Lima, Peru has risen to become one of the top food destinations in all of South America, if not the entire world. There are numerous restaurants across the city that would provide a dream meal for any food traveler but the Miraflores neighborhood tops them all.
Located right on the Pacific Coast, Miraflores is a beautiful neighborhood with a lot of offer visitors who stop by. But, to be honest, most of the people who make the trip are there to eat and for good reason. Some of the top restaurants in the world are in this area.
Barra Maretazo
As a general rule, Barra Maretazo is considered to be one of the top restaurants in Lima as well as the entirety of Peru. That’s due in no small part to the high quality of the Peruvian food made at this restaurant, and the locally sourced ingredients they serve.
This is the spot to sit with your toes in the sand and enjoy an almost perfect ceviche. No, this restaurant isn’t on the beach, but they do reputedly have a relatively sizable sandbox on site to enjoy. Barra Maretazo is a quintessential Peruvian dining experience.
Lima’s Panchita
If you’re looking to eat well and eat a lot, then Panchita is the perfect spot for you. This is not mass produced food, though. It’s stunning and delicious, like you are eating meals that came straight out of an abuela’s kitchen.
There are three locations for Panchita, two in Lima and one on Santiago, Chile. While you can’t go wrong with any of them, this is still key restaurant in Miraflores. The cuisine there is as legit, and as delicious, as you’ll find in any restaurant in the city.
Costazul Seafood
There are a lot of places in Lima to go for incredible seafood, and Costazul Seafood has to be high on your list when you’re in the Miraflores neighborhood. Calling the offerings this restaurant produces delectable might be the understatement of the year.
In business since 1989, Costazul Seafood’s main focus is on fish and shellfish, though there is a lot more to this restaurant. The Octopus Muschame and Creamy Seafood Rice are apparently fan favorites, though the menu runs much deeper than that.
El Señorío de Sulco
For many regular visitors to Lima, El Señorío de Sulco is a must dine establishment. The view of the Pacific Ocean from this location is almost too perfect, providing a view while dining that’s incredibly difficult to beat.
The atmosphere is classic fine dining with a taste of Peru. This is traditional Peruvian food served in an upscale fashion. Dishes like the Cau Cau or the Carapulcra with Crispy Belly are can’t miss dishes. Regardless of what you choose, the Picarones are an almost perfect dessert.
Lima’s Maido
Sending you to a Japanese restaurant while you’re on a trip to a South American city seems like an odd recommendation. But the reality is that Maido is one of the top restaurants in Lima, and definitively worth including at least one meal at.
The Nikkei Tasting Menu is a superb way to get a sense of what Maido is about. It is a tour through the mind of Chef Mitsuharu “Micha” Tsumura. For many people, this is a restaurant that they plan into their trip, which is a good idea since reservations can fill up quickly.