The 12 best places for paella in Lima

It is a small, warm and friendly place. The menu is exclusively seafood, everything is fresh. The ambiance is very cozy. The football fans find here a lot of interesting items. The prices are reasonable.

Recommended by a local, good food and good value! Love the ceviche, but I find the causa to be too saucy. Love the decor of a family restaurant, there is a story about the owner being from Argentina. The service can be slow and very little English is spoken, but it wasn't a problem ordering. Would definitely revisit when I come to Lima again.

Be aware that the portion is big and expensive. We walked in because we thought it would be at the rate of the locals. It’s not. The ceviches are nice but the rice would be for 6-8 persons portion and charging at a whopping 50 (12 euros). The football part is fun though.

The place looks very cool. I had a fish ceviche and it was good, but to be honest, not the best I've had - the soup itself had way too much lime/lemon juice, which made it too sour for my taste, compared to other places where I've tried it. Everything else was great.

My go to spot for ceviches and tiraditos in Lima, you must try their fish soup as well. Excellent quality products. My favorite : guarda royal + tiradito afogato especial.

Lovely place with very friendly atmosphere. The food was delicious and most portions were huge. I would love to go back!

Stumbled upon this spot while wandering around Barranco — it popped up high in the reviews, and for good reason. Packed, buzzing, full of locals and curious travelers. The kind of place where a plastic menu doesn’t mean mediocre — it means tradition. A friendly local couple helped me order, and what landed on the table was nothing short of a seafood riot: 🐟 Tiradito de pescado — delicate slices of fish, bathed in a sunshine-yellow ají amarillo sauce. Creamy, spicy, citrusy — Peruvian sashimi with attitude. Choclo kernels on the side, because Peru never forgets the corn. 🦐 Camarones al ajillo — sizzling shrimp drowned in a garlicky oil bath, served still bubbling. We tore through bread just to mop up the sauce. 🌶️ That little pot of chili? Beautifully brutal. A few drops go a long way. Respect. 🍮 Suspiro Limeña — silky manjar blanco topped with a port wine meringue. Light, rich, sweet — it’s what you’d want to end a meal with when you’ve gone heavy on salt and spice. ⏳ I barely waited 10 minutes — lucky me. Others queued long and hard. Worth it? Absolutely. 💸 Not cheap — but seafood rarely is. You get your money’s worth in flavor and authenticity. 🪑 Vibe? Classic Peruvian cantina: walls full of football memorabilia, families and solo diners packed tight, and the waitstaff running at full tilt. Zero pretension. Just food. 📍Would I return? In a heartbeat.

Same as Maido, I left rather dissapointed food-wise. There was nothing wrong about it, but at the same time, there was nothing special about it. The experience on the other hand, was quite unique. Also a beautiful garden! One more issue I had was that the tip is not included, which I would honestly expect given the already very high price.

The Best Dining Experience in the World Central is, without a doubt, the number one restaurant on the planet. The entire experience—from the storytelling behind each dish to the flawless execution—is unforgettable. Virgilio Martínez, the visionary chef and owner, is one of the most creative talents in the culinary world today. His ability to take you on a journey through Peru’s ecosystems, altitudes, and ingredients is nothing short of genius. Every course is a revelation. The tasting menu is a beautifully choreographed journey through Peru’s diverse landscapes—from the Amazon to the Andes to the Pacific. Dishes like “Extreme Altitude” and “Amazonian Water” are not only exquisite in flavor, but also rooted in deep cultural and ecological meaning. The presentation is stunning, and each plate tells a story. The service and coordination were absolutely perfect, making the entire experience seamless. The liquor pairing (maridaje) was outstanding—thoughtfully curated to elevate each dish. Dining at Central is not just a meal—it’s a profound, inspiring experience. Truly the best I’ve ever had. Make a reservation—you’ll remember it for the rest of your life

This is a fabulous experience. They are so meticulous with every detail. It was wonderful to watch the bustle of the open kitchen, like a show. All the dinner ware and serving plates/dishes were so delicate and beautiful. And I love their theme of sourcing food from all altitudes in Peru. Most of the ingredients I have never heard of or tried before, so it was really intriguing. The service and atmosphere was definitely fit for a number one restaurant of the world. But I personally feel the food fell a little short. There’s prob a reason why every part of different animal and plants are not eaten, because it doesn’t taste great. But Central wanted to incorporate all parts into the meal. In the end it has the taste great and a few dishes did fall short. We also had a server who did not speak English very well and I couldn’t understand her explain the dish.

