One of the best parts of traveling to a new destination is getting to taste new flavors and foods you’ve never experienced before.
There are places where even common and popular dishes just taste differently—better and richer in flavor— and you just can’t get enough.
By trying traditional dishes, travelers also get to learn about a culture and its history, and there’s a new city in Latin America that is getting a lot of attention from culinary experts and travel foodies.
Lima, in Peru, has just been recognized as one of the best destinations in the world for foodies for having the best restaurants and cuisine.
The Peruvian restaurant Central won first place in this year’s World’s 50 Best Restaurants, a prestigious organization awarding world-class restaurants since 2002.
This spacious restaurant, run by Virgilio Martínez and Pia León in the Barranco neighborhood, offers visitors one of the best culinary experiences in the world.
And that’s not it, 3 more restaurants in Lima, Maido, Kjolle, and Mayta, ranked in the top 50, making Lima a must-go destination for food lovers.
The Most Prestigious Restaurants In Lima
Lima constantly ranks among the top destinations for foodie travelers, only this time it made it to first place.
Peruvian cuisine combines local indigenous ingredients and has strong influences from Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, and African culinary cultures.
At Central, guests get to taste local food “through 15 different Peruvian ecosystems” with a fascinating concept that considers altitude, from the Pacific Ocean to the top of the Andes, to include new products and flavors.
In sixth place, another restaurant in Lima was featured: Maido.
Maido is described as a “Japanese restaurant with a Peruvian heart”. Chef Mitsuharu ‘Micha’ Tsumura combines Peruvian ingredients and Japanese techniques to create 10 to 14 courses of Nikkei cuisine.
Guests will get to enjoy a creative menu with exotic flavors and products —like edible stones— and seasonal experiences.
The talented chef Pía León won a second award for her restaurant Kjolle, also in Lima, which made it to place 28 on the list.
At Kjolle, visitors get to taste the most beautiful and colorful creations of this recognized chef as she works along with local artists as well.
And, in position 47, another Peruvian restaurant in Lima made the cut: Mayta.
In the neighborhood of Miraflores, this restaurant run by Jaime Pesaque offers its clients a twelve-course experience of Peruvian cuisine with a sustainable concept.
At Mayta, travelers can taste the Amazonian fish paiche —a species endangering others— in tasteful dishes.
These four Peruvian restaurants are making Lima a more attractive destination for travelers from all over the world.
What To See And Do In Lima
Even though most travelers arrive in Lima just because it is the capital and has more flight connections to international destinations, there’s a lot to see here before getting to Machu Picchu.
There are more tourist destinations in Peru, like Cusco or Arequipa, but Lima is definitely worth exploring, and not only for its delicious restaurants.
There are fascinating museums in this city, like the Larco Museum featuring pre-Columbian art that gathers over 5,000 years of history.
The Huaca Pucllana pyramid is a must-visit archeological site, especially if you are near the Miraflores district to eat at Mayta or Maido.
Lima’s historic center, known as the “City of Kings”, is a UNESCO-listed historic center and is home to main landmarks like the Government Palace, the Cathedral, and the main square Plaza de Armas.
Those visiting the Barranco neighborhood —perhaps to eat at Kjolle or Central— can enjoy a bohemian atmosphere with art galleries, shows, and colorful streets. This district is known as the Soho of Lima and hosts another popular landmark, the Puente de los Suspiros.
And yes, there are great cities for foodies in the United States, but Lima should also be on your bucket list.
