At Andean Experience we love living like the locals, so cultivating a Top 10 list of our favourite restaurants in Lima, Peru, is a must. Whether you are looking to take a stroll in Antonio Raimondi Park or are out for an evening of romance at the Puente de los Suspiros, we have you covered. Headquartered at Atemporal, a six-room Casa in the heart of Lima, we offer the one-of-a-kind opportunity to explore this magnificent city from the comfortable setting of an original 1940s Peruvian mansion. Celebrating the traditions of Peru’s capital, we know that the best way to enjoy an adventure here is through a meal.

The number of world-class restaurants in Lima is infinite, and when it comes to Peruvian food, you can expect ingredients from every part of the country. Pacific seafood and ceviche, myriad species of Andean potatoes, stir-fried beef, stuffed peppers, … and on and on.

Our list features a wide range of eateries, all accessible and delicious. Every neighbourhood has its own shining brilliance, and we have been through them all. Barranco in its colourful and art-sensitive splendour, San Isidro’s blend of boutiques and bustling businesses, and the seaside extravagance of Miraflores all create the perfect recipe for best in the world restaurants.

The common thread is their connection to Peru, its dynamic capital city, and the people who make it so wonderful to live and eat here. Known for supporting sustainability, seeking to reinvent common cooking concepts, and mixing tradition with modernity, we picked these places because they are the epitome of this country. So let us be your guide and take you on a culinary journey through Lima!

Spoiler Alert: We added an extra restaurant to our Top 10 because we just couldn’t leave anyone out!

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You can’t get very far in Lima without hearing about Central, a familiar face on best in the world lists and the premier restaurant of Chef Virgilio Martinez. And rightfully so. Chef Martinez makes a point of promoting Peruvian cuisine, blending traditional recipes with effective techniques to showcase the best of his country. Even with the constant accolades, Central has been a local favourite for us in Lima because of its exclusive tasting menus; you can try Peruvian foods based on their altitude above or below sea level.

Blending history, people, culture, and food, you can enjoy an array of dishes celebrating Peru. The team at Central scours the country to pick ingredients for its menus with intention. From oca, tunta, and pork belly to pacu, grouper, and yuyo seaweed, every item comes with a story as compelling as its flavour. A true testament to how special Peru is, especially the people who call it home, Central’s delicious homage to the ephemeral flavours in every season make it an experience you just can’t miss when travelling to Lima.

Website: https://centralrestaurante.com.pe/en/default.html
Address: Av. Pedro de Osma 301,Barranco 15063, Lima
District: Barranco
Menu: https://centralrestaurante.com.pe/assets/TERRITORIOENDESNIVEL.ingles.pdf

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Not to be outdone by the success of its aforementioned neighbour, Kjolle, the brainchild of Chef Pía León, aimed to further express the vibrance of Peru. After working in an award-winning kitchen with her husband at Central, Chef León spearheaded her own operation and earned the distinction as one of – if not THE – best female chef on the planet. The eclectic mix of Peruvian classics with aesthetically pleasing course design adds to its allure. Barranco punches well above its weight in culinary prowess, and the unpretentious atmosphere and top-notch food of Kjolle are a big reason why.

When it comes to the food, guests are welcomed to a varied seasonal menu as well as a tasting menu that features country delights such as squid and huamantanga, corvina, and cow cheek. Accompanied by the elegance of each dish is the intentional pursuit to enjoy the meal with all of the senses. Visually stunning and unforgettably tasty, it is the experience that makes Kjolle a restaurant at the heart of Lima’s personality.

Website: https://kjolle.com
Address: Av. Pedro de Osma 301, Barranco 15063, Lima
District: Barranco
Menu: https://kjolle.com

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Maido has accomplished a rare feat in creating a menu based on Peruvian cuisine with a strong connection to Japanese food and culture – a true work of art that makes this one of our favourite local restaurants to enjoy. Whether impressing for a date night or a one-of-a-kind dinner, Chef Mitsuharu Tsumura knows how to provide a sophisticated meal with intrigue and meaning. With experience from across the globe, he especially uses his time in Japan to provide a unique and special dining experience for his hometown of Lima.

The dishes at Maido are influenced by Nikkei, the sweet amalgamation of Japan and Peru coming to the table to share histories, cultures, and foods. Forging these flavours together, the menu boasts razor clams from Huarmey, cod cooked over a wood fire with Bahuaja nuts, and Lurin beef tenderloin, among other offerings. Seeing Peruvian ingredients incorporated into classic Japanese cuisine makes this one of our favourites, one that is a true Andean experience.

