Museo Larco & Gastronomy Scene

★★★ Museo Larco

The best museum in Peru and one of the best in South America — housed in a beautiful 18th-century colonial villa built on a pre-Inca pyramid. The collection includes over 45,000 objects from 5,000 years of Peruvian history: gold and silver jewelry of the Moche and Chimú, intricate ceramics, colorful textiles, and the famous (and partly humorous) erotic ceramics collection.

What makes the Museo Larco special: The storage rooms are open to the public — shelves full of ceramics as far as the eye can see. And the garden with bougainvillea and an excellent café/restaurant is worth a visit on its own.

Av. Bolívar 1515, Pueblo Libre. 30 PEN. Daily 10:00–19:00. By taxi from Miraflores approx. 20 min.

Lima — Gastronomic Capital of the World

Lima has been repeatedly named the gastronomic capital of the world by the prestigious "World's 50 Best Restaurants" magazine. Two restaurants regularly rank in the world's top 10: Central (Chef Virgilio Martínez explores Peruvian ecosystems on the plate) and Maido (Nikkei cuisine — the Japanese-Peruvian fusion). The waiting list for Central is months long — reserve in advance!

Where to eat in Lima?

For every budget, Lima offers an unforgettable dining experience:

• Cevichería: Specialty restaurants for ceviche and seafood. The best ones are full at lunchtime and close in the afternoon. La Mar (Miraflores) by celebrity chef Gastón Acurio is legendary. El Mercado by Rafael Osterling is also excellent.
• Chifa: The Chinese-Peruvian fusion cuisine is unique. Best in Barrio Chino (Chinatown).
• Anticuchera: Street stalls serving anticuchos (grilled beef heart skewers). Sounds unusual, tastes fantastic!
• Menú del Día: In simple restaurants, you get a complete lunch menu for 10–15 Soles (3–4€).
• Mistura: If you're in Lima in September: The Mistura Food Festival is South America's largest gastronomy festival — 100+ stands, celebrity chefs, street food.