The 17-room converted Belle Époque mansion in Barranco is a magnet for sophisticated Limeños, who come to sip pisco sours at the bar under a colorful mural by Peruvian painter José Tola.
The landmark hotel has 82 spacious rooms with private balconies that face the Pacific Ocean. Come sunset, head to the rooftop infinity pool. Bonus: Lima's high-end shopping area is a short walk away.
This 148-room property mixes modern accents—bold artwork; a palm-fringed indoor pool—with traditional touches such as wood-beam ceilings, locally made ceramics, and Peruvian music in the lobby.
Almost all rooms have water views at this covetable address on the Costa Verde bluffs. At lunch, locals gather at La Vista Restaurant, where Peruvian and international specialties are served.
Peruvian artist VÍctor DelfÍn once lived in this Tudor-style manor in Barranco; see his sculptures throughout the garden. The eight rooms have blond-wood furniture and paintings by regional talents.
This town house turned gallery has modern sculpture, ceramics, tableware, and accessories by local artisans. Snap up a hand-stitched Purocorazón jaguar tote or felt collar choker by Vaçide Erda Zimic.
Lima-born fashion photographer Mario Testino’s sister Giuliana shows sexy knit tops and crocheted dresses that go from beach to ballroom at her San Isidro atelier.
Locals indulge their sweet tooths at Giovanna Maggiolo’s experimental chocolate store in Miraflores. She favors cacao from the Amazon for the velvety fruit cakes and butter cookies.
Mario Testino’s contemporary cultural center in Barranco houses a large selection of his photography. Also on view: heavyweight talents such as Vik Muniz, Julian Schnabel, and Cindy Sherman.
In a warehouse-like space, MAC is one of Lima’s top art institutions, with dance performances, lectures, and exhibitions by emerging Latin photographers such as Morfi Jiménez Mercado and Mario Silva.
Gallery director Gabriela Tineo has an eye for up-and-coming street artists, especially comic pop and graffiti-inspired works. Don’t miss the colorful pieces by Jorge Flores Najar and Alberto Lama.
Set in a colonial mansion in Pueblo Libre, Museo Larco showcases a standout collection of pre-Columbian jewelry and ceremonial artifacts that span more than 5,000 years.
Chef Gastón Acurio's 29-course tasting menu may include early harvest potatoes from the Andes and hairy crab with yellow chili pepper. Not that hungry? Grab a table in the informal La Barra tavern.
Rising star Virgilio Martínez composes a multicourse lesson in biodiversity with ingredients such as cacao, chia, and maca root sourced from the Amazon. The freshwater fish arapaima is a signature.
Chef Rafael Osterling’s casual, covered patio in Miraflores is packed with boisterous Limeños grazing on seared-tuna sliders topped with miso and avocado.
At this upscale version of a picantería (lunch spot), rustic northern Peruvian platters—causa potato; suckling pig—are ideal for sharing. Order a chilcano (pisco, lime, ginger ale, and rose petals).
Japanese-Peruvian fusion is one of Lima’s most inventive melting-pot cuisines. Mitsuharu Tsumura highlights local seafood on his new-world menu. Tip: skip the sake and get the Qollqe pisco instead.
Lima is tamer than Rio and Buenos Aires, but this Barranco nightclub is where you’ll see the hipster crowd sipping craft cocktails.
The futuristic three-story lounge with neon lighting hosts DJ’s and live music throughout the week.
A restaurant and bar, Mayta serves up more than 100 varieties of house-made chilcano pisco cocktails—perfect for hot summer nights.
You can find amazing single-origin Peruvian coffees at this café in Barranco. The owner sources beans from the Amazon that are then roasted in the shop.
A small, humble cevichería with a great selection of ceviches, including one made with avocado.
One of Lima’s best museums features temporary exhibitions of sculpture and photography.
Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino’s menu incorporates hard-to-find ingredients from the jungle at Malabar, a favorite restaurant of fashion designer Giuliana Testino.
