Lima is Peru's vibrant capital and largest city, stretching along the Pacific coast where ancient civilizations once flourished.
Ceviche Peru's national dish - raw fish cured in lime juice with aji amarillo, red onion, and cilantro. Lima's ceviche is the world standard., Lomo saltado A stir-fry of beef, tomatoes, and onions over rice and chips - a perfect symbol of chifa (Peruvian-Chinese) fusion., Anticuchos Grilled beef heart skewers marinated in aji panca - Lima's iconic street food., Causa A layered potato terrine with fillings like tuna, chicken, or seafood., Tiradito Similar to ceviche but sliced thin like sashimi - reflecting Japanese Nikkei influence., Chifa Peruvian-Chinese fusion cuisine including chaufa (fried rice) and tallarin saltado., Pisco sour Peru's national cocktail - pisco, lime, egg white, and bitters. Essential to try.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Lima.
Ceviche
Fresh raw fish marinated in lime juice with aji amarillo, red onion, and cilantro - Peru's national dish
Where to try: La Mar, El Mercado, any cevicheria
Price: $8-20
Lomo Saltado
Stir-fried beef with tomatoes, peppers, onions, and soy sauce served with rice and fries - a chifa classic
Where to try: Traditional restaurants citywide
Price: $8-25
Causa Limeña
Cold potato terrine layered with avocado, chicken or seafood and aji amarillo mayo
Where to try: Fine dining and traditional restaurants
Price: $6-15
Anticuchos
Grilled beef heart skewers marinated in vinegar and aji panca - street food staple
Where to try: Street stalls in Miraflores and Barranco evenings
Price: $2-5
Aji de Gallina
Creamy chicken in walnut and aji amarillo sauce served over rice and boiled potatoes
Where to try: Traditional Peruvian restaurants
Price: $6-15
Pisco Sour
Peru's national cocktail made with pisco (grape brandy), lime juice, egg white, and bitters
Where to try: All bars and restaurants
Price: $5-12
Picarones
Sweet potato and squash fritters served with fig and spice syrup - Lima's favorite dessert
Where to try: Parque Kennedy and street stalls
Price: $2-4
Tiradito
Similar to ceviche but sliced thin like sashimi, often with Japanese-influenced sauces
Where to try: Nikkei and fine dining restaurants
Price: $12-25
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Central
Consistently ranked among the world's very best restaurants, Central is chef Virgilio Martínez's extraordinary exploration of Peruvian ecosystems through food. The tasting menu takes diners on a vertical journey from the ocean floor to Amazonian altitudes, featuring ingredients from every ecological zone of Peru. A once-in-a-lifetime dining experience that defines modern Peruvian cuisine.
Known for: Contemporary Peruvian
Av. Pedro de Osma 301, Barranco, Lima
Maido
Chef Mitsuharu Tsumura's masterful fusion of Japanese precision and Peruvian ingredients has earned Maido a place in the World's 50 Best Restaurants for over a decade. The Nikkei tasting menu is a journey through the synthesis of two great culinary traditions, featuring ceviches with Japanese techniques, tiraditos with unique Peruvian ingredients, and Amazonian-inspired sushi.
Known for: Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian)
Calle San Martín 399, Miraflores, Lima
Astrid y Gastón
The restaurant that launched Lima's gastronomic revolution. Founded by Gastón Acurio in 1994, Astrid y Gastón set the template for elevated Peruvian cuisine that influenced a generation of chefs. Set in a stunning colonial mansion (Casa Moreyra) in San Isidro, the restaurant continues to serve exemplary modern Peruvian cooking with unmatched elegance.
Known for: Contemporary Peruvian
Av. Paz Soldán 290, San Isidro, Lima
La Mar Cebichería
Gastón Acurio's famous cevichería is arguably Lima's most celebrated seafood restaurant, consistently ranked among the best in the world. The menu is a celebration of Peru's Pacific bounty, with over a dozen ceviche varieties, outstanding tiraditos, and beloved Peruvian classics like arroz con leche de tigre. Expect waits at weekends.
Known for: Peruvian Seafood / Ceviche
Av. La Mar 770, Miraflores, Lima
Isolina Taberna Peruana
Chef José del Castillo's tribute to his mother's cooking and the traditional Lima taberna tradition. Isolina serves generous portions of classic criollo cuisine - anticuchos, carapulcra, lomo saltado, and seco de cordero - in a warm, nostalgic colonial setting in Barranco. One of Lima's most beloved restaurants for authentic Peruvian home cooking elevated to restaurant quality.
