Lima City Guide.
"Peru has more native potato varieties than any other country in the world. In Lima, you can taste it."
Bars & Pubs
LADY BEE, Barranco
Ranked No. 13 on the World's 50 Best Bars 2025 list and winner of the Art of Hospitality Award that same year. Opened in 2021 by bartender Alonso Palomino and chef Gabriela León, a married couple who built the restaurant's entire philosophy around Peruvian ecosystems. Every ingredient comes from small-scale producers across different regions of the country. The Three Sips Martini, featuring green olives from Arequipa, seaweed from Ica, and trout caviar, is the most famous example. The menu changes completely every four months.
INSIDER:
Reservations are highly recommended, especially from Thursday to Saturday. Ask the bartender for the current seasonal special; it’s not on the regular menu and is usually the most interesting thing they serve. If you arrive early, you can snag one of the bar stools right at the counter—the best seat in the house.
ANTIGUATABERNA QUEIROLO, Pueblo Libre
Built in 1880, originally by Italian immigrants as a pharmacy, and barely changed since. Wooden shelves filled with Pisco bottles, a marble counter, ham sandwiches, and the most honest Pisco Sour in the city. No concept, no design pretensions. In the evenings, it’s packed with locals from the neighborhood who have been occupying the same seats for years. One of the few places in Lima that hasn't changed in a hundred years—and makes no apologies for it.
INSIDER:
The Chilcano, a Pisco cocktail with ginger ale and lime, is just as good here as the Pisco Sour and much less known among visitors. Pueblo Libre isn't Miraflores or Barranco, but a taxi ride takes barely ten minutes and costs about ten soles.
CARNAVAL, San Isidro
One of the first Peruvian bars to ever appear in global cocktail rankings. The menu features 70 drinks, including 18 classic cocktails with Peruvian twists and five Pisco creations. The Pisco Punch, made with Quebranta grapes, Lillet, pineapple, elderflower, and spices, is the signature drink. Try the tasting flights for a great overview.
SASTRERÍA MARTÍNEZ, Miraflores
A 50 Best Discovery bar and one of the city's most exciting new spots. The concept is inspired by the aesthetics of a bespoke tailor, with every cocktail individually crafted for the guest. Very new, very bold, and not yet overcrowded.
AYAHUASCA RESTOBAR, Barranco
A historic casona in Barranco that now houses several bars, courtyards, and uniquely designed rooms. The Pisco Sour is outstanding. It is priced slightly higher than the Barranco average, but the atmosphere of the house fully justifies it.
CAFÉ VICTORIA, Barranco
A colonial casona with an inner courtyard and a leafy garden in the back. DJs play in the evenings, cocktails are served in mason jars, and the atmosphere is more laid-back than most of its neighbors in Barranco. A great spot for the first or last stop of an evening in the neighborhood.
Food & Cafés
MÉRITO, Barranco
Ranked number 26 on the World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 list, yet it’s the complete opposite of what you’d expect from such a ranking. No white tablecloths, no formal service theater, no menu that takes itself too seriously. Chef Juan Luis Martínez, a Venezuelan native who has been rooted in Lima for years, creates a cuisine that bridges both worlds: Venezuelan influences meet Peruvian ingredients, fermented sauces meet charcoal-grilled dishes, and leche de tigre meets unexpected spice combinations. The space in Barranco is small, loud, and utterly vibrant. The standard is exceptional, but the vibe is that of a great tavern where you just happen to be sitting.
INSIDER:
Reservations open online exactly one month in advance and are snapped up within hours. If you can't get a table, try your luck at the bar—it's walk-in only, no menu, but full service. The best seat in the house is a bar stool with a view of the open kitchen.
CANTA RANA, Barranco
A cevichería since the early 2000s, with newspaper clippings and soccer memorabilia on the walls and 17 types of ceviche on the menu. It’s loud, cramped, and usually has a line out the door. This isn't a designer restaurant, and it doesn't want to be. Locals from the neighborhood have been coming here for years, which tells you everything you need to know.
ISOLINA, Barranco
A converted early 20th-century house in Barranco. Chef José del Castillo cooks Peruvian comfort food that tastes like you’ve been invited to a family dinner. Ají de gallina, lomo saltado, anticuchos—everything served in large portions meant for sharing. Lunch only, closes at 5 p.m. Closed on Mondays.
LA MAR, Miraflores
The cevichería by Gastón Acurio, Peru’s most famous chef. Fresh fish, crunchy choclo, and leche de tigre that you’ll want to drink straight from the glass afterward. It’s the city’s most well-known ceviche restaurant and one of the few that truly lives up to the hype. Lunch only; in Lima, ceviche is traditionally eaten before 3 p.m.
LA LUCHA SANGUCHERÍA, Miraflores
Not every meal in Lima has to take several hours. Just order a chicharrón sandwich with homemade fries and you're set. You’ll encounter potatoes everywhere in Peru anyway. It’s no coincidence: they were cultivated in the Andes thousands of years ago, and to this day, Peru possesses more native varieties than any other country in the world.
Art & Galleries
What Peru has preserved.