And finally Central. The flagship restaurant of legendary Peruvian Chef Virgilio Martínez. The restaurant is known for its contemporary interpretation of Peruvian cuisine using modern techniques. Each dish represents a specific Peruvian ecosystem, defined by altitude, ranging from below sea level to the high Andes. Central was crowned the world’s best restaurant for many years. The tasting menu typically features 12 courses. The dishes were “academic”; beautifully crafted but not always memorable in flavour cohesiveness. The experience is experimental with lot of effort in carving visually appealing dishes but the final outcome is confusing. One leaves without understanding what food did he have. The dining room is bright, minimalist, and open, with stone tables, floor-to-ceiling windows, and an open kitchen

“Dining at Central is not just a meal, it’s a journey through Peru’s ecosystems. From the moment we entered, the experience felt like visiting a living museum: the garden and entrance are filled with plants, trees, and ingredients that later appear on the menu. We were welcomed with warm towels, seated at a beautiful table designed with privacy in mind, and immediately noticed how attentive the service was. Every course came with its own unique cutlery and a small theatrical demonstration – sometimes a book with QR codes explaining the plants, sometimes an entire octopus or stones representing the Andean landscape. Even small gestures, like discreetly wiping drops of water on the table or changing napkins when leaving the table or before desserts, showed remarkable attention to detail. The 12-course tasting menu was extraordinary. Each dish represents a different altitude of Peru, from the depths of the sea to the highest Andes. Highlights included the Warm Sea Current with lobster and razor clam, Rainforest Connection with Amazonian fish, and the spectacular desserts inspired by the Sacred Valley and 100% cacao. Every plate felt like a masterpiece, both in taste and presentation. Service, storytelling, and culinary creativity are perfectly intertwined at Central. It’s educational, emotional, and delicious at the same time – an unforgettable dining experience and truly deserving of being named the best restaurant in the world.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Our experience at Central was simply flawless. The menu takes you on a journey through Peru’s ecosystems, from sea level to the mountain peaks. Each dish is not only about taste but also about storytelling; no flavor overwhelms the other, everything flows in perfect harmony. The garden welcome and the map we were given made us realize from the very beginning that this would be more than just a meal – it would be a geographical experience. The book that accompanies the courses was incredible; each page reveals a different side of Peru and completes the meaning of the dish. From the Rainforest to the Extreme Altitude, from the Savanna to the 100% Cacao, every stage impressed us with both its ingredients and its message. The cacao finale was a powerful closing, like a gift from Peru to the world. Central is a place that allows you to see the world through Peru’s eyes. The philosophy of the kitchen, the rhythm of service, the storytelling, and the balance of flavors are truly extraordinary. A journey that anyone interested in gastronomy should absolutely experience in Lima.”

** I am rating and saying opinions of what I would expect paying thousands of US dollars for a dinner** This place is overrated. Servers appeared to not want to work and the timing of bringing and taking away dishes was off. Mocktail pairing there were two repeated drinks and they were all fermented drinks and almost all tasted the same. Just sour. Couldn’t differentiate between the drinks towards the end. The courses started off strong with the first 4. But soon it went downhill for us. Dishes had a lot of foam elements. And the overall taste of everything was salty and couldn’t distinguish the different foods. It’s hard not to compare to other places that cost the same price. Service and food are NOT up to par. We paid 2,087.69 $ for three people. It cost us less to eat at a 2 Michelin star place with an extra person with us. Where the food and service was worth the price.