Known for: Traditional Peruvian
Av. San Martín 101, Barranco, Lima
Kjolle
Chef Pía León's own restaurant adjacent to Central (they share a building), Kjolle is a distinct and personal expression of Peruvian ingredients through Pía's feminine and nuanced lens. World's Best Female Chef 2021, Pía creates dishes of exceptional beauty and complexity. An essential Lima dining experience for serious food lovers.
Known for: Contemporary Peruvian
Av. Pedro de Osma 301, Barranco, Lima
Malabar
Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino's sophisticated restaurant is a pioneer of Amazonian Peruvian cuisine, bringing little-known ingredients from Peru's jungle regions to fine dining. Malabar's menu features innovative dishes using paiche (Amazonian fish), cocona (Amazonian fruit), and other jungle ingredients in a refined San Isidro setting.
Known for: Creative Peruvian
Av. Camino Real 101, San Isidro, Lima
Osso Carnicería y Salumería
Lima's premier butcher-restaurant hybrid, founded by Renzo Garibaldi who trained in the USA's best steakhouses. Osso dry-ages its own meat and sources the finest Peruvian and international cuts, serving them in a casual, lively environment. The pastrami sandwich is legendary, and the bone marrow dishes are outstanding. Also excellent for breakfast and brunch.
Known for: Steakhouse / Peruvian
Conquista 101, San Isidro, Lima
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Seafood
Pescados Capitales
A beloved Miraflores seafood restaurant that has been serving outstanding ceviches and traditional Peruvian seafood dishes for over 20 years. The playful name ('Fish Sins') is reflected in the menu's seven sections themed around the deadly sins. Consistently ranked among Lima's best casual seafood spots, with a lively atmosphere and excellent pisco sours.
Known for: Peruvian Seafood
Av. La Mar 1337, Miraflores, Lima
Punto Azul
The best-value quality ceviche in Miraflores. Punto Azul serves generous portions of fresh, well-made ceviches and other Peruvian seafood dishes at prices significantly lower than the high-end cevicherías. The leche de tigre (ceviche marinade shot) is considered among Lima's best. Multiple locations across the city. Always busy at lunch.
Known for: Peruvian Seafood / Ceviche
Calle San Martín 595, Miraflores, Lima
Canta Rana
A Barranco institution serving excellent traditional ceviche and seafood in a colorful, character-filled setting decorated with Lima football memorabilia. Canta Rana has been a favorite for over 30 years, known for honest, fresh seafood at fair prices and a wonderfully lively atmosphere. A quintessential Lima lunch experience in Barranco.
Known for: Peruvian Seafood / Ceviche
Calle Genova 101, Barranco, Lima
Segundo Muelle
One of Lima's most beloved seafood chains, serving outstanding ceviches, tiraditos, and traditional Peruvian fish dishes in a casual, lively environment. Segundo Muelle is particularly loved for its large portions, fresh ingredients, and affordable prices relative to the quality. Multiple locations across Lima including San Isidro and Miraflores branches.
Known for: Peruvian Seafood
Av. Conquistadores 490, San Isidro, Lima
Salto del Fraile
The most dramatically located restaurant in Lima, built into the cliffs of Chorrillos directly over the Pacific Ocean. Salto del Fraile serves Peruvian seafood classics with crashing waves below - the setting is extraordinary. The food is good if not exceptional, but the experience of dining over the ocean makes it a memorable Lima meal.
Known for: Peruvian Seafood
Circuito de Playas s/n, Chorrillos, Lima
El Mercado
Chef Rafael Osterling's casual seafood and market-style restaurant, inspired by the fresh ingredients found daily at Lima's Surquillo market. The menu changes with the market's seasonal offerings and features outstanding ceviches, tiraditos, and grilled seafood. A more relaxed and affordable alternative to his flagship restaurant Rafael.
Known for: Peruvian Seafood / Market Style
Av. Hipólito Unanue 203, Miraflores, Lima
El Caribe
A neighborhood seafood restaurant that has been a Miraflores fixture for 25 years. El Caribe serves honest, traditional Peruvian seafood at fair prices in a relaxed, family-friendly environment. The lunch menu (menú del día) represents extraordinary value, including a starter, main course, and drink for around PEN 20-25.
Known for: Peruvian Seafood
Calle Independencia 131, Miraflores, Lima
Cala Restaurant
A beachside restaurant at the foot of the Miraflores cliffs, built over the ocean with stunning views of the Pacific and the towering coastal escarpment. Cala serves excellent Peruvian seafood classics in a casual, breezy atmosphere that feels completely different from the clifftop Miraflores above. A unique Lima dining experience right on the water.
