The best restaurants Lima

This former bodega of the excellent Peruvian pisco brand is very popular with the locals, who enjoy pisco (as it should be) and other cheap beers. Wooden tables, checkered tablecloths, Creole dishes. The menu is cheap but with a lot of tripe and other specialties. The menu includes soups, pasta dishes, meats and specialties such as tacu-tacu (dried beans and rice in sauce), the Friday arroz con pato or the Friday-Saturday lasagna. In the evening, sandwiches, picos and hot dishes. Picturesque atmosphere, not to be missed!

Located just in front of the magnificent Casa de la Literatura, this institution, which has more than a century of history, has lost none of its old-fashioned charm (high ceilings, small round wrought iron tables, a bar as long as the white apron of the waiters). You can find there all the classics of the Peruvian gastronomy as well as sandwiches. Try the butifarra (traditional ham and onion sandwich) or the tamal (made with corn) with its small coffee with milk to start the day well. Or the pisco sour to end the day.

Amazing: there is no sign, and yet this address is often overcrowded, surely by the grace of chef Aldo Danovaro, who prepares delicious Italian-Peruvian recipes. To try: potatoes stuffed with seafood, wantan seafood or scampi canelones. Very classic decoration, small terrace. Booking recommended.

This gigantic restaurant on several floors and rooms is mythical, because it is a tribute to the fans of the football with many models of the football players of the 4 corners of the world and obviously retransmissions. Nevertheless, during the day it is quite quiet and one comes there especially for its traditional and very well served Creole cuisine: lomo salltado, aji de gallina, arroz con pollo or fish and seafood dishes. Friendly and professional service. It is located just above Plaza San Martin. A good address for the hungry.

This Peruvian tavern, located in a pretty casona with a wooded decor and azulejos on the floor, is a gastronomic boom. The place is always busy with a simple formula: generous grandma's cooking to share. You can find stews, sautéed spaghetti, giblets, a well-served lomo saltado... and, on weekends, breakfasts of the same order. Book via their website. On Sundays, go early or queue up in a good mood. Isolina was very well placed in 20th position of the World's 50 Best in Latin America.

A picanteria is a kind of local canteen that offers a homemade and generous cuisine. In this neighbouring district of Miraflores (on the other side of the expressway) this address where you are neck and neck offers fish dishes by the kilo and prepared just now, traditional Creole dishes to share and turn off the wifi to talk to your neighbour. Gaston Acurio recommends it. Be careful though, even if the atmosphere is popular, the prices are high, but the result is to lick your lips. Try to get there early instead.

Next to the Museo Nacional de Arqueologia, this is a great place to go back in time and find yourself in the bohemian Lima of the beginning of the century: a café in its original state with photos on the walls, beams on the ceiling, and a huge wooded bar. On the menu, Creole specialties or sanguches de pejerrey (small fried fish) or lomo ahumado (smoked beef). A mythical and popular address that is worth the effort for its unique atmosphere. The founding address is this one, a^second address El Queirolo de Lima is open during the week with the same charm.

A few steps away from the rather classic Gran Hotel Bolivar, here is the more popular Bolivar or Bolivarcito. A famous cantina with large couches and colorful walls and a great bar. Here you can enjoy rich and hearty Creole dishes. The chef recommends the Blanquirroja made with the catch of the day (a reinterpretation of ceviche) or the fetuccini a la huancaina accompanied by lomo saltado. Finally, around the piqueo bolivar you can also come and discover some emblematic cocktails with names inspired by important people.

This popular bistro, which has brought back to life old-fashioned Creole recipes, is still signed Gaston Acurio. Chilcanos and ham sandwiches on the bone, soups, generous pastas with chicken in sour sauce, cauliflower soufflé, creamy rigatonis with beef brains, lomo saltado to share, and soft chocolate cake. In short, it's a warm and comforting meal. The decoration is ad hoc. An excellent address where unfortunately you can't make reservations. Come early, the value for money is great. 10 min walk from the Huaca Pucllana which is also worth a visit.