Just over a hundred years ago, the coastal district of Barranco was the place where the wealthy Limeños their summer houses. Also Hotel B was once such a stately home. For years, it fell into disrepair until a group of friends, all passionate about art, design, and history, decided to breathe new life into the building. After an extensive renovation, during which the original Belle Époque details were carefully restored, they opened the doors of what is now considered one of Lima's finest boutique hotels. The property has seventeen rooms, divided between the original mansion and a modern annex with high ceilings, marble bathrooms, and contemporary art on the walls.

Art forms the foundation of Hotel B. The founders aren't just art enthusiasts, but collectors who filled the hotel with a carefully curated collection of emerging and established Latin American artists. And so, the hotel became a mini-gallery. Add to that the intimate atmosphere, the refined restaurant, and the elegant rooftop bar (currently under construction, but reopening in 2027!), and you can understand why this former summer house symbolizes Barranco's rebirth.

View and/or book Hotel B

We were guilty of falling for the abundance of food in Lima. We enjoyed round after round at a new, good restaurant. To kill the remaining time, we went for a run along the coast, which was very enjoyable, but also quite strenuous after dinner. And we visited a large number of art galleries. We didn't have to look far for Dédalo, as it's across from the two hotels mentioned above. Here, you can find only products from independent brands, Peruvian designers, and recognized artists. And after all that shopping, you can visit the charming courtyard for, again, a bite to eat.

Daedalo  

The menu alone, with its illustrations and rainforest paper, is worth a visit. When we wanted to take it home as a souvenir and, out of courtesy, asked for the price tag on the paper, we discovered it cost a whopping $80. And so did the rest of the evening: expensive. But hey, what do you expect when a cocktail bar is considered one of the thirteen best in the world?

Fortunately, you get something in return. Lady Bee, founded in 2021 by Alonso Palomino and sisters Gabriela and Alejandra León, is an ode to Peruvian hospitality. Everything here revolves around attention and authenticity: the team knows your name before you even step inside, knows which country you're from, and what you prefer not to eat or drink. The ingredients come from all corners of the country: mashua and oca from the Andes, cecina from the Amazon, and fresh scallops from the Pacific coast. Cocktails and dishes are developed together. Their Bloody Mary, for example, is served with a fresh scallop from Ica; the Oca Mashua is an ode to forgotten Peruvian tubers.

Since moving from Miraflores to the creative Barranco neighborhood in 2025, Lady Bee has grown. The new space, with its wood, soft honey tones, and serene energy, is the setting for what is now officially the most welcoming bar in the world, awarded the Michter's Art of Hospitality Award 2025.

Lady Bee

Shortly after we declared Rafael the best restaurant in Lima, we discovered that Mayta also exists. Now, about two weeks after our visit, we're still thinking about the cocoa dessert, but we'll save that for later in this article. In Lima, a restaurant that not only competes at the top of international gastronomy, but also demands attention for something substantial: the Amazon. "The Amazonia is the despensa del futuro." Jaime Pesaque has been running this restaurant since 2008, and with success, as Mayta is ranked #39 on the prestigious list of The World's 50 Best Restaurants. In the afternoon, you dine à la carte, in the evening, ten courses. And guess what? The man also owns a restaurant in The Hague?

In his kitchen, the coast, mountains, and jungle of Peru converge. He uses Amazonian products like hongos (callampas), sacha orégano, tumbo, lulo, cocona, arazá, and even ajíes charapita—small, spicy, and with a lingering aroma. And although we were particularly impressed with the appetizer and dessert (the main course was a bit too substantial, in our opinion), we were busy chatting with the waitstaff. Every few seconds, another piece of fruit was brought to our table because we were carefully considering what ingredients were in the dishes. And then, about that cocoa dessert: chocolate served three ways with a mousse, a kind of brownie, inside. Amazing.

mayta

In Barranco, you'll also find Ayahuasca Restobar in the impressive Berninzon Mansion, a stately building from the 1870s. Here, you'll find high ceilings, colorful rooms, and patios filled with street art-like murals of Peruvian musicians and soccer players. While the menu doesn't offer hallucinogenic drinks, it does offer cocktails that will make you just as dizzy. Order one with pisco and tropical herbs and head upstairs overlooking the courtyard. Create your own South American feast: shrimp empanadas (smaller and more refined than their Chilean counterparts) and anticuchos, succulent skewers of grilled beef heart. Interesting, but truly delicious.

Ayahuasca

If you want to understand Lima, especially its culinary scene, you need to know something about Nikkei cuisine. Nikkei cuisine is a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian traditions. It originated in the early 20th century when Japanese immigrants settled in Peru. They brought their cooking techniques, flavors, and respect for fresh ingredients, combining them with the abundant produce of their new homeland: chilies, limes, corn, potatoes, and, of course, fresh fish.

Osaka, Hanzo, and Tzuru are also top spots in Lima where Nikkei is elevated to an art form. Osaka, in particular, is Pardo y Aliaga, open for over 20 years, where chef Rodrigo Ferrer showcases the best of Nikkei cuisine. The most outstanding dishes you must try are cebiches, tiraditos, and nigiris. We thought going there was a good excuse for a Nikkei history lesson.

Osaka Pardo y Aliaga