Known for: Peruvian Seafood
Espigón 2, Puerto de Miraflores, Lima
Chez Wong
One of Lima's most legendary and eccentric dining experiences. Javier Wong serves a strictly set menu in his home-kitchen in Lince, typically just two dishes - his celebrated sole ceviche and wok-fried sole with tomatoes and onions. The portions are enormous, the wait can be long, and you eat what Javier decides. Cash only, reservations mandatory, limited seats.
Known for: Peruvian Seafood / Nikkei
Enrique León García 114, Lince, Lima
Sonia Seafood
A no-frills seafood institution in the fishing district of Chorrillos, serving some of the freshest and most authentic ceviche in Lima at local prices. Sonia Seafood is a destination for Limeños who know the fresher-than-fresh catch comes directly from the Chorrillos dock just steps away. Plastic chairs, paper napkins, outstanding food.
Known for: Peruvian Seafood
Malecón Grau 2001, Chorrillos, Lima
La Rosa Nautica
One of Lima's most iconic restaurants, built on a pier extending into the Pacific Ocean beneath the Miraflores cliffs. La Rosa Nautica has been serving Peruvian seafood in its Victorian-style pavilion since 1978. The food is good and the setting is extraordinary - dining surrounded by the Pacific with crashing waves is a truly memorable experience.
Known for: Peruvian Seafood
Espigón 4, Costa Verde, Miraflores, Lima
Contemporary Peruvian
Huaca Pucllana Restaurant
Dine overlooking a 1,600-year-old pre-Inca pyramid, dramatically lit at night, in one of Lima's most atmospheric restaurant settings. The food matches the setting with well-executed contemporary Peruvian cuisine featuring excellent ceviches, traditional mains, and beautifully presented desserts. A unique combination of history and gastronomy.
Known for: Contemporary Peruvian
Calle General Borgoño cdra. 8, Miraflores, Lima
Rafael
Chef Rafael Osterling's acclaimed restaurant is one of Lima's finest, blending Mediterranean techniques with Peruvian ingredients in a sophisticated Miraflores setting. Known for exceptional pasta, seafood, and beautifully crafted desserts, Rafael offers a refined dining experience with outstanding service. A top choice for a special occasion dinner.
Known for: Contemporary Peruvian
Calle San Martín 300, Miraflores, Lima
Cosme
One of San Isidro's finest contemporary Peruvian restaurants, offering a refined tasting menu experience in an elegant setting. Cosme showcases the diversity of Peruvian regional cuisines with a polished, modern approach. Excellent wine cellar with an outstanding South American selection. A top choice for business dinners and special occasions.
Known for: Contemporary Peruvian
Calle Las Flores 447, San Isidro, Lima
Amor Amar
A beloved Barranco restaurant serving contemporary Peruvian cuisine with a creative flair in a warm, candlelit colonial setting. Amor Amar is a neighborhood favorite for romantic dinners and catching up with friends, offering well-executed ceviches, grilled dishes, and excellent desserts alongside a good pisco and cocktail selection.
Known for: Contemporary Peruvian
Calle Colina 180, Barranco, Lima
Traditional Peruvian
La Preferida
A no-frills, cash-only Miraflores stalwart that has been serving traditional Peruvian criollo food at honest prices for decades. La Preferida's menu features all the classics - aji de gallina, lomo saltado, ceviche, and arroz con leche - executed simply and faithfully. A refreshing alternative to the trendy restaurants, beloved by locals and in-the-know tourists.
Known for: Traditional Peruvian
Calle General Borgoño 698, Miraflores, Lima
Panchita
Another Gastón Acurio restaurant, this one dedicated to traditional Peruvian criollo and anticucho culture. Panchita serves excellent anticuchos, brochetas, and all the classic Lima comfort foods in a lively, warm atmosphere. The open kitchen and charcoal grill create a wonderful smoky ambiance. Very popular with locals for dinner.
Known for: Traditional Peruvian
Calle 2 de Mayo 298, Miraflores, Lima
Restaurante Jose Antonio
One of Lima's best-value traditional Peruvian restaurants, serving large portions of authentic criollo and coastal dishes at very fair prices. José Antonio has been a Lima favorite for over 30 years, consistently praised for its excellent arroz con leche, ceviche, and a complete menu that showcases the full range of Lima's culinary tradition.
Known for: Traditional Peruvian
Calle Bernardo Monteagudo 200, San Isidro, Lima
Cafe
Café Z
A beloved neighborhood café in central Miraflores serving excellent coffee, fresh juices, and a varied breakfast and brunch menu. Café Z is a popular meeting point for Mirafloreños, with an airy, comfortable interior and a good selection of Peruvian and international brunch dishes. One of the best places to start the day in Miraflores.
