Looking for the best Lima Restaurants to eat at? Known as one of the upcoming culinary capitals of the world, Lima has an incredible variety of dishes. From popular classics such as Ceviche to the more local bread and butter that includes Papa a la Huancaina and Lomo Saltado, Peru as a whole is a great place to try a variety of exotic and tasty foods.
As a result, Lima is home to a range of establishments where you can try many native dishes, from world-class restaurants to cheap, local favorites.
In this guide, we’ll explore 10 of the best restaurants you can try Peruvian food in Lima, and also dig deeper into the food scene of the capital. Discover the best restaurants in Lima.
While visiting Lima, you may enjoy some of these tours to help you explore the city like this half-day city tour or a walking food tour.
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Best Lima Restaurants to Visit
1: Central Restaurante (Barranco)
Address: Av. Pedro de Osma 301, Barranco 15063, Peru
Let’s kick off with the most luxurious and adventurous venue on our list. Central is ranked among the best restaurants in the entire world, and as a result, does come at a price. It’s best known for its set menu which includes 11 small dishes. Each represents a different altitude of Peru, with foods ranging from below sea level, to the jungle, and to the high altitude sierra and mountains.
The experience has been beautifully and intricately designed by head chef Virgilio Martínez, who created the dishes drawing from his own experience traveling in Peru. He has been to some very secluded areas, and as a result, has found exotic and rare ingredients which he has added to his dishes. One of the best restaurants Barranco.
2: El Señorio del Sulco (Miraflores)
Address: Mal. Cisneros 1470, Miraflores 15074, Peru
Famous for its selection of both traditional and authentic Peruvian dishes, El Señorio del Sulco is a more upscale restaurant located in the popular district of Miraflores.
The owner, Isabel Alvarez, is known for having authored many successful cookbooks specializing in foods from Peru.
As a result, this restaurant is one of the best to visit in order to try the very best national dishes, all made by someone who is very experienced in this style of cooking. Some of the best dishes to try here include Arroz con Pato, as well as Chupe de Camarones.
The best time to head here is during the weekend, when there is a buffet, giving you the opportunity to try out a large variety of national delicacies. One of the best restaurants in Miraflores.
3: Aries (Miraflores)
Miraflores is a lively district of Lima that any visitor planning a Peru itinerary should aim to visit. This local joint really is a gem that many travelers simply don’t know of, or overlook when passing by. Located on Calle Pinos, which is close to Kennedy Park, it’s usually filled with locals looking to get their daily fix of tasty, Peruvian food.
It’s very inexpensive, with a two-course meal with a drink included only costing 12 Soles (the equivalent of just over $3.00). Some of the best dishes I can recommend trying here include Papa Rellena, Papa a la Huancaina, Sopa a la Minuta, and Causa.
It’s one of my favorites not only to try authentic Peruvian cuisine but to also feel like a local and watch real Peruvian life happen around you, which simply doesn’t happen at most restaurants.
4: Osso (La Molina)
Address: Tahiti 175, La Molina 15026, Peru
Located in the district of La Molina, Osso is a restaurant owned by Renzo Garibaldi, who had previously plied his trade in France and the USA before opening his own establishment in the Peruvian capital.
Osso brings a French twist to many Peruvian classic dishes, and overall is a more experimental style of food rather than the more authentic national dishes that others focus on. From preparing charcuterie in-house to dry-aging different cuts of meat, Osso is definitely a place to go if you love meats and eating with your hands.
With an average price of $50, it’s a nice in-between option. Osso offers an á la carte menu as well, however, the tasting menu is a much better option for those who really want to dig deep, try lots of different styles and prepared meats as well as get a good overall experience.
5: Astrid y Gastón (San Isidro)
Address: Av. Paz Soldan 290, San Isidro 15073, Peru
Located in the upscale district of San Isidro, this contemporary restaurant gives a more modern take on classic Peruvian cuisine.
Designed by Gastón Acurio and Astrid Gutsche, here you can explore the different environments and biomes of Peru through the food, with an exciting five-stage meal.
As well as this, the menu itself is constantly changing to show the subtle yet important changes in season, how this affects the food available, and finally how new food styles can emerge.
At around $30, Astrid & Gastón is a great way to explore the more modern and practical Peruvian dishes without totally breaking the bank, whilst also getting top-of-the-crop quality.
6: Maido (Miraflores)
Address: C. San Martin No. 399, Miraflores 15074, Peru
In 2020, Maido was ranked the 7th best restaurant in the World, and for good reason. Originally built in 2009, Maido is the brainchild of head chef Mitsuharu Tsumura, and showcases Peru’s strong cultural links with Asia.
Through centuries of influence, unique fusion foods that include Chifa can now be found throughout the country. Lima is no exception, and here you’ll find an even more focused scene on Asian-Peruvian hybrid foods.
Tsumura explores this Nikkei Cuisine (as it’s commonly referred to) with Maido, where you can have an in-depth tasting session of 12 creative dishes that mix both cultures very well.
From tapiocas and jora cork to local specialties such as Paracas scallops, Maido is a brilliant way to explore Nikkei culture and learn of its importance in Peru, as well as dine at a very impressively styled restaurant.
7: Kjolle (Barranco)
Address: Av. Pedro de Osma 301, Barranco 15063, Peru
Kjolle is another impressive experimental restaurant, which is located next to Central in Barranco. The owner, Pía León, was ranked as the best female chef in 2021, and it really does show in her impressive cooking and presentation skills here!
The restaurant features an open-plan dining room where you can watch Pía and her team prepare your food from your table. Kjolle is taken from the name of the tree which is native to Peru and only grows at extremely high altitudes.
The main reason guests come to enjoy Kjolle is for its nine-course menu, where you’ll taste all sorts of unique and intricately put-together dishes that best represent the varied foods of Peru. Some of these include sea bass, yucca, razor clams, and the kañiwa grain. Pía has also introduced a vegetarian option as well as an á la carte menu here at Kjolle.
8: La Mar Cebicheria Peruana (Miraflores)
Address: Av. Mariscal La Mar 770, Miraflores 15074, Peru
Another top-class restaurant located in Miraflores, La Mar (as known for short) is the best place to enjoy the very best foods from the Pacific. Created by head chef Gastón Acurio, La Mar is only open from 12 pm-5:30 pm every day to ensure only the freshest catches and foods are served.
Whilst this makes it sometimes difficult to get a seat, this is definitely one of those restaurants which are worth being on the waiting list for!
It’s home to some of the best Ceviche in Peru and features many other sea-food dishes that earn La Mar its commonplace among the top 50 restaurants in Latin America year after year.
Best Lima Restaurants Conclusion
And that’s all for our guide to eating in Lima.
Known as one of the most upcoming food destinations of the World, Lima is home to a range of incredible cuisines. From native dishes of the sierra and jungle to fusion foods influenced from Asia and Europe, here in Lima there’s an almost endless variety of options to expand your palette.
In this guide we’ve explored 10 of the very best restaurants you must eat at when in Lima. These range from local hole-in-the-walls to expensive Michelin star restaurants. Regardless of where you decide to eat, each of these 10 will provide you with a great insight into Peruvian cuisine.
Who knows, you may even end up finding a new food love after experiencing what’s on offer here!
AUTHOR BIO: Dan and George are two seasoned travelers with extensive knowledge of Latin America who writes no-nonsense backpacking guides. You can read all about their adventures on BLATAM.