The meal was exceptional and is one of the best I have ever had. Honestly tasting menus make me a little nervous because I wonder if the imagination of the chef is just too far outside my comfort zone. Despite my nerves, I brought an open mind to this experience. As I reviewed the menu, cornbread jumped off the page. As a person who grew up eating cornbread, I was SURE that I would be disappointed. I have been to many restaurants who try to put some flare on cornbread and they fail. Well, it was not like Jiffy or any cornbread I have made from scratch. It was more like a sweet bread and the onion butter was wonderful. I was getting full but still regret I did not eat my last slice. I could go on and rave about almost every dish but who wants to read all of that and I assume the menu changes so it is not even helpful. But I need to say the beef was fantastic. I do not eat much red meat and was set to be underwhelmed and it was amazing. And since my review seems to be all sunshine, I will be real and say there was one part I did not like and it was a gelatinous portion of a dessert. It is a texture I do not enjoy but it was such a small component of the meal that if you feel the same way this will not really impact your satisfaction. What can I say, it is just my palate. By the dessert courses, I was pretty full any way but I managed to eat all of the thin cookies which gave me another surprise ….I enjoyed the white chocolate one. I generally love dark chocolate, will eat milk chocolate but pass on desserts with a white chocolate base. I was wrong again. This was great. I wish I had photos of all the courses. They were a treat for the eyes not just the stomach. I would go back in heartbeat. This was my best of many great meals in Lima.

One of the best dinners I can remember. The flavors were out of this world. Several of the dishes I will dream about for quite a while. The ambiance, the music, the staff. Five stars across the board! Really glad we read all the reviews and chose this as our last meal in Lima. Do not miss!

We ordered 5+1 things between two people and felt that it was enough food. Okay: popeye crab, white fish with cocona / Good: Scallops with sanki and jalapeño, Fish curry / Amazing: Lamb and tuber (tender and so succulent), Flan (soooo creamy with a slight burnt caramel taste on the sauce, the lightly bitter taste compliments the taste and texture of the custard very well). We also got the Chirimoya cocktail - taste was good, but also quite basic. I gave it 4 stars because only 1/5 dishes were really, really good in our opinion. Service from Cesmar was 💯, she was very attentive and thorough in her explanation of the dishes. We found the price affordable for this level of dining experience. For reference, our meal came to around 260 PEN per person. I recommend booking in advance, but if you didn't, it's worth walking in to check if they have any availability for that day/the next couple of days (this is what we did). Happy dining! 🥳

We had a fantastic experience with impeccable service and novel, exciting flavors as part of the tasting menu. We were continually blown away as each dish was brought out (I included a few fun pictures of some of my favorites). So many delicious tastes and exciting textures. We definitely had a few favorites but the entire menu was a delight. We felt the price was well worth it and the servers were very attendant throughout the night. The sommelier was also lovely and helped us select a bottle of sparkling wine from Argentina for the evening.

Unforgettable dining experience to round up a visit to Peru The concept of the menu overall, pairing of ingredients and textures are sophisticated and unique. Peru is known for its fantastic cuisine but Merito is just next level. The staff is exceptionally attentive and knowledgeable. We got interesting explanations about the dishes we were trying and the origins of ingredients. My biggest recommendation in Lima!

Very modern and innovative menu with ingredients all sourced from Peru. The service was top notch as you'd expect with a restaurant of this caliber. Most of the dishes were very well balanced between flavors and textures. Would recommend to anyone visiting Lima and looking for a fine dining experience.

Delicate, perfection is the word you can say about food in Merito. The food was amazing. I really had great time in this restaurant. If you visit Lima and looking for high quality of restaurant. Here is the one for you

We came here twice and all the bread bites we tried were good. The trout tartare was tasty. The pescado al pil pil was just meh. The service was good and the restaurant is nicely decorated.

Fantastic experience, great service a good bottle of wine. We ordered a couple Tapas then the Paella. Absolutely delicious. If your looking for a break from Peruvian try this spot you will not be disappointed.

Probably the best soup I’ve tasted! Calm ambient, good music and service and good prices (manu del la dia is my recommendation)

Good food. Restaurant was too dark and you feel tight as tables are small. Service was good too. Price was very affordable though. Not exceptional, but overall a good experience.