Known for: Cafe / Brunch
Calle Martir Olaya 250, Miraflores, Lima
Delicass
A popular deli-café on Av. Larco serving freshly made sandwiches, salads, pastries, and excellent coffee at very affordable prices. Delicass is a local favorite for quick, quality breakfasts and lunches in central Miraflores. The empanadas and sandwiches are particularly good, and the coffee is among the best-value in the neighborhood.
Known for: Cafe / Bakery
Av. Larco 1099, Miraflores, Lima
Traditional Peruvian Criollo
El Rincón Que No Conoces
A Lima institution run by Teresa Izquierdo (the godmother of Lima's criollo food scene) and now continued by her family. This unassuming restaurant in Lince serves traditional Lima criollo cuisine at its very best - carapulcra, seco de res, aji de gallina, and anticuchos that have earned a devoted local following for over 40 years. Cash only, off the tourist trail.
Known for: Traditional Peruvian Criollo
Calle Bernardo Alcedo 363, Lince, Lima
Brujas de Cachiche
Named after the witches of Cachiche, a village near Ica known for folk magic, this Miraflores restaurant serves traditional Lima criollo cuisine in an atmospheric colonial setting. The menu features excellent renditions of all the Lima classics with high-quality ingredients and consistent execution. One of the best places for visitors to experience traditional Peruvian home cooking.
Known for: Traditional Peruvian Criollo
Av. Bolognesi 460, Miraflores, Lima
Amazonian
IK Restaurant
Chef Diego Muñoz's restaurant is a showcase of Peru's extraordinary biodiversity, with a focus on Amazonian and indigenous ingredients little seen on Lima menus. IK offers an immersive tasting menu experience with outstanding technique and storytelling through food. One of Lima's rising stars and an alternative for diners who can't get into Central or Maido.
Known for: Amazonian-Peruvian
Calle Elias Aguirre 900, Miraflores, Lima
Amazonian Peruvian
Amaz
Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino's casual Amazonian restaurant is one of Lima's most fascinating dining experiences, dedicated entirely to the flavors of Peru's jungle. Amaz brings Amazonian ingredients like chonta, tacacho, and paiche to a lively Miraflores setting at accessible prices. An eye-opening introduction to Peru's vast culinary diversity beyond the coast.
Known for: Amazonian Peruvian
Av. La Paz 1079, Miraflores, Lima
Artisan Bakery
El Pan de la Chola
Lima's best artisan bakery, using local organic grains and traditional long-fermentation methods to produce exceptional sourdough breads, pastries, and brunch dishes. El Pan de la Chola is consistently ranked among Lima's top breakfast spots and has a loyal following for its avocado toast, granola, and fresh-baked loaves that sell out daily.
Known for: Artisan Bakery / Breakfast
Av. La Mar 918, Miraflores, Lima
Bistro
Tanta
Gastón Acurio's accessible Peruvian bistro chain, designed to bring quality Peruvian food to everyday diners. Tanta serves excellent versions of Peruvian classics - ceviches, lomo saltado, pollo a la brasa, and outstanding bakery items - at reasonable prices in a warm, contemporary setting. Multiple locations across Lima including a popular Miraflores branch.
Known for: Peruvian Bistro
Av. Salaverry 3505, San Isidro, Lima
Chinese
Chifa Capon
One of the most authentic and historic chifa restaurants in Lima's Barrio Chino (Chinatown), serving the Peruvian-Chinese fusion cuisine that has become one of Peru's most popular food styles. Chifa Capon serves classic chaufa (fried rice), tallarin saltado, and sopa wantán in a busy, traditional setting. Cash only, always full at lunch.
Known for: Chifa (Peruvian-Chinese)
Jr. Capon 749, Lima Centro, Lima
Coffee
Cafe Voltaire
A charming Barranco cafe in a colonial house serving excellent single-origin Peruvian coffees and light lunches. Voltaire is the intellectual and artistic heart of Barranco, with regular cultural events, book launches, and art exhibitions. One of Lima's best cafes for people-watching and catching the relaxed creative energy of Barranco.
Known for: Coffee / Light meals
Av. Pedro de Osma 135, Barranco, Lima
Mediterranean
Lima 27
A sophisticated San Isidro restaurant where chef Roberto Martínez fuses Peruvian ingredients with Mediterranean cooking traditions. The menu features excellent ceviches and tiraditos alongside Italian-influenced pasta and risotto dishes using Peruvian ingredients. One of Lima's most elegant restaurant settings with an exceptional wine cellar.
