Restaurant Huaca Pucllana This great restaurant is located in a breathtaking setting: within the ruins of an archaeological compound built between 200 and 700 AD by the early inhabitants of Lima. Their cuisine is a reinterpretation of Peruvian Criollo tradition, and features such dishes as ceviche de camarones a la piedra (stone prawn ceviche) and locro de costillas de cordero (lamb-ribs with a pumpkin stew).

Pescados Capitales This lunch-only seafood restaurant is one of the best places in town for initiating in the pleasures of ceviches, tiraditos, and causas.

Matsuei By far the best sushi bar in Lima, it began as a small eatery in an unattractive part of town. It was co-founded by a certain Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, the same guy that was later to open the Nobu restaurants around the globe, partnering with such celebrities as Robert DeNiro and Giorgio Armani. A must for Japanese-cuisine lovers.

Astrid & Gastón Founded in 1994 by husband-and-wife couple Gastón Acurio and Astrid Gutsche, initially the restaurant's cuisine was largely French. Gradually, though, as they rediscovered Peruvian flavours and culinary traditions, the kitchen began to incorporate local dishes and ingredients, moving towards the current Criollo-French concept that characterizes the restaurant today. In any case, regardless of this evolution -or precisely because of it-, consider Astrid & Gastón one of the highest notes in the Peruvian culinary scene.

Rafael A minimalist yet warm restaurant, located in a colonial mansion in the old part of Miraflores, it surprises for the delicate fusion of Peruvian and Mediterranean traditions.

Dalmacia Situated in a quiet square of Miraflores, not 200 metres from the cliffs that overlook the ocean, it is the sort of eclectic and cosy café-bar-restaurant that makes it a pleasant stay anytime: at mid afternoon for a coffee, at dinner, or at night for some drinks. It is, in every case, one of Lima's favourite spots for a chatty good time among friends.