Great restaurant. Came here for a friend's birthday after a recommendation. Apart from the broad choice of delicious food, which led to my eating far too much in a desire to have a little of everything this was perfect. Just not for dieters! At least not for dieters with willpower like mine. I could have stayed from midday to midnight quite happily grazing at many of the delicious plates. Of special note the various tapas were perfect, especially the chorizo, and the trout. The beef and fish main courses were spectacular and the double choco mousse was just too good. Think I left about 2 kilos heavier! Fantastic service, delicious food, lovely ambience. What more could you ask for?

Arlotia is located in the heart of Barranco. Its a small and cozy place. They have good tapas and drinks. Its pet friendly. They have good music and the place looks clean. They also sell menus for lunch for 20 soles, which I found delicious and price worth it. You can buy also bottles of wine. My husband bought me a bottle of wine from there and was good. They are open from 12:30 to 23:00. I need to go back and try their paella and desserts. If you miss mediterranean food, here is your place. They are in Grau 340, Barranco and their phone nr is 997753289, you can reach them through whatsapp.

We love this spot. Every time there seems to be something new to explore and enjoy. Negronis are on point, food is wonderful, and the people who run it are super sweet. An extra plus that they welcome our little dog too!

After being on the waiting list for a while, we decided to try our luck as a walk in customer. We were so fortunate that there was a slot and we were able to have an early dinner. As the 2025 number one restaurant in the world, we had high expectations. The staff were professional, friendly and explained clearly how we should eat each dish to get the best culinary experience. Each dish gave an amazing taste that is hard to describe and it is no wonder that this is the top restaurant in the world. All dishes were amazing, but my favourite was the scallop with urchin.

We visited the restaurant for the Maido Experience after it got given the #1 Restaurant in the World Award and were not disappointed at all. It was a truly unique experience from the moment we walked in until we left, from the staff greeting until the last goodbye. The restaurant is very tastefully decorated, with exquisite table setting and plates. The dining experience was phenomenal, with 14 different wonderful bites to try, each one with an amazing taste, texture, presentation, combination of flavours and of course a wonderful introduction by our waiter. It took us about 2 hours to go through each dish, with the perfect timing in between dishes for you to eat, savour, take in, enjoy and discuss with your friends. We thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and can’t wait to come back, next time maybe to focus on a dish or two. We consider ourselves very fortunate for having the opportunity to experience something like this. Thank you Misha for making it possible. ❤️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “If I came here knowing nothing, I would say I had very delicious food and would love to come every month, but I wouldn’t call this the best in the world. The food is good, but the storytelling is missing and the service mostly just lists the ingredients. The atmosphere is pleasant, the Nikkei–Peruvian fusion is impressive, but overall the experience felt more like casual dining.”

I’ve had really high expectations for Maido, as it was supposed to be one of the peaks of my trip to Peru. However, I left rather dissapointed. There was nothing wrong about the food, it was OK, but nothing special. Had better food many times. Don’t believe it was worth the price or the hype.

Such a fun and tasty dinner! The experience was great.. each course was delicious, a little adventurous, and my favorite part was the use of texture in every dish!! They are booked constantly so their reservations are strict and they should be! Timing of dishes was great and the sake selection is good.

How is this number one in the world? Did these people lose their taste buds in 2025? The meal started out okay but nothing spectacular. Could easily name 100 restaurants that were better than Maido that I’ve eaten at all over the world. They tried to copy Central in bringing in the raw ingredients to the table, but it’s a totally different vibe. The sushi rice was so poorly cooked, even just touching it with the chopstick I could tell it wasn’t right. It was hard and starchy… how can you mess up something so essential in Japanese cuisine? The glass noodles were all stuck together and gummy. And the dessert was just atrocious… chorizo flavored ice cream with a soup of lemongrass flavored soy milk. I’m sorry but it made me want to throw up. Such a disappointment all around.

Great decorations. Food presentation is amazing. However, for me, the taste is a bit overpowering, especially the citrus taste. For someone who loves Japanese food, the taste did not amaze me, but the presentation is great.

The food was delicious, but unfortunately, we found a hair in our fried calamari plate. While the staff apologized and offered a free chocolate cake as compensation, it dampened the overall experience.