Known for: Contemporary Peruvian-Mediterranean
Calle Santa Luisa 295, San Isidro, Lima
Modern Peruvian
Bardot Bar & Restaurant
A stylish bar and restaurant in Barranco with a retro-chic aesthetic, serving creative cocktails and well-executed modern Peruvian dishes. Bardot is one of Barranco's most fashionable evening spots, attracting Lima's creative class for cocktails before dinner and late-night drinks after. The pisco cocktail list is outstanding.
Known for: Modern Peruvian / Cocktails
Av. Grau 298, Barranco, Lima
Peruvian Rotisserie Chicken
Tio Mario
Lima's beloved neighborhood pollo a la brasa (Peruvian rotisserie chicken) chain. Pollo a la brasa is Peru's unofficial national dish, and Tio Mario does it exceptionally well - perfectly seasoned whole chickens roasted over wood fire, served with chips and aji sauces. Excellent value and a quintessential Lima experience.
Known for: Peruvian Rotisserie Chicken
Av. Alfredo León 115, Miraflores, Lima
Peruvian Sandwiches
La Lucha Sanguchería
Lima's most famous sandwich chain, serving the city's best chicharrón (fried pork) sandwiches and other Peruvian sanguches since 2006. La Lucha uses traditional recipes with premium ingredients and freshly baked bread. The queues are a testament to the quality. Multiple locations across Lima, with the Miraflores branch being the most iconic.
Known for: Peruvian Sandwiches
Av. Diagonal 302, Miraflores, Lima
Peruvian Street Food
Grimanesa Vargas Anticuchos
Lima's most famous anticuchera, where Grimanesa Vargas and her family have been grilling beef heart skewers over charcoal for over 40 years. The simple stall-turned-restaurant serves the best anticuchos in Lima - perfectly marinated, grilled to order, and served with potatoes and corn. Featured in global media and a must-eat Lima experience. Often a queue.
Known for: Peruvian Street Food
Calle Ignacio Merino 466, Miraflores, Lima
Traditional Peruvian Regional
La Picantería
One of Lima's most exciting restaurant concepts - a modern recreation of a traditional Peruvian picantería (regional cooking house) using market-fresh ingredients from the adjacent Surquillo market. La Picantería changes its menu daily based on what's available, resulting in constantly rotating, highly seasonal traditional dishes that showcase Peru's incredible regional diversity.
Known for: Traditional Peruvian Regional
Calle Francisco Moreno 388, Surquillo, Lima
Food tours & tastings in Lima
Eat your way through Lima with a guide.
Browse food experiences in LimaWe may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Anticuchos
Grilled beef heart skewers with aji sauce - the quintessential Lima street food, eaten in the evening
Find it at: Av. del Ejército Miraflores, street stalls in Barranco
Picarones
Deep-fried sweet potato and squash fritters drizzled with chancaca syrup
Find it at: Parque Kennedy, Miraflores; street stalls evenings
Empanadas
Savory pastries stuffed with beef, chicken, or cheese, baked or fried
Find it at: Bakeries and street carts throughout Lima
Tamales Limeños
Lima-style corn tamales with pork or chicken wrapped in banana leaves
Find it at: Morning street vendors near markets
Salchipapas
Hot dog slices with french fries covered in various sauces - Lima fast food classic
Find it at: Fast food stalls throughout Lima
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Mercado de Surquillo No. 1
Lima's most famous food market where top chefs shop for ingredients. Incredible variety of Peruvian produce.
Hours: Daily 6AM-4PM
Mercado Central de Lima
The city's massive central market near Chinatown with fresh produce, spices, and everything in between.
Hours: Daily 6AM-6PM
Mercado de Magdalena del Mar
Local neighborhood market popular with Limeños for fresh fish and produce at good prices.
Hours: Daily 7AM-3PM
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Lunch (1-3PM) is the main meal in Lima; many restaurants offer fixed-price lunch menus (menú del día)
Reserve in advance at top restaurants like Central, Maido, and Astrid y Gastón
Tipping 10% is customary; some bills include a 10% service charge
Limeño restaurants often don't start filling until 8PM for dinner
Many cevicherías close after lunch as the fish is no longer fresh
- Vegetarian
- Vegetarian options available but Lima's cuisine is meat-heavy; Nikkei and modern restaurants have the best vegetarian menus
- Halal
- Limited halal options; Middle Eastern restaurants in Miraflores offer some options
- Gluten free
- Many traditional Peruvian dishes are naturally gluten-free (ceviche, lomo saltado); inform staff of requirements
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | $5-10 per meal | Menú del día (set lunch), street food, and markets |
| Mid-range | $15-40 per meal | Sit-down restaurants with full service |
| Upscale | $60-150+ per meal | Fine dining and World's 50 Best restaurants |