Website: https://maido.pe/en/
‍Address: Ca. San Martin No. 399, Miraflores 15074, Lima
District: Miraflores
Menu: https://maido.pe/en/menu/main-menu/

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The common perception of homestyle Peruvian cooking is alive at Isolina but reimagined in such a way that you will feel like a Lima native the minute you set foot inside. Established recipes by Chef Jose del Castillo are hearty classics that hit Peruvians in the nostalgia, taking them back to their grandmother’s Peru. The intimate tavern setting adds to the appeal. But don’t fret; this restaurant is far from lost in the past. Chef Castillo has firmly planted this favourite of ours atop list after list of best restaurants, including one of the top 50 restaurants in Latin America, and it continues to impress food critics.

Generously sharing its roots in Barranco, Isolina welcomes you into its existence as a fixture of the neighbourhood. Blurring the lines of social and culinary enjoyment, it thrives on bringing people together over plates of pork ribs and strip roast, healthy servings of ossobuco, and that ever-Peruvian delicacy: ceviche. Without a shred of pretension, the goal here is to satisfy your hunger, for food, for life, for Peru. Even as locals, we cannot explain how this restaurant is part of the beating heart of Lima.

Website: https://isolina.pe/?lang=en
‍Address: Av. San Martín 101, Barranco 15063, Peru
District: Barranco
Menu: https://isolina.pe/?lang=en

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We love Mayta not just for their inventive homage to locally sourced ingredients around Lima and the country, but how proud they are to make true Peruvian food. Chef Jaime Pesaque is renowned for his work in all-star kitchens, and it shines through in his dedication to the dining experience that exports Peru across the globe. Mayta has helped curate the modern concept of traditional cuisine for its hometown, continuing to prepare menus and dishes that are sustainable and undeniably Peruvian.

Equal parts refined and classic, Mayta provides elegant plates that showcase the local fare. Plantains, arracacha, and macambo are found in appetisers, with main courses featuring huacatay (think black mint) accompaniments and a mouth-watering cabrito braseado. Perfecting braised lamb and other forward-thinking dishes allows Chef Pesaque to move in a sphere all his own, though he is grounded by his roots to Peru. Another hit-maker, Mayta is a winner for us and anyone trying to enjoy that rare mix of chic, smart, and authentic.

Website: https://www.maytalima.com/en/
‍Address: Av. Mariscal La Mar 1285, Miraflores 15027, Peru
District: Miraflores
Menu: https://www.maytalima.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/CARTA-MAYTA-EN-INGLES-V3-SIN-PRECIO.pdf

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Siete is a master of manipulating different genres of cooking and marrying diverse flavours, all characteristics of award-winning restaurants. We love how Chef Ricardo Martins has taken his passion for worldly fare to expand the boundaries of what our local flavours are. Guests in Lima from all over the spectrum love this restaurant – as do we – because it flawlessly takes Mediterranean concepts and makes them uniquely Peruvian.

A restaurant offering a solid cocktail menu to go along with award-winning cuisine is another plus for Siete. Pair a classic pasta like pappardelle and duck ragu with a mezcal martini and you’ll be Instagramming your food in no time. Not to mention you’ll be enjoying your experience in a gorgeous, airy house with wood fixtures. The care put into every aspect of Siete makes it a crucial stop for foodies of all stripes.

Website: https://siete.meitre.com/
‍Address: Jirón Domeyer 260, Barranco 04, Peru
District: Barranco

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Starting out as one of Lima’s first premier restaurants, Rafael knows what it takes to maintain success – and has done so with outstanding precision. Chef Rafael Osterling has combined his wealth of experience and knowledge to make Italian and Japanese gastronomy seamlessly merge into the Peruvian palate. He is honoured to bring the original cooking of Peru into the ground-breaking concepts that are definitive of top worldwide restaurants. Many chefs who find themselves at other high-profile restaurants have cut their teeth at this Shangri-La of Peruvian cooking.

Stylish and graceful, and adorned with dashing artwork, the dining room is a temple for food lovers in search of the perfect dining experience. Those conceptions of Italian and Japanese cooking through a Peruvian lens bring marmita de almejas and risotto to the menu, beautiful and original. The care is evident from ingredient selection, taste, and plating, so it should come as no surprise that Chef Osterling is keen to “every detail to the millimeter.” We love the attention to detail, so Rafael has become a beacon of deliciousness in Lima, tasting even better than it looks!

Website: https://rafaelrestaurante.pe/
‍Address: Ca. San Martin 300, Miraflores 15074, Peru
District: Miraflores
Menu: https://rafaelrestaurante.pe/la-carta

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We would be remiss not to mention a cevicheria-style restaurant, though El Mercado is so much more than that, and so much more to Lima and Peru. This award-winning eatery – yet another of Chef Rafael Osterling – regards the Pacific as a vital part of Peruvian diet, with thoughtful décor that plays into the beachy bona fides of the atmosphere. The ambience creates the feeling of a never-ending afternoon, which is the best way to enjoy a little Peruvian seafood and an Emperador cocktail.