So let’s go the movie route with this place … Clint Eastwood style … the good , the bad and the ugly. First the good: amazing service , super attentive , surprisingly, the chaufa de pescado is the reason to come here … mind blowing flavors and super fresh! The bad, the reason I came here was for the ceviche but both were super salty … the ugly: the ceviche was soooo salty that I didn’t finish it but it looked beautiful.. I felt so bad leaving it there. Ironic that I came for the ceviche but stayed for the chaufa. I really hope it was just an off day for them because I’m coming back for the chaufa !

I wasn’t expecting much, but the food and drinks were absolutely delicious. The flavors were perfectly balanced resulting in perfectly executed, simple dishes. Would definitely return.

First off I love food and cultural food is something I look forward to on our trips. We heard about this place and it was recommended to be an extremely nice and delicious place to eat a lot of the cultural food here. However I have to say that this place doesn’t hopefully represent anything to do with Peru and this was the worst place we have eaten here since we started our trip. The service was non existent, the food was either over cook or cut incorrectly and chewy, the valet told a man as we were leaving that they didn’t do valet and continued to watch his phone, the waiter made us change or 20 dollars bill multiple time because they had very slight rips on the bottom, overall I will never return to this restaurant and I hope this helps some of you avoid wasting your money here.

The best thing I had was the grilled octopus … I had a seafood pasta and I found it a bit weird because there was a large amount of cheese on top that I found strange. Pisco sour was good. A bit sweet but still delicious… The doughnuts at the end were awesome though!

Great Seafood place, conchitas a la calaca y la parmesana are a must! TIRADOTOS are great as well! Reservations recommended

Excellent high end seafood restaurant, can be busy during lunch and empty for dinner. I came here for dinner and didn't need a reservation, but you might for lunch. A little bit pricey but the food is delicious and high quality. Should be considered as one of the high quality restaurants in Lima.

Hi there, Fresh, vibrant, and full of flavor! Punta Azul nails what Peruvian seafood should taste like — from perfectly seasoned ceviche to tender pulpo and juicy arroz con mariscos. The place buzzes with energy, and the service is quick even when it’s packed. It’s that classic Lima spot where locals and travelers meet over pisco sours and fresh catches. Highly recommend for anyone craving authentic coastal Peruvian cuisine! Cheers

Delicious!!! I came here when I was visiting Lima, tried a few different dishes but the ceviche Punto Azul was my very favorite! they have really good variety of drinks and desserts as well! I can't wait to come back and try more items from the menu ( I just needed some extra spicy sauce to make it perfect)

Pisco Sour Salvation in a Sea of Mediocrity After a week of questionable life choices in Peru, we stumbled upon a restaurant that didn't make us want to cry (yet). There was a line out the door, and they actually took reservations – shocking! The food was...fine. Scallops were smothered in enough cheese to clog an artery, the octopus was unremarkable, and the ceviche was decent, but let's be real, we've had better at a high school potluck. BUT. The pisco sour? Oh, sweet mother of all that is good. It was like a symphony of flavors, a party in our mouths, a reason to question all our life choices that led us to this moment. We're talking best pisco sour in Peru best. We'll be back for that alone. Every. Single. Night. If you're a foodie looking for a culinary experience, just don'texpecta lot here. But if you're a pisco sour connoisseur (is that a thing?), this place is your holy grail. Just don't forget to bring your stretchy pants and a cardiologist.

We had a great dinner and decided to share a few dishes so we could try more of the menu, the food did not disappoint, “Delicious.” The service was a little slow, but that’s understandable given how popular the restaurant is for its excellent food. The atmosphere has a great vibe, though it did get quite loud with all the guests and music. Not unpleasant, but something to keep in mind if you prefer a quieter setting.

