The 5 best restaurants in Peru

3 February 2021 | Anke Hendriks | |

In December 2020, the list of the 50 best restaurants in Latin America was announced once again. Peruvian cuisine proved a hit once more. No fewer than 11 Peruvian restaurants featured on this list. Unfortunately, the list of the world’s top 50 restaurants was not published this year. In the 2019 list, the restaurants Central and Maido, both based in Lima, were ranked amongst the world’s top 50. Are you looking for a good restaurant to visit during your trip? I’ve listed five of them below. Please note: do book well in advance, otherwise the restaurants will be fully booked.

1. Maido, Lima

‘Maido’ means ‘welcome’ in Japanese. Here you can enjoy an inventive tasting menu of Peruvian-Japanese bites, à la carte dishes or take a seat at the classic sushi bar. Head chef Tsumura was born in Lima and was encouraged by his father to turn his passion for cooking into a career. He studied culinary arts in the US and later travelled to Japan to learn more about his cultural and culinary heritage. At this restaurant, you’ll be taken on a colourful journey through Nikkei cuisine, with highlights such as a fish hot dog, fresh nigari caught that very same day, dim sum with squid and periwinkle served with cau-cau, and sea urchin rice. Visit the website

2. Central, Lima

Central’s cuisine is contemporary Peruvian, and its founder, Virgilio Martínez Véliz, has sought to redefine Peruvian cuisine by introducing little-known indigenous ingredients from Peru’s coastal region, the Andean highlands and the Amazon rainforest. Examples of such ingredients include kushuru (cushuro), an edible cyanobacterium harvested from high-altitude wetlands; arracacha, a root vegetable from the Andes; and arapaima, a freshwater fish found in the Amazon. Chef and restaurant critic Geeta Bansal describes the cuisine as fresh and contemporary, with beautifully presented dishes. Visit the website

3. Astrid y Gastón, Lima

This restaurant is one of the best in Peru, and owners Astrid and Gaston have consistently lived up to this reputation. Gaston is the owner and a highly skilled chef, whilst his wife Astrid, originally from France, runs the restaurant, which is renowned throughout Latin America. The food is delicious and the wine selection is one of the largest in South America. Visit the website

4. Mil, Sacred Valley

The MIL Centro restaurant in the Sacred Valley is owned by the same proprietor as Central in Lima. Here you can enjoy an 8-course meal featuring authentic, local ingredients sourced from this region. Sample a variety of local dishes featuring the most creative combinations. Ingredients may vary depending on the season. The dishes are prepared using knowledge gained from the local community about agriculture and cooking at altitude. From the restaurant, you’ll enjoy a stunning view of the agricultural terraces of Moray. Visit the website

5. Chica, Arequipa

This is another restaurant run by the renowned chefs Astrid and Gaston. The restaurant focuses on regional cuisine, combining the production process, traditions and culture of each location with excellent cooking techniques and sustainably sourced local produce. The restaurant is situated in the beautiful Casona de Santa Catalina, built in the 17th century, just a few metres from the Santa Catalina monastery and the central square, Plaza de Armas. Visit the website

Are you curious about Peru as a travel destination? Then do take a look at our page on Peru. The ultimate culinary hotspot, colourful cultures and diverse landscapes. Read more about the highlights here and take a look at some of the tours we’ve put together for inspiration.

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