If you are planning a trip to Macchu Picchu, you will have to stop over in Lima before going on to Cusco. Lima does not have the allure and beauty of Cusco, but it is Peru’s capital and its largest city (8 million people), and it has a lot of very good restaurants. The fish served in Lima restaurants is so fresh that if you decide to go out for sushi, you’ll discover that it’s much better in Lima than at home. The ceviche is the way ceviche should be: piquant from the fresh lime juice and spicy from aji (Peruvian pepper). Note: ceviche is served during the day so cevicherias close at 5pm.

Most of the restaurants mentioned here are located in the Miraflores, Barranco and San Isidro neighborhoods, not in central Lima, which is run down and neglected.

Astrid y Gaston
Cantuarias 175
Miraflores
Lima, Peru
+51 1 444 1496
www.astridygaston.com
French-Peruvian cuisine in an elegant atmosphere, very good cocktails

Matsuei
Manuel Bañon 260;
San Isidro
Lima, Peru
+51 1 422 4323)
www.theperuguide.com/lima/restaurants/asian/matsuei.html
Japanese restaurant co-founded by Nobuyuki Matsuhisa of Nobu; very good sushi

Osaka
Conquistadores 999
San Isidro
Lima, Peru
+51 1 222 0405
www.osaka.com.pe
Peruvian, Japanese and Thai fusion

Rafael
San Martin 300
Miraflores
Lima, Peru
+51 1 242 4149
Minimalist Peruvian, Meditteranean cuisine

Fusion
Choquehuanca 714
San Isidro
Lima, Peru
+51 1 422 7600

La Mar
Avenida La Mar 770
Miraflores
Lima, Peru
+51 1 421 3365
Cevicheria located at the corner of La Mar Av. and Tudela y Varela Av.

Punto Azul
San Martin 595
Miraflores
Lima, Peru
+51 1 445 8078
Very popular cevicheria, long queues at lunchtime, outdoor patio seating

La Gloria
Calle Atahualpa 201
Miraflores
Lima, Peru
+51 1 445 5705
Mediterranean

La Rosa Nautica
Espigón 4 Circuito de Playas
Miraflores
Lima, Peru
+51 1 447 0057
www.larosanautica.com
On the beach, romantic restaurant serving seafood

Chala
Bajada de Baños 343
Barranco
Lima, Peru
+51 1 252 8515

Cala by the Sea
Playa Barranquito s/n, Circuito Vial Costa Verde
Barranco
Lima, Peru
+51 1 252 9187