If you’re in Lima and craving ceviche, Punto Azul is a name that comes up again and again — and for good reason. I walked in just before noon and the place was already buzzing. No frills, no pretentious plating — just solid, flavour-packed Peruvian seafood done right. They start you off with a bowl of cancha (toasted corn) and a small bowl of spicy salsa — a salty, crunchy prelude that sets the tone. Then came the ceviche mixto (pescado y pulpo) — fresh chunks of fish and tender octopus, marinated in a bold leche de tigre. Creamy, citrusy, assertive. The sweet potato and choclo on the side round it off with earthy sweetness and chew. I’ve had ceviche in Chile, but this? Different league. Brighter, more acidic, more alive. The Peruvians own this dish, hands down. A warm bowl of fish broth (caldito) also arrived unannounced — a comforting, herby sip in between bites. Wrapped up the meal with a merengado de chirimoya, a light but decadent dessert that brings together tropical fruit, crisp meringue, and fresh strawberries. A surprising win — and very Peruvian. 💰 Total bill: PEN 80 📷 Dishes tried: • Ceviche Pescado Pulpo (56 PEN) • Merengado de Chirimoya (24 PEN) Pro tips: ✅ Come early or expect a queue ✅ Service is quick and friendly ✅ Portions are generous ✅ Dessert is worth saving space for

Yes, they're great!! And it's worth the visit! I went there because my friend recommended it and, fortunately, it was just in front of the hotel. I was lucky to get in early, as it gets busy later and I wasn't aware of it (until seeing lines in other moments). The waiter was super attentive and friendly, despite the busyness! The entrée (canchita and banana chips with those sauces) is just a sign that it's gonna be goooood! I was alone and didn't expect the chaufa de mariscos would be sooooo big!!! It could be shared between two people, at least. It was delicious, although couldn't finish it 🥲 and chicha morada was just perfect to balance the dinner.

The place was packed for lunch. The hostess said a 20 minute wait and it was pretty close. I think I waited 25-30 minutes? It flew by pretty quickly. I got the fish ceviche and grilled fish. It was so good! Portions are huge. I couldn’t finish it and had to take it to-go. So worth it. Wish I had a bigger party so I could try more items on the menu. A bit on the pricier side but it was good! Service was friendly but they were busy so expect to wait a bit and enjoy your time.

I decided to try the Parmesan scallops today. Very tasty. Served as shown paired with a wheat beer from Cusco. Slightly salty for some but typical for seafood here in Lima. The beer was very cold and crisp. The restaurant has some sense of a Fonda that has expanded. Others here had some beautiful large platters suitable for a group of friends to try.

Amazing ceviche. The cocha negra , urchin ceviche was spectacular, as was the traditional fish ceviche. I'm a seafood freak, urchin is not to a lot of people's liking so keep that in mind.

There is a vegetarian ceviche and other vegan options (ceviche with mushrooms, tasty)

Learned how to make cerviche & other foods here. Hosts were awesome

We were family of 14. Food was great!! It was not my first time. I love to eat La Ronda Marina, I love seafood. Recommend 💯

The experience was average. Ceviche was good but not amazing. Prices are average as well. Leche de tigre was the best plate on the table. Tuna Causa was terrible. Tuna was from the can so it didn’t tasta good at all. Leche de tigre was 20 soles and other combinado plates were 46 soles. Could suggest if you are around and want ceviche but would it worth coming all the way just to eat here? Nope 👎🏻

Our first and best ceviche while in Peru! The seafood rice is also delicious. Very cheap prices and high food quality. The crab tequeños were amazing. Friendly service. Honest food and only locals there. Great experience.

We went to Awicha on the recommendation of local foodie friends. What a treasure! The food was exquisite! Peruvian French fusion created with care. My husband loved the cassoulet, and I loved the fresh seafood. We both were blown away by the scallop and beef tartare. Amazing! And the experience was enhanced with delicious wine along with gracious and professional service. This restaurant is a gem!

Great little spot with delicious food and friendly service! We walked in without a reservation and they sat us right away for lunch. The server was very helpful with recommendations. We really liked the grilled octopus and the soup!

What a wonderful place!!! Eliana was our waitress and she was extremely helpful and kind to us. Service was 10/10! The food was amazing ❤️ The Beef tenderloin with shallots was spectacular and the tiradito was delicious. I love the atmosphere and everything about this place. If you are in Barranco, this is a great place to visit to have lunch.

