but perennially popular Lima restaurant. It was set up by the well-known Peruvian chef, Gaston Acurio, often called the leader of Peruvian cuisine. Excellent food and faultless service are just two of the reasons this is the favorite of many locals. Open for lunch and dinner, Monday to Saturday.
Cantuarias 175, Miraflores
Tel: (01) 242 5387.
Website: www.astridygaston.com
La Rosa Náutica
Right on the pier, this Lima restaurant is worth a visit for its spectacular location alone. Come here for a cocktail in the bar at sunset, if not for dinner. La Rosa Náutica has traditional (even formal) service, with a very full menu showing a distinct Italian influence. Go hungry to fully enjoy mouthwatering chicken stuffed with prosciutto, roasted crayfish risotto or baby goat with chilli. The specials change daily - full details are given on the website.
Espigón 4, Circuito de Playas
Tel: (01) 445 0149.
Website: www.larosanautica.com
Moderate
Casa Hacienda Moreyra
A beautifully restored, 18th-century hacienda in the heart of the upmarket San Isidro district is home to one of Lima's most refined restaurants. The menu caters to most tastes, with a wide range of meat and fish dishes and some vegetarian options, but concentrates on sophisticated Peruvian food. Although there is no dress code, smart attire is suggested.
Avenida Paz Soldán 290, San Isidro
Tel: (01) 444 4022.
Website: www.casahaciendamoreyra.com
La Huaca Pucllana
An elegant Lima restaurant in an extraordinary setting - amongst the first century AD ruins of the archaeological complex, Huaca Pucllana. Enjoy exquisite and seemingly effortless fusion cusine (novo andino) of deep fried crayfish and sweet potato, or roast baby goat with lima beans against a backdrop of fine Pre-Columbian pieces. There is also an open-air area where it is possible to have just a drink and a light meal.
General Borgoño Cuadra 8, Miraflores
Tel. (01) 445 4042.
Website: www.resthuacapucllana.com
Manos Morenas
‘Ebony Hands' pays a delicious tribute to the country's Afro-Peruvian heritage, specializing in Criollo (Creole) cuisine. Local fish and seafood, such as crispy trout and spicy prawns, indigenous vegetables and Lima beans, are served up with a touch of nouvelle cuisine. The restaurant is located in a delightful manor house, with folklore shows on Tuesday to Saturday evenings. Manos Morenas also has fast food outlets in the Larcomar mall, Miraflores, and Jorge Chavez International Airport.
Avenida Pedro de Osma 409, Barranco
Tel: (01) 467 0421.
Website: www.manosmorenasperu.com/manos_morenas.jpg
Cheap
Cebichería La Mar
This ceviche restaurant is a contemporary version of the traditional Peruvian cebichería. As well as ceviche, fresher than fresh seafood soup and sushi is served up in this airy, casual eatery, which also has a cocktail bar. This is one of the most fashionable places to go in Lima for lunch (no dinner true to cebichería tradition) and no reservations are taken, so go early or late unless you're prepared to wait for an hour, or even two.
Avenida La Mar 770, Miraflores
Tel: (01) 421 3365.
Website: www.lamarcebicheria.com
Nightlife
Peruvians and 'gringos' can enjoy anything from salsa to Argentinian rock in Lima. Things don't really get going until late, and Lima's nightlife is most vibrant at the weekends. The heart of the city's nightlife is focused in Miraflores, San Isidro and Barranco.
The live music bars and clubs around the Parque Kennedy and bars and discos in the Larcomar shopping mall dominate Miraflores' nightlife while San Isidro offers a more sophisticated scene. The perennial hotspot is Barranco, which bursts into life on Thursday night and carries on until the early hours of Monday morning. Here a bar can fall out of favor within weeks, so it is always best to ask locals for guidance.
Limeños tend to dress up to go out. The smartest places have a dress code and nightclubs charge an entrance fee. Licensing hours are flexible and the most popular bars are open throughout the night, or for as long as there are customers.
Bars
Café Haiti
For a taste of an old-fashioned Miraflores bar, head to Café Haiti. With its large terrace and smoked glass, this Lima bar invokes memories of the Parisian boulevards. It is a good place to enjoy a pisco sour, before heading to the nearby cinema.
Avenida Diagonal 160
Tel: (01) 446 3816.
Juanito's
An honest, spit-and-sawdust Barranco bar is Juanito's, serving jugs of beer and delicious sandwiches. The odd, often-inebriated wandering minstrel supplies the music.
Avenida Grau 274
La Noche
Trendy La Noche, just off the main square in Barranco, is one of the most popular nightspots in Lima, with two bars and a stage for live music - for which there is a small entry fee. Barranco is also home to several cheap, 'hole-in-the-wall' bars, favored by students and die-hard drinkers, who swig beers and spirits until they can hardly stand.
Avenida Bolognesi 307, Barranco
Tel: (01) 247 2186.
Clubs
Bar Kitsch
Bar Kitsch is for disco lovers, who come to revel in the flowery wallpaper, the impromptu bar dancing and excellent cocktails. It gets busy on Friday and Saturday.
Avenida Bolognesi 743, Barranco
Kimbara
Before leaving Lima, you should sample at least one salsodromo (a salsa dance club) such as Kimbara.
Avenida Republica de Panama 1401, La Victoria
Tel: (01) 265 5831.
La Huaka Beach Club
La Huaka Beach Club is a popular club on the beach with DJs.
Km 97.5, Panamericana Sur
Tel: (01) 372 7837.
Website: www.lahuaka.com
Santa Sede
In Miraflores, Santa Sede is the regular haunt of the young and bohemian. It plays a pleasing mix of pop and salsa.
Avenida 28 de Julio, Block 6
Live Music
Brisas del Titicaca
Brisas del Titicaca is a touristy spot with good, local music and dancing from Wednesday to Saturday.
Jirón Wakulski 168
Tel: (01) 332 1901.
Website: www.brisasdeltiticaca.com
Jazz Zone
Lima rocks at the weekend, although there is usually something going on during the week too. A mellow jazz evening on Monday and Saturday nights can be had at Jazz Zone, which lays on a variety of bands from blues to experimental jazz.
Avenida La Paz 656, Miraflores
Tel: (01) 241 8439.
Website: www.jazzzoneperu.com
La Casona de Barranco
La Casona de Barranco also offers good live jazz sessions on Monday nights and at the weekend.
Avenida Grau 329, Barranco
