Stephanie & Michael
Things To Do in Lima
Where to Stay
We recommend that you book hotels or an AirBnB in the Miraflores neighborhood of Lima. We will try to coordinate a special rate with a hotel for guests to stay in Lima. Once that has been determined we will post it on the Travel section of the wedding website.
Places to See
Lima is really big city and you could spend a month here and not see everything. However, here are few places we recommend checking out if it's your first time in Peru.
Larcomar
Larcomar is a multilevel entertainment, food and shopping megacomplex that caters to most tastes. Larcomar has breathtaking ocean views, which you can enjoy from numerous restaurants offering Peruvian fare, as well as several American franchises serving everything from doughnuts to ribs. There's also a movie theater, bowling alley and pool hall here, and shopping galore. Many Peruvian fashion designers have boutiques in Larcomar, and there's no shortage of high-end jewelry and clothing stores.
Parque Kennedy
This park is located in the heart of the Miraflores district. To it's northwest you will find the artisan markets and to it's southeast the "Calle de los pizzas". It is also bordered by various hostels, coffee shops, bars, restaurants, a Cathedral and more. It often hosts public exhibitions on the weekends ranging from artesan crafts to paintings and live performances. Perhaps one of the most curious features of the park is it's large population of cats. Legend holds that the cats were introduced to help fight off rats. Whether true or not everywhere you look in the park you will see them. The cats are well cared for by volunteers and are generally friendly. The volunteers provide food and medical care.
Huaca Pucllana Site Museum
This historical ruin or huaca is an adobe ceremonial center was likely built around 500 A.D., during the cultural height of Lima's history. Much of the site has been restored and excavations continue to uncover artifacts and the occasional mummy. The huaca is creatively illuminated at night, giving it a movie-set aura. To make your visit even better, there's an on-site restaurant that serves haute cuisine prepared by an internationally trained chef. There's nothing like dining while taking in 1,500-year-old views.
Bridge of Sighs
The Bridge of Sighs (Puente de los Suspiros) is a lovely wooden structure spanning the Bajada de Baños, a stone walkway that runs down to the Pacific through Lima's bohemian district, Barranco. This comely neighborhood was the place to be in the 19th century and retains its laid-back charm today; there are lots of bars and restaurants in Barranco, plus views of the water, and it's worth strolling around here for an afternoon.
Malecón de Miraflores
The Malecón is perfect for jogging, biking or simply taking in the view. Dotting the walkway are statues created by famed Peruvian artists. The two most famous works of sculpture are located on either side of the Villena Bridge, which spans a deep ravine at about the midway point on the Malecón. On one side of the bridge is the "Intihuatana" (sun anchor), designed by Fernando de Szyslo; on the other is Víctor Delfín's massive carving of a couple in deep embrace. The latter is the central piece of a section of the Malecón known as Parque del Amor (Love Park), whose design borrows heavily from Antoni Gaudí.
Where to Grab a Drink
Here are a few bars to check out while in Lima. My best recommendation is to go through Instagram to find bars. You will not have a hard time finding one in one of these neighborhoods: Barranco, Miraflores, San Isidro. A very popular liquor in Peru is Pisco and the Pisco Sour is one of the most well known Peruvian cocktails.
Ayahuasca
Lounge in a stunning restored casona full of Moorish architectural flourishes. Few actually admire the architecture, most guests are busy checking out everyone else. The hyper-real decor includes a dangling mobile made with costumes used in Ayacucho folk dances. There’s a long list of contemporary pisco cocktails, like the tasty Ayahuasca sour made with jungle fruit tambo and coca leaves.
Carnaval
This bar has been featured on the World's 50 Best Bars.
Olé Restaurante
This fancy bar and restaurant was established more than 15 years ago and not only maintains its top-class quality, but also keeps on creating new dishes regularly: this is a place cherished by business people, and an excellent choice to pamper yourself with a good drink and an original menu that blends Spanish, Peruvian and Asian cuisine. More than that, every detail of its decoration has been carefully planned to make your stay even more enjoyable: warm colors and lights, elegant style, relaxing music, very comfortable furniture, etc. Some drink recommendations include El Capitán, a Peruvian twist on the Manhattan, or Sol y Sombra, a Chilcano (a refreshing pisco and ginger ale) that’s boosted by guinda (cherry) liqueur; there’s also a strong collection of Peruvian piscos to be savoured.
Where to Eat
Peru is well-known for it's food so don't be afraid to go into a hole-in-a-wall type place where you can also get delicious food at an incredible price. You really can't go wrong. Here are a few recommendations to get you started. However, make sure you try at least these foods before you leave Peru: - Ceviche (raw fish marinated in lime, chili and onions) - Lomo Saltado (very traditional dish with beef) - Anticuchos (beef heart skewers) - Chifa (I would recommend going to the Chinatown neighborhood for the best options) - Picarones (very popular dessert)
Astrid y Gastón
Nowadays, Astrid y Gastón, is located in the Casa Moreyra, a historic hacienda in the San Isidro district of Lima. Here the 46-year-old and his influential head chef Diego Muñoz oversee tasting menus of immense scope and ambition. The current version, Region Lima, Acurio's personality and originality are evident in the clever plating, the relaxed service style and the upbeat atmosphere throughout. This year, Astrid & Gaston Restaurant entered as number 14th in The World's 50 Best Restaurants. Make sure to make reservations well in advance!
Osaka
Although it has a small sushi bar, Osaka is much more than a Japanese restaurant. It also serves Peruvian standards such as cebiches and tiraditos, as well as Chinese dishes like wontons stuffed with grilled shrimp, and broiled scallops braised in a spicy sauce. Settle into one of the low tables and sink your teeth into Quinua Maguro (seared tuna medallions served with mashed lucuma fruit and crunchy quinoa), or grilled sirloin and sautéed mushrooms atop miso mashed potatoes. The attentive service makes the meal that much more enjoyable.
La Lucha Sangucheria Criolla
Great place for sandwiches for on the go or just a quick bite before going out!
Siete Sopas Surquillo
Michael and I love this place and although the name literally means 7 soups they have more than just that. They do always have 7 different types of soups on the menu and they are known for their soups so definitely recommend. We like to get these soups after a late night out to prevent hangovers.