Hands down the best food we’ve eaten in all of South America 🤩🤤 each dish is so unique and delicious, all the flavours are so well balanced and you can tell a lot of thought has gone into creating them, it feels like Michelin star quality food. The feel of the place is very homely yet classy in a beautiful building and all the staff are so tentative and welcoming. It’s also very reasonably priced for the high standard of food you are getting! I’ll be dreaming of this food for a long time - I couldn’t recommend it enough 😍

We didn’t reserve a table and they were fully booked but luckily our waiter Daniel managed to find us a table! The food was AMAZING and we will be returning before the end of our trip.

It was our last night in Peru and we went to Branco area the redturant is in quite street with many coffee shops and restaurants. The atmosphere in the resturant is quite and look old. We got a recommendations so we stay expecting at least good food. The food was good but we have better places in Lima. Overall it's nice place but not fully recommended.

absolutely delicious!! We ordered the scallop and beef tartare, the duck pasta and the scallop curry with rice, and all were phenomenal (especially the tartare and pasta!) our server, eliana, was also very patient despite our lack of spanish and we felt very comfortable during our entire experience. If we stayed longer, we would have definitely come here again to order the other things on the menu!

This was exactly what I was looking for! Tucked away in the back corner of a small market, Canta Ranita had amazing ceviche and grilled octopus. I don’t usually like fish, but the fish (maybe tuna?) in the ceviche mixto had perfectly absorbed the great flavor of the leche de tigre and was very tender. I asked for medium spicy and it was the perfect level for me (you can order a side of the salsa aji if you want more spice). The pulpo a la plancha was also good and a generous portion. The atmosphere is top notch, especially if you want to avoid super touristy places.

Absolute favorite place in Lima. The food is incredible, fresh and so tasty. We really felt like we had a cool local experience. It's.a bit hidden / tucked away, and they're very popular but worth queuing for. Highly recommend

This was amazing! Such an incredible vibe in the place. Good selection of items within the menu and incredibly friendly. If you want to live an authentic mercado experience, go here. I would have loved to order everything. We got grilled octopus, mixed ceviche, fish chicharrón and some fresh mussels… everything incredible. Go early as there is typically a queue. They also have nice music in. It can be slow service, but it’s worth it.

I think their ceviche is worth the hype! We got lucky, had no wait and fast service. It’s not cheap but it was delicious and fresh

Tuck in a small corner among all the small businesses, away from the main road. Not easy to find. But once you did some "hide & seek" (Google map will help) you'll be able to find this eatery. I like this kind of small eatery because that's where you'll find good stuff which we did! The servers are super friendly, even though none of us speak Spanish.. They tried their best to communicate with us using very very limited English. Good effort for that. They are so friendly and approachable that even before the food came, we had became friends with them. Guardian imperial (Ceviche) was the bomb! The grilled octopus was abit too Chewy to my liking but the fish was tasty really fresh. Whole dish was so refreshing. Do order their Chicha morada, super refreshing on a hot afternoon. Overall, the whole dining experience does not loose to a Michelin restaurant and you paid a fraction of a price. Kudos to the Venezuela waitress who was always smiley checking on us how was our dining experience. 5 🌟!

One of the best ceviche spot with a good variety. If you don’t like onion or cilantro then maybe this isn’t for you as they’re heavy on both ingredients for their dishes. Bottle of wine was also reasonable priced, the only downside if the lack of water. Then, again that’s a norm in Peru.

Who can't deny this amazing owner from the restaurant? Me and my friend had a blast! The ceviche was amazing and the free dish from the Vincente was very delicious! Thank you for your kindness team Canta Ranita!

Amazing decor, very beautiful with extremely friendly host/ staff. Mario, our waiter was absolutely amazing. He was so attentive and very good recommending dishes and explaining in detail everything. Our food was exceptional. For starters we were given this amazing chips with amazing sauces. The green one was my favorite and the corn was so amazing and addicting. Then we ordered the trio ceviche. It was so fresh and beautifully represented and then we had the grilled octopus which was simply amazing. I would definitely go back and recommend going there if you visiting Lima.

