Peru's unique and robust flavors have been present for centuries, but it's only in the last few decades that Peru's culinary scene has gained global recognition, establishing the city as the undisputed food capital of South America. From a numerical standpoint, no other city boasts as many restaurants featured on the list of the world's top 50 restaurants. In practical terms, the diversity, historical significance, and culinary excellence of Peruvian cuisine position it as a premier global attraction in its own right. Here, we have curated a list of the best restaurants to experience while traveling in Lima and learning Spanish in Peru, based on our local insights:
List of some of the best restaurants in Lima:
Prices reference (per dish): 💲= PEN 8-20 / 💲💲 = PEN 21-50 / 💲💲💲 = PEN 51-120 / 💲💲💲💲= PEN 120-450
El Bodegon (💲💲) - Peruvian criollo food
Address: Calle Tarapacá 197, Miraflores.
Phone: +51 1 444-4704
Panchita (💲💲) - Peruvian criollo food
Address: Calle 2 de Mayo 298, Miraflores.
Phone: +51 1 242-5957
El Mercado (💲💲) - Peruvian criollo food - Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants⭐️
Address: Hipolito Unanue 203, Miraflores.
Phone: +51 1 221-1322.
Belisario (💲) - Peruvian beloved roasted chicken
Location 1: Avenida Benavides 529, Miraflores.
Phone (location 1): +51 1 242-3069
Location 2: Avenida José Larco 449, Miraflores
Phone (location 1): +51 1 611-3333
La Lucha (💲) - Peruvian sandwiches
Location 1: Diagonal 139, Miraflores.
Location 2: Avenida José Larco 999, Miraflores
Notes: No reservations accepted
Central (💲💲💲💲) - Creative Peruvian - WORLD'S 50 BEST RESTAURANTS ⭐️
Address: Av. Pedro de Osma 301, Barranco, Lima.
Reservations: https://centralrestaurante.com.pe/en
Maido (💲💲💲) - Creative Peruvian sushi fusion - WORLD'S 50 BEST RESTAURANTS⭐️
Address: Calle San Martín 399, Miraflores
Phone: +51 1 446-2512
Isolina (💲💲💲) - Peruvian Criollo Food - Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants⭐️
Address: Avenida San Martin 101, Barranco.
Phone: +51 1 247-5075
Madam Tusan (💲💲) - Peruvian Chinese “Chifa’’
Address: Av. Santa Cruz 859, Miraflores.
Phone: +51 1 505-5090
EDO (💲💲) - Peruvian sushi/fusion
Address: Calle Berlin 601, Miraflores.
Phone: +51 1 243-2448
Tanta (💲💲) - Peruvian criollo food
Address: Inside Larcomar shopping mall, Miraflores.
Phone: +51 1 446-9357.
Pardos Chicken (💲) - Peruvian beloved roasted chicken
Location 1: Avenida Benavides 730, Miraflores.
Phone (location 1): +51 1 444-2126
Location 2: Inside Larcomar shopping mall, Miraflores.
Phone (location 1): +51 1 447-8023
La Grimanesa (💲) - Peruvian anticuchos
Address: Avenida Ignacio Merino 466, Miraflores.
Phone: +51 941 869 568
Rafael (💲💲💲) - Peruvian/Mediterranean fusion - Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants⭐️
Address: Calle San Martin 300, Miraflores.
Phone: +51 1 242-4149
Fiesta (💲💲💲) - Northern Peruvian Food - Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants⭐️
Address: Avenida Reducto 1278, Miraflores.
Phone: +51 1 242-9009
La Picanteria (💲💲💲) - Peruvian criollo food - Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants⭐️
Address: Francisco Moreno 388, Surquillo.
Phone: +51 1 241-6676
Worth mentioning:
Try some street food in Lima:
Lima offers some of the finest culinary experiences, not limited to formal restaurants. Peruvians' favorite dining spots are often found on the streets, and rest assured, these recommended locations adhere to health and safety regulations set by local authorities. When exploring Lima's historic downtown, make sure to visit "Alameda Chabuca Granda," situated just a block away from the Presidential Palace (you can find the location on Google Maps here). Indulge in traditional street foods like "picarones" (Peruvian fried doughnuts), "arroz con leche y mazamorra morada" (rice pudding and purple corn pudding), "butifarras" (traditional turkey sandwiches from Lima), "anticuchos" (grilled cow's heart skewers, one of Peru's most iconic street foods), or "papas rellenas" (deep-fried mashed potato dumplings filled with spiced beef and vegetables).
Another renowned street food destination is located in the heart of Miraflores: Within Kennedy Park, you'll find numerous street food vendors who, like their counterparts in the historic downtown, prepare and sell food following strict health and sanitation guidelines. Enjoy!
Mercado de Surquillo:
The market for fruits and vegetables in the Surquillo district (only a 15-minute walk from our Spanish school in Lima. Find Google Maps directions here) is a definite highlight during your stay in Lima. It stands out as one of the few remaining traditional markets in the Lima metropolitan area, offering the widest variety of exotic Peruvian fruits. Some top recommendations include "chirimoya," "lucuma," "pacay," "granadilla," "pepino dulce," "tuna" (cactus fruit), and "pitahaya." Chirimoya and lucuma are particularly popular in Peru for making smoothies and milkshakes, so you can either purchase them to prepare at home or visit "La Lucha" in Miraflores. Additionally, please note that our Spanish School in Lima hosts a tasting session every Thursday at 11:00 am, where students can sample various exotic fruits and Peruvian dishes as part of their immersive Spanish learning experience abroad.
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