Lima isn’t only the largest city within Peru but also the fifth most visited city in Latin America. It is home to some of the world’s best restaurants, it offers historical and cultural charm and it’s by far the city in Peru that offers the most possibilities regarding what to do at night.
Almost every traveler that comes to Lima spends on average 2-3 days in Peru’s capital. Therefore, the question of what are the top things to do in Lima at night pops up for almost everyone that wants to make the most out of their time. In the following, we’ll present to you what is really worth seeing/doing when you’re here.
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Top Things to Do in Lima at Night
Lima has a vibrant nightlife with many different bars, clubs and spots to visit in general. We’ll divide this list according to places to visit, restaurants and bars.
Places to Visit in Lima at Night
Malecón de Miraflores (Miraflores Boardwalk)
The Malecón offers the perfect opportunity to escape from Lima’s hectic lifestyle, in the day and also at night. It’s a 6 mile walkway along coastal cliffs that provides many beautiful views of the capital’s coastline.
You can find many different parks with sculptures, cafes, a lighthouse and Larcomar, a beautifully located shopping mall in Miraflores. Check out the 10 top-rated attractions in Lima to choose from for your next trip!
Larcomar
This modern shopping center is located on a cliff and offers a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean. It features 17 restaurants that offer Peruvian and international food and over 70 shopping stores. Most restaurants are open until midnight, the shops until 10:00 pm.
We recommend getting a table at a restaurant that faces the ocean so you can enjoy this beautiful view at night as well.
Walking Around Barranco at Night
Barranco is Lima’s bohemian district that is home to many different artists, musicians, photographers and designers. It is considered to be Lima’s most romantic district as it has a lot of beautiful houses built according to a typical late 19th-century style, tiny streets and interesting places to visit, such as museums or similar.
Some of Barranco’s top sites are the Puente de los Suspiros (Suspension bridge) and its graffiti, the MATE museum and the Plaza de Armas (main square). There are also many great bars and restaurants around.
Magic Water Circuit
Being around 15-20 minutes away from Parque Kennedy, the Magic Water Circuit (“Circuito Mágico del Agua”) is a rather central option for most tourists. The park itself has 13 different fountains that offer an entertaining show as they are synchronized with music and light effects. Especially for families with kids this is a great option.
You can also visit the parque during the day, but at night it’s even more impressive as you clearly see the light effects. Quick fun fact: the Magic Water Circuit received its own entry in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest water fountain complex in a public park.
The entrance fee is S/ 4 per person (around $1.50) and you can visit the park from Wednesday to Sunday from 3:00 pm to 10:30 pm. A taxi from Miraflores will be around S/ 8.
Plaza de Armas
Unlike in most cities, Lima’s center isn’t where most of the capital’s magic happens. Apart from security reasons, there are just a lot more trendy spots in Miraflores, San Isidro and Barranco.
The Plaza de Armas (main square) is definitely worth visiting, though, as the surrounding buildings are illuminated very nicely.
And if you’re up for trying a Pisco Sour, you should definitely stop by at the Gran Hotel Bolivar which is at the Plaza San Martin, very close to the Plaza de Armas. It was Lima’s first luxury hotel and it’s known for its Pisco Sour, that many people consider the best in all of Peru.
Let us help you craft an unforgettable itinerary for Lima and the other parts of Peru. Check out our customized Peru tours for a memorable trip based on your preferences!
Restaurants in Lima
If there’s one thing you can do exceptionally well in Lima it’s eating delicious food.
Lima is the hotspot for foodies not just in Peru but in all of South America. The amount of excellent restaurants with Peruvian food is overwhelming. We’ll present you some of the most popular ones and also some of our personal favorites.
We’ll start with the most renowned restaurants of Lima that offer an unforgettable foodie experience. For all of these it’s absolutely necessary to reserve a table weeks in advance as they tend to be booked out.
Central
Listed as number 2 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants and number 4 on Latin America’s Best Restaurants, this restaurant definitely offers a unique tasting experience. Located in Barranco, it’s the flagship restaurant of Peruvian chef Virgilio Martínez and his wife Pía León.
