Food Lover's Guide to Lima

Peruvian food showcases a true blend of cuisines—alongside indigenous and Spanish flavors, you’ll find influences from China, Italy, Africa, and Japan. Here are a few dishes and culinary experiences you won’t want to miss during your stay in Lima.

Must-Try Dishes

Peru’s national dish, fresh and fieryceviche, has enjoyed worldwide popularity in recent years, and in Lima, you can sample it at the source. Chinese influence shows up in***lomo saltado***, a soy-seasoned and stir-fried beef dish served on a mound of rice and french fries. Equally hearty is***aji de gallina***, shredded chicken in a thick and creamy sauce made of cheese, walnuts, cream, and yellow aji. Any good meat dish needs some potatoes, and in Lima, that means***papas a la huancaina***. This unusual, delicious side dish features sliced potatoes smothered in tangy cheese sauce and topped with hard-boiled eggs.

Adventurous eaters won’t want to misscuy***(roasted guinea pig) one of the most popular street foods in the Andes region. Another popular food sold by street vendors,anticuchos de corazón, is made from marinated and char-grilled cubes of beef heart. Wash it down with Peru’s national drink, apisco sour*.

Must-Do Experiences

• Hit the pavement to learn more about Lima’s culinary landscape on a walking food tour of neighborhoods like Chorrillos and Barranco.

• Learn to prepare Peruvian dishes during a cooking class led by a chef or local family.

• Dive into downtown Lima’s nightlife scene on a bar crawl.

• Sit down to a 3-course Peruvian meal in the gorgeous gardens of the Larco Museum (Museo Larco).

• Experience the breadth of Peru’s food-and-drink culture, including its own craft beer movement, while biking and boating your way through the city.