An eye for sustainability plays a large role in how El Mercado operates, making it even easier for us to recommend it. Drawing from the ocean, you can find gourmet ceviche alongside scallops, responsibly sourced fish, and even gyoza and curry. While it may seem particularly hip, this restaurant makes the most of its cool, on the scene courtyard to allow everyone in Lima to access the Miraflores limelight. For a fun and stylish lunch, we highly recommend this trend-setting space.

Website: https://elmercado.pe/
‍Address: Av. Hipólito Unanue 203, Miraflores15074, Peru
District: Miraflores
Menu: https://elmercado.pe/la-carta

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Snuggled into the inland neighbourhood of Surquillo, La Picantería provides beachside fare in an urban setting. Proving that Lima really does have the culinary chops to stick out from the rest, this spot provides the extraordinary service of a lunch-only seafood joint you might see in the hard-to-reach coastal nooks of Peru. With that service comes exceptional food, some of the freshest and most responsibly provided anywhere in the city. If you have ever wanted to eat like a local in Lima, we highly recommend this laid-back establishment.

La Picantería allows you to choose your own adventure, requesting from a variety of fish kept on ice to be prepared as you wish. The house recommends guests to aim for variety, so you can enjoy a coursed meal of the daily catches, freshly prepared ceviche, and even some soup to swallow down with the afternoon sun. Though popular enough to run out of inventory, they have plenty on hand to feed the masses and make a truly unparalleled experience out of dining in Lima.

Website: http://www.picanteriasdelperu.com/
‍Address: Sta. Rosa 388, Surquillo 15047, Peru
District: Surquillo

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Known for being one of the elite sushi spots in the city, Osaka merges Peru’s iconic Nikkei with the ever-changing neighbourhood. Their philosophy is to have a good time, which comes through not only in the polished presentation of the dining room but in each one of its dishes, made with clear intent. They owe their own passion for enjoyment to surfing, and their Nikkei lends itself to sharing, travelling, and bringing people together to form lasting bonds around the dinner table. All waves aside, this place delivers on that model perfectly.

Osaka has a balanced approach to each course, so a sensible and vibrant energy is enjoyed throughout the meal. You can expect ceviche with leche de tigre as well as Nippon chimichurri and rocoto chile sauce on raw selections. Whitefish and pork belly are fan favourites, though sirloin and skirt steaks round out the impressive menu. The drinks are noteworthy as well, which use Peruvian spirits to pair with the food. For anyone who wants to dine with all of their senses, this is the place for you.

Website: https://www.osakanikkei.com/en/local/lima
Address: Felipe, Av. Pardo y Aliaga 660, San Isidro 15073, Peru
District: San Isidro
Menu: https://static.osakanikkei.com/uploads/store/Osaka_WEB_Pya_-_EN__compressed.pdf

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Hidden gems in Lima don’t remain hidden very long, and Troppo is the best non-secret in San Isidro. They have transported guests to the hillsides of Italy via culinary classics while still maintaining their identity as a true Peruvian establishment. Working as a close-knit family, they operate under the assumption that great food requires all-encompassing attention – from service to presentation, it is a well-executed plan. Each plate is as beautiful as it is authentic, checking all the boxes for diners in search of an extraordinary meal.

Reminiscent of Napoli and Sicily, Troppo has everything one might need from an Italian eatery rooted in Lima. The cacio e pepe with fresh Andean black pepper is equal parts comfort food and work of art, and the fresh seafood in the spaghetti alla scoglio is stunning and satisfying. Ditching the white tablecloths and opening up the dining room improves the atmosphere tenfold; view the pizza oven as you nibble antipasti and sip a limey Mr. Green cocktail. Homey and elegant all at once, Troppo is one of our absolute favourites that we can’t wait for you to try.

Website: https://www.troppo-lima.com/
‍Address: C. Los Libertadores 199, San Isidro 15073, Peru
District: San Isidro
Menu: Troppo - Menu

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Peru is a food lover’s paradise, and many travellers come solely to enjoy a culinary tour in this gastronomic paradise. From Miraflores and Barranco to San Isidro and beyond, Atemporal will take care of you every step of the way. With our central location, dedication to service, and world-class accommodations, we can help you enjoy every aspect of your trip. Let our intimate knowledge of where to grab a bite, which can be a seaside café or a cheeky chic restaurant, enchant and guide you through this historic city. Come visit Atemporal and let Andean Experience show you authentic, innovative, essential Peru!