In a city filled with culinary destinations, Central Restaurant stands above them all as the most famous restaurant in Lima. When we visited in September 2022, it was ranked #2 on the World’s Top 50 Restaurants List and had been on the list since 2013. Chefs Virgilio Martínez and Pía León are a husband & wife team responsible for some of the best restaurants in the world, all located in Peru. They are the team behind Kjolle and Mil as well.
When you arrive at Central, you are transported into a little private garden oasis in the middle of the city containing over 100 plant species and many local birds. Central’s core theme is Peru’s great biodiversity, with menus made to highlight different regions & elevations across Peru. At time of writing there were two menu options – 12 courses for PEN 950 (~$250 USD) or 14 courses for PEN 1064 (~$280 USD), each with a set option or a “journey of the day”.
We opted for the classic “Mundo Mater” 14 course experience – everything during the meal from the presentation, the cocktails & wine, the service was top notch. We tried all kinds of ingredients we had never heard of. Unlike some restaurants that try to push the boundaries with new ingredients, we actually enjoyed what we were eating with all kinds of new flavours.
Out of all the courses, our favourites were Black Rocks (10 MBSL), Andean Forest (2700 MASL), and Chuncho Cacao (1800 MASL). There was a wide variety of flavours and ingredients throughout the dishes, with some prepared & served table side. Sometimes they brought out other parts of an ingredient to give context. When eating Pacu Fish, a relative of the piranha that is found in the Peruvian Amazon, they brought out the heads which made for a cool visual accompaniment to the meal.
Overall, Central is a must-do in Lima! Even if just making a stop-over or a 24 hour stop in the city, it’s worth making a trip into the city for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Central is open for lunch bookings in addition to dinner and open every day except Sunday. See more tips & itinerary suggestions for your Peru trip in our. Ultimate Guide To Peru.
Contact
Address: Av. Pedro de Osma 301, Barranco 15063, Lima, Peru
