Flight attendants know how to make good use of their layovers. Here, LATAM cabin crew talk about their favorite things to do, eat, and drink in Lima, Peru. Read on for where to eat Japanese-Peruvian food, shop for handmade shoes, and wander galleries of pre-Hispanic artifacts.
Priscilla Zubriria – Flight Attendant
EAT
Osaka: I love the atmosphere and the Peruvian-Japanese fusion cuisine. My boyfriend and I go here for special dates. Without a doubt, try the sushi. They also have grilled meat with crispy native Peruvian potatoes that you will fall in love with.
Rafael: I love this place [in Miraflores]; it’s small and very cozy. Their delicious cuisine is a very interesting mix of Peruvian and international flavors, like Italian and Japanese. [Rafael is no. 24 of Latin America's 50 best restaurants.]
La Trattoria Winery: I love this restaurant because you can find everything from grilled salmon with vegetables to delicious pasta in prawn sauce. I love their gnocchi with cream!
Canta Rana: This is in [trendy neighborhood] Barranco, one block from San Martin Avenue, one of the main streets of the district. Their famous tricolor tiradito [like a sashimi carpaccio] and rice with seafood is one of the best I’ve tasted.
Isolina Taberna Peruana: If there’s any place in Lima where one can enjoy homey creole food, this is it. Everyone I’ve asked says their favorite dish is seco de asado de tira [dry roasted meat] with rice and black beans (a typical dish with cilantro and other spices). It’s the best.
NIGHTLIFE
I really like going to Dada and to the bar at Hotel B, which has a nice cozy terrace. They’re both in Barranco, a neighborhood well known for its nightlife. These are definitely two places you can’t miss in Lima.
NEIGHBORHOODS
Miraflores is a favorite. It’s very busy, but it also has nice parks where you can organize a delicious picnic with the most beautiful sea views. This view can also be enjoyed while you’re walking or cycling, because there’s an extensive boardwalk.
And of course, there’s the beautiful neighborhood of Barranco. There, the sea, art, and nightlife of the city come together in all styles and rhythms. Bars, restaurants, galleries, and everything you need to enjoy and discover a more bohemian side of Lima are here.
SHOPPING
There is a very nice gallery-shop that I like called Dédalo. What makes it special is that you can enjoy beautiful works of art (mostly by independent Peruvian artists) and also find a nice collection of handmade Peruvian shoes. There’s a lovely space to drink coffee, talk, and enjoy the atmosphere.
WHERE TO STAY
Hotel B is one of my favorite hotels in Lima. This is a small boutique hotel, very cozy and with first class service. Next on the list is BTH Hotel, since it’s full of art in every corner and every space is different. For more classic options, I love the Country Club Hotel. There are many coffee shops nearby and other things to do, and you’ll find people at all hours.
Naomi Murakami – Flight Attendant
EAT
My cousins work in the food industry, so we often go out together. I like trying everything in all kinds of places, from innovative restaurants to huariques (what we call hidden-away eateries that become well-known). We enjoy going to Barra Chalaca (a seafood restaurant) and having leche de tigre, but the best part is the popular cura todo, a beverage made with herbs, lemon verbena, and pineapple.
Other recommendations include Panchita and its creole food, like picarones and corn pie, Bao?, DonDoh (Japanese-Peruvian fusion), Restaurante Coreano Dos Hermanos (Korean), and O-Mei (pan-Asian). And finally, one of my favorite spots with a buzzing atmosphere in which to enjoy a Pisco sour is La Huaca Pucllana.
Other Lima restaurant recommendations: Grimanesa Vargas Anticuchos (beef heart kebabs)
El Chinito (pork rind bread); Terukina (creole food); Siete Sopas (creole soups)
NEIGHBORHOODS
My favorite neighborhoods are Miraflores and Barranco. There are very nice restaurants and cafés in Miraflores. And if you’re brave, on a nice day you can go parasailing. Barranco has a particular charm: it’s a romantic place with very good restaurants, nice places to take a walk, like the Bridge of Sighs (Puente de los Suspiros), as well as cool bars and restaurants like La Candelaria, where you can not only have dinner but also enjoy a show.
MUSEUMS
I like Larco Museum, where you can see gold and silver pre-Hispanic pieces from 3,000 years ago. The Gold Museum (Museo Oro), in Surco, is a must-see for pre-Hispanic artifacts and gold ceremonial military helmets.
Cesar Augusto Failla – Crew Area Cabin Manager
EAT
My favorite restaurant is Puerto Norte! They have a number of locations and the service is great. I suggest leche de tigre ceviche. The menu has pictures [to make it easy to order], and the waiters are always very helpful. To drink, there’s the famous Inka Cola, a classic Peruvian soda. I also recommend El Veridico de Fidel restaurant for leche de tigre.
Mi Barrunto is a typical restaurant known only by locals. It has great atmosphere and the food is amazing. I suggest chicken aji (chicken in a spicy sauce made of aji yellow peppers) or seco de cabrito (braised coat stew).
Another cuisine you have to try [in Lima] is sushi. Maido and Edo Sushi Bar are some of the best options.
NIGHTLIFE
For clubs, Barranco is the place to go, and it’s where you find both tourists and lots of locals. Peruvians are very friendly and they love when you join them to go out. Another good club option in Miraflores is LimaBar, in Larcomar.
NEIGHBORHOODS
Miraflores and Barranco are two neighborhoods where you can find a large variety of restaurants and bars. One of Miraflores’ highlights is Larcomar, a large pier with a beautiful view. Barranco is a less crowded, but is more bohemian, with plenty of artists.
MUSEUMS
Museum of the Inquisition and the San Francisco Catacumbas are both in downtown Lima. You can also go to MALI (art museum), also in downtown in a big park.
WHERE TO STAY
My favorite hotel is the Sheraton, which has excellent staff, an incredible breakfast, very comfortable rooms, and a complimentary shuttle service to Larcomar. Another option is Sol de Oro, a beautiful hotel very close to the city’s beaches.