MUSEO LARCO, Pueblo Libre
A private collection of pre-Columbian art housed in an 18th-century colonial hacienda, founded in 1926 by Rafael Larco Hoyle at the age of 25. There are over 45,000 objects, 30,000 of which are displayed in accessible archive shelves open to every visitor. The collection includes ceramics, textiles, gold, and silver spanning 5,000 years of Peruvian history. The Erotic Wing, featuring pre-Columbian erotic pottery, is unique worldwide and surprises even the most informed visitors. The bougainvillea-covered garden and the café behind it are among the most beautiful spots in all of Lima. One of the best museums in South America, even for those who don't usually visit museums.
MALI, Miraflores
Lima's national art museum is housed in an early 20th-century Art Nouveau building right in the Parque de la Exposición. It showcases 3,000 years of Peruvian art, from Chavín ceramics and Paracas textiles to contemporary video installations. The breadth of the collection makes it clear that Peruvian art history began long before the Incas and continued well after them. A great second stop after the Museo Larco to complete the picture. Free admission on Thursdays from 7:00 PM.
MAC, Barranco
The Museum of Contemporary Art in Barranco, designed by Peruvian architect Frederick Cooper Llosa and opened in 2013. A minimalist glass and concrete structure next to a reflecting pool right on Avenida Grau. The collection features Latin American art from 1950 to the present, ranging from Op Art and abstract expressionism to geometric and pop art. Exhibitions change every three months, so check online to see what is currently on display. Admission is free on Thursdays, making it a great choice to combine with an evening out in Barranco.
Hotels
JW MARRIOTT HOTEL LIMA, Miraflores $$$
Located right on the Malecón de la Reserva with views of the Pacific, this 25-story hotel features ocean views from every room. The La Vista restaurant serves classic Peruvian dishes and Asian fusion with panoramic views of the Bay of Miraflores. There is a rooftop pool, an ocean-view health club, and the Larcomar Shopping Center is directly across the street. Named one of the 25 best hotels in South America by Condé Nast Traveler. The classic luxury choice in Miraflores, with Huaca Pucllana and the Museo Larco both just a few minutes away.
INSIDER:
Rooms on the upper floors, starting from the 18th, offer the most unobstructed views of the Pacific. When booking, ask for an Ocean View Suite; the price difference from the standard category is smaller than you might expect. The Executive Lounge on the upper floors includes happy hour snacks and drinks, though few people think to ask about it.
LIMA 18 BOUTIQUE, Miraflores $
Smaller, more personal, and significantly more affordable than the large hotels on the Malecón, yet still in a great location in Miraflores. Perfect for those who would rather spend their budget in Lima on restaurants and bars than on hotel rooms. A sensible choice in a city with such a culinary scene.
HUMANO LIMA, Miraflores $$
Part of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio, with a much more personal character than a classic chain hotel. Restaurant Entrañable is on the 18th floor, and Café de Lima on the ground floor offers artisanal bread and local coffee. A ten-minute walk to the Malecón, making it a great base for exploring Miraflores entirely on foot. The team knows guests by name and remembers their coffee preferences, which is rare in this price category.
Hidden Gems
Three places, no entry fee.
HUACA PUCLLANA, Miraflores
A large pre-Columbian adobe pyramid complex right in the middle of the modern buildings of Miraflores. Built by the Lima culture between 200 and 700 AD, centuries before the Incas. The contrast between the site and the surrounding city is hard to grasp; you stand in front of a 1,500-year-old pyramid with apartment buildings rising up behind it. The site is illuminated in the evening, and the restaurant right next door is one of the most atmospheric in Lima. A great introduction to Peruvian history, which didn't just start with Machu Picchu.
MERCADO DE SURQUILLO
Right on the border of Miraflores, less than five minutes from Parque Kennedy. This is where Lima’s chefs shop, including the teams behind some of the city's best restaurants. Fresh fish, seafood, tropical fruits, herbs, and spices from every region of Peru. At the lunch stalls inside, you can get ceviche for under 20 soles—no tourist prices, no English menus. You point at the fish, sit on a plastic chair, and get one of the best ceviches in the city. Go before 3:00 PM, as most stalls close after that.
BARRANCO STREET ART, Barranco
The side streets around Bajada de los Baños and Parque Municipal in Barranco. Large-scale murals, paste-ups, and stencil art by local and international artists. There is no organized tour or signage. Just wander through the alleys and see what has changed. It is best to go in the afternoon before the bars open, when the streets are still quiet and the light is perfect for the artwork.
Working from Lima
What you need to know before opening your laptop in Peru
WORKATION: The key facts
- Who needs it: Any employee working remotely from Peru for an employer based abroad
- 90-day rule: Visa-free entry covers short-term remote work for up to 90 days
- 183-day rule: Longer stays can trigger tax obligations in Peru
Visa-free entry:
- Who can enter: EU, Germany, UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and many other nationalities
- Duration of stay: Up to 90 days, extendable up to 183 days
- Purpose: Tourism, business meetings, short-term remote work
- Required document: Valid passport
For longer stays:
- Work visa: requires a job offer and employer sponsorship in Peru
- Retirement visa: for individuals with proven income from abroad
- Investor visa: for entrepreneurs and investors in Peru
Check your requirements
Work from Lima. EU citizens can enjoy visa-free entry for remote work of up to 90 days. For longer stays or official work visas, we handle the entire process, providing confirmation before you travel. Entry and workation: fast processing, digital delivery. Apply directly via visumPOINT