The atmosphere is very lively and full of energy! Super fresh seafood, I like that they have lots of options that are small bite sized plates, and i tried a bunch of different things, all delicious! You could easily spend a few hours here with friends drinking cocktails and having a slow lunch.

Flor was our server and she was incredible! With a menu as large as this it was a bit difficult to decide what I wanted when it all looked so good however Flor took us through the menu and explains every dish while providing recommendations of her own. When we arrived they sat us down in the waiting area for a very short bit and provided a complimentary snack for us as well. The drinks were sublime, the food was out of this world. 10/10 would definitely go again!!

Vibes in this restaurant are awesome. It’s very open, the restaurant is bustling, and seeing the fresh fish at the bar is a great touch. The food is fresh and the quality of the fish is fantastic. The service is fast and attentive as well, even with how busy it gets. It’s an elevated dining experience in a casual setting. Highly recommend this spot if you’re in Peru.

If you are visiting Lima, Peru, I cannot recommend La Mar Cevichería enough. In fact, if you have more than one day in the city, I suggest going twice—there are simply too many amazing dishes to experience in a single sitting. The menu is extensive, and everything we tried was fresh, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. Be prepared for a wait—around 30 to 45 minutes at lunchtime and often longer during dinner since they don’t take reservations. Fortunately, the staff makes the wait pleasant. There is outdoor seating where you can relax, snack on toasted corn (“conchitas”), and enjoy a drink from the bar until your table is ready. We went as a group of twelve, which gave us the chance to sample many different dishes. My favorites included the crab claws, priced individually at around $6 each. They are not your typical claws—more like delicate portions of sweet crab meat shaped into a ball, about half the size of a Twinkie. I also enjoyed a light avocado-based mixed salad and the Saltado with pescado y langostinos (fish and shrimp), which was absolutely delicious. My mother ordered the lomo saltado, another must-try classic. The restaurant also offers impressive grilled seafood platters with shrimp, octopus, shellfish, and fish—perfect for sharing. If you enjoy your meal as much as we did, check out their cookbook, branded aprons, and other souvenirs. For dessert, the warm chocolate cake was rich, moist, and decadent—an ideal way to end a memorable meal. The ambiance is rustic, casual, and welcoming, with nautical touches that make it feel like a chic beachside spot. Lamar Cevichería is absolutely worth the visit.

This is my third time in Lima and second time trying La Mar. Very disappointed again. I thought last time I didn’t order the right food so I came with some study done. I arrived with high hopes. The oyster was fishy and the dressing was salty soy sauce (are you serious?) the octopus and the pasta were very salty (the steak in the pasta was very good). When I mentioned this to the waitress while I was tipping her, she wasn’t very interested to learn more. in return. She said “yah?” There are better choices for similar restaurant. Lima has many decent restaurants. Just be careful so you don’t waste your meal opportunity in Lima.

super amazing restaurant!!! make sure to go there early so you don’t have to wait and that you get to eat sea urchin. we got our table quite late so they only had a bi!! everything we tried from the menu tasted amazing and i definitely want to go back to try other menu items!! highly recommend!!!

Amazing find in Barranco, still holding an unpretentious vibe with amazing food and generous portions. Fish is extremely fresh, and everything is prepared like a proper local restaurant proudly respecting the ways of the fantastic Peruvian cuisine. Their duos or trios marinos are a weekly favorite!

Searched for a seafood restaurant in Barranco with ceviche on our minds. We ended up here as the last guests before closing, and it was a great choice. The waiter was super friendly, and the food was really tasty. We especially liked the excellent mixed soup, and the ceviche was delicious too. The place has an old-school, traditional vibe, which we loved. It’s refreshing, especially since so many other spots in Barranco have turned into the same kind of steakhouse, pizza, or burger place. So if you’re hungry for good Peruvian seafood, definitely give this place a try!

Best ceviche... Get the house special. Pretty good price.

Very good resturant. Went with a local couple. Ceviche was Awesome.

Not a tourist destination. Incredibly fresh ceviche. A great choice for lunch.

Just good.

Very delicious!