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Lima’s top luxury restaurants

Lima is swiftly becoming one of the most elite restaurant destinations in the world. This is a short list of some of the most acclaimed restaurants in Lima. With the exception of Chez Wong, all of these restaurants are located in the trendy Miraflores district. All of these restaurants strive to showcase unique Peruvian ingredients. You’ll probably get to try something with culantro, a wilder type of cilantro that grows in the Peruvian jungle. It has a similar flavor to cilantro, but stronger. Get ready to dive into a rainbow of Peruvian potatoes, which come in shades of yellow, red, and bright purple. Paiche, a type of freshwater fish that lives in the murky waters of the Amazon Basin, has developed a reputation as a delicacy among Peru’s culinary elite. These fish have few bones and produce firm, white fillets, and can grow to 500 pounds. Visit these restaurants for a taste of the best Peru has to offer, and a glimpse at cutting-edge dining trends. Astrid Y Gastón, Miraflores Astrid Y Gastón is a must-try for globetrotting gastronomes. The owner, Gastón Acurio, is credited with putting Peru on the map for culinary innovation, and Lima’s growth as one of the capitals of South America’s upscale restaurant scene. In his home country, Acurio is known for elevating traditional Peruvian cooking, and instilling the country with pride in their savory cooking. His restaurants were the first to use ingredients found in Peru’s Amazon in gourmet cooking. Astrid Y Gaston, Miraflores Gastón Acurio is now in charge of a restaurant empire, with over 30 restaurants (and counting) in 15 cities, many of them outside of Peru. All have been met with massive critical acclaim. The dinner menu is 17 courses of small tastes. White tablecloths provide a relief for the vibrantly colorful, artistically arranged dishes. You can have the tasting menu at Astrid Y Gastón, or visit the bar to try a few items a la carte. Central, Miraflores Central’s Chef Virgilio Martinez used to work under Gastón Acurio, and Acurio speaks highly of the younger chef’s abilities. Trendy Lima restaurants follow many of the same trends as upscale restaurants in the U.S. – for instance, Central has no sign on the door, to emphasize its exclusivity. Be sure to reserve a table at least 30 days before you plan to visit. Central, Miraflores Although Central is based in Lima, the restaurant takes much of its inspiration from ingredients found in the jungle. Chef Martinez takes trips into the Amazon specifically to find new ingredients to include on his menu. The chef’s stated objective is to pay homage to Pachamama, the Mother Earth of Inca legend. Central’s menu incorporates ingredients from all of the different elevations in Peru, from the coastal lowlands to the Amazon. Many of the herbs that accompany the dishes come from the restaurant’s own garden, which is a significant source of pride for Chef Martinez – local ingredients compliment the ingredients he sourced through intense hikes through the Peruvian landscape. In spite of the plates of ingredients you’ve almost certainly never heard of before, many guests are taken aback by the simplest item on the menu: the water at Central is filtered and bottled on site. Maido, Miraflores Maido is one of the preeminent destinations for nikkei – a style of cooking that combines Peruvian and Japanese traditions. You can select a 16-course tasting menu, or you can order a la carte. Guests have the option of sitting at the counter, for a traditional sushi restaurant experience. Maido, Miraflores sea urchin Don’t think of nikkei as sushi – these dishes are much more elaborate. Seafood is the star of the menu, but plants from all over Peru transform the plates into a distinctly Limeña dining experience. Not all of the ingredients are seafood – the chef will sometimes use meat or whatever else he feels best complements his dishes. Look out for Chef Mitsuharu Tsumara’s interpretation of tiraditos, the Japanese version of ceviche. It transcends raw fish – Peruvian and Japanese cooking styles come together to make a seafood dish greater than a sum of its parts. IK, Miraflores IK whets the appetite with a sensory palette of lush green. Wood panels line the walls, and plants sprout from planters on every surface. IK’s interior is designed to resemble jabas, the wooden boxes that Peruvian vendors use to display their fruit. Visitors are especially taken aback by the bold aesthetic in the bathroom. Don’t ask – just go see it. IK, Miraflores tiraditos IK opened in 2013, and has already made the list of notable restaurant destinations in Miraflores. The restaurant’s artistic approach to plating its dishes exhibits fevered creativity and a sense of humor. The restaurant takes its name from Ivan Kisic, the owner’s twin brother. Ivan was an up-and-coming chef who died in a car accident, very early in his career. His main passion was Lima’s abundant supply of excellent seafood, and fish is usually one of the showstoppers on IK’s menu. IK has a wood-burning oven for baking fresh bread, and the dessert menu shows an unusual level of inspiration for what many restaurants consider a sugary afterthought. IK is known for its unusual and innovative combinations. Nothing on the menu quite sounds like it will go together, but guests usually report that an evening at IK expanded their palettes (i.e., blew their minds). Chez Wong, La Victoria Chez Wong is one of the most talked-about and sought-after seafood restaurants in Lima. Unlike a lot of other high-end dining experiences in Lima, Chez Wong has a more relaxed vibe. Chef Javier Wong is a gracious host, and the restaurant is part of the chef’s house.  You’ll be able to see Chef Wong cooking in the open kitchen. Flames engulf the woks while assistants scurry to assemble the plates. Chez Wong, La Victoria If you want to visit Chez Wong, be sure to book well in advance. It’s open for lunch, and there is no menu. Before you start, you’ll state only a few basic preferences: hot, cold, sweet, or sour. You’re guaranteed to get some sole, the chef’s specialty, but other than that the menu is based on whatever fishermen brought Chef Wong that day. Chez Wong is located in La Victoria, which is not the nicest suburb of Lima. But if you’re a visitor who’s interested in seeing the non-touristy parts of Lima, this is as good a reason as any to see more of the city. Zach Smith is CEO of Anywhere. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

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3 Comments

  1. Impressive list!
    I knew Peru / Lima had some very good restaurant, but not that many and at that level.
    Can you share a rough indication: are prices at the same level as European / American cities?

    Cheers, Gilles

  2. Hi Gilles!

    I’m one of the travel writers for Anywhere. This is actually only a short list – there are many more luxury restaurants in Peru, especially in the Miraflores neighborhood. Arequipa and Cusco also have a few stand-outs.

    For a single meal, you can usually expect to pay $70-$120 US, without any cocktail or wine pairings. With wine pairings, the price will probably be more like $200-ish per person.

    Happy Travels.

  3. Just saw this list today and it’s quite appropriate, considering that Central snagged the third spot on the Top 50 Restaurants in the World list! We’d love to hop over to Lima and sit down for a tasting menu at Central, or any of the restaurants on this list.

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