Bistros, trattorias and the everyday rooms where Lima actually eats.
Bistros, trattorias, taverns and neighbourhood rooms: the mid-tier places where Lima actually eats.
La Mar at Av Mariscal La Mar 770 in Miraflores is Gaston Acurio's 2005 cevicheria, No.26 on Latin America's 50 Best 2025 and a Lima lunch institution.
Signature: Ceviche clasico, Tiradito, Causa rellena
Order: The ceviche clasico and a tiradito sequence, with chicha morada to drink.
Tip: Lunch only; queue starts at 11:30 on weekends because there are no reservations.
Pescados Capitales on Av Mariscal La Mar 1335 in Miraflores pioneered the cevicheria corridor, with a sin-named menu and sophisticated seafood program.
Signature: Ceviche siete pecados, Jalea, Tiradito
Order: The ceviche siete pecados (seven sins) and a jalea to share, with maracuya juice.
Tip: Quieter at 14:30 than 13:00; delivery available till 21:00 daily.
Punto Azul on Calle San Martin 595 in Miraflores is one of Lima's most popular cevicherias, fifteen years on the map serving daily generous ceviche plates.
Signature: Ceviche mixto, Tiradito, Arroz marinero
Order: The ceviche mixto and a leche de tigre shot to chase it.
Tip: Lunch only; the kitchen closes at 16:00 sharp regardless of queue.
Canta Rana at Calle Genova 101 in Barranco is a 35-year cevicheria-huarique in the Lima neighborhood, the Sunday lunch standard for limeños in the know.
Signature: Ceviche con alcaparras, Parihuela, Arroz con conchitas
Order: The ceviche with capers and avocado, plus a parihuela seafood soup for the table.
Tip: Cash only is safer; the Saturday lunch queue runs past the corner.
Isolina at Av San Martin 101 in Barranco is Jose del Castillo's 2015 criolla taberna, a tribute to his mother Isolina Vargas and her Lima home cooking.
Signature: Cau cau, Tacu tacu con lomo, Ceviche carretillero
Order: The tacu tacu with steak and a portion of the carretillero ceviche.
Tip: Weekend brunch service runs 09:00-11:00 before the regular lunch carta.
El Mercado at Av Hipolito Unanue 203 in Miraflores is Rafael Osterling's daytime seafood room, a terrace cevicheria with gyoza, taco and curry bridges too.
Signature: Ceviche, Tiradito, Pulpo grillado
Order: The ceviche of the day plus a tiradito; the gyoza fusion course is a sleeper.
Tip: Lunch only, no dinner; busy at 13:30 and quiet at 15:30 Walk-ins usually OK.
Wa Lok at Jr. Paruro 878 in Barrio Chino is among the oldest chifa restaurants in Lima's Chinatown, with 100-plus Cantonese dishes and Peking duck nightly.
Signature: Dim sum, Lomo saltado, Pato laqueado
Order: The dim sum sequence at breakfast or the Peking duck for dinner.
Tip: Go for Chinese breakfast (09:00-11:00) for the dim sum variety; lomo saltado at lunch.
Salon Capon at Jr. Paruro 819 in Barrio Chino is a Cantonese-Peruvian institution on Calle Capon in Lima, a multi-level chifa with a vast classic menu.
Signature: Dim sum, Arroz chaufa, Wantan frito
Order: A dim sum tower plus arroz chaufa and the wantan frito, the chifa trinity.
Tip: Lunch service is calmer than dinner; cash is safer than card on weekends.
Madam Tusan at Av Santa Cruz 859 in Miraflores is Gaston Acurio's chifa house, a celebration of Chinese-Peruvian cuisine in a dramatic dragon dining room.
Signature: Lomo saltado, Arroz chaufa, Dim sum
Order: The lomo saltado is the canonical version; add a chaufa and a wantan frito.
Tip: Open till midnight every night, useful for late dinner; reservations recommended on weekends.
El Bolivariano in Pueblo Libre Lima is the criolla institution housed in a republican casona, tracing tradition to the 1780s with the canonical carta.
Signature: Aji de gallina, Lomo saltado, Anticucho
Order: The aji de gallina and the lomo saltado; finish with a suspiro limena.
Tip: Open from 07:30 for breakfast, useful for tamales and pan con chicharron.
Tanta at Malecon de la Reserva 610 in Miraflores is Gaston Acurio's casual Peruvian chain in Larcomar, the lomo saltado and ceviche carta over the Pacific.
Signature: Lomo saltado, Ceviche clasico, Anticucho de corazon
Order: Lomo saltado with chaufa and a chicha morada; the anticucho de corazon is the appetiser.
Tip: Other Tanta branches: Av Felipe Salaverry 2370 (Jesus Maria), Pancho Fierro 115 (San Isidro), same carta everywhere.
Antigua Taberna Queirolo at Av San Martin 1090 in Pueblo Libre is the 1880 Santiago Queirolo cantina, criolla snacks and a Lima pisco-bodega buffet daily.
Signature: Choritos a la chalaca, Butifarra de jamon del pais, Pisco buffet criollo
Order: Choritos a la chalaca and butifarra de jamon del pais with a chilcano of Queirolo pisco.
Tip: Lunch buffet from S/79 per person; cash safer than card; the connected Queirolo wine and pisco shop sells direct.