Together, they have been travelling the country in search of unique ingredients that they can use for their dishes. This resulted in an incredibly successful tasting menu of 12 or 17 dishes.
Maido
Maido is number 10 on the list of the World’ 50 Best Restaurants and number 1 on Latin America’s Best Restaurants. It enchants its guests with spectacular Nikkei (a fusion of Peruvian and Japanese) food combinations.
Chef Mitsuharu Tsumura created an incredible Experience menu mostly focusing on seafood with typical Peruvian ingredients. The numbers speak for themselves, as both in 2017 and in 2018 it was voted The Best Restaurant in Latin America.
Astrid & Gastón
Astrid & Gastón, named after their owners Astrid Gutsche and Gastón Acurio, is Number 13 on the List of Latin America’s Best 50. The couple has won various awards for their restaurant and it’s definitely worth a visit as well.
It is located in the beautiful Casa Moreyra that is over 300 years old and offers a unique environment for a special night.
Rosa Náutica
The Rosa Náutica is not on the list of the World’s Top 50 but it’s mostly known due to its beautiful location on the sea. Its Victorian architecture combined with exquisite food sets the tone for a romantic night.
If you’re looking for more restaurants, please take a look at our article about the Best Restaurants in Lima. Apart from food, the national cocktail Pisco Sour and other typical Peruvian drinks have become more famous over the recent years. Let’s continue by checking out some of the trendiest bars the city offers.
Bars in Lima
There are many different options for going out at night in Lima. The image above is from the rooftop bar Celeste in San Isidro.
Ayahuasca Bar
The Ayahuasca Bar is a former colonial mansion transformed into a bar. It is located in Barranco and is a very popular spot for locals and tourists. They have delicious snacks and great cocktails.
Insumo Rooftop
This rooftop bar in the AC Hotel by Marriott offers delicious food + cocktails in a spectacular location. As it’s located on the 18th floor, you will get to enjoy beautiful ocean views and depending on when you go you might even see paragliders flying by the hotel.
We recommend you come before sunset so you get to enjoy this incredible moment in the bar.
Celeste Solar Bar
Another one of Lima’s rooftop bars, Located on the Hyatt hotel on the 10th floor in San Isidro, this bar convinced us with its modern concept and its elegant vibe. Apart from the view, it offers high-class food options and creative cocktail combinations.
A great spot to enjoy a sundowner in Peru’s capital.
Azotea Doce
The Azotea Doce is another rooftop bar/restaurant with a 360 degree view and the highest terrace in Lima. It’s located on the 22nd floor of the Bloom Tower in Magdalena del Mar. Just like Celeste bar, this is another great place for a sundowner.
When the sun sets over Peru’s capital and you see all the city lights you realise how big this city really is.
Enjoy the Top Things to Do in Lima at Night
As you can see, there are numerous options regarding what to do in Lima at night. No matter if you are looking for a cultural immersion, a gastronomic highlight or just a fun night out, there is something for everyone.
As most travelers stay in Lima for only 2-3 days, it’s recommendable to plan ahead what you want to do. Some things, such as good restaurants, need reservations in advance. And as Lima is the gastronomic hotspot in Latin America, you definitely don’t want to miss out on these incredible food combinations created by some of the most talented chefs on our planet.
We would definitely recommend you to go out to eat as much as possible when you’re in Lima. There are so many restaurants that offer interesting food combinations that will make you speechless.
And if you’re looking for a fun activity during the day you should take a look at our Huacachina tour.
Adam Beyer 3 November, 2021 at 7:04 pm
Great list, but I’d add La Mar to the list of top restaurants to visit in Lima. Their ceviche was out of this world!
Oliver from Exploor 3 November, 2021 at 9:14 pm
That’s so true, Adam! La Mar is another really good restaurant 🙂
Pat 24 October, 2021 at 5:32 am
Next week we will land in Lima and have 2 nights to experience some of your recommendations! The Ayahuasca Bar in Barranco sounds terrific. Any recommendations how to get from Miraflores to Barranco?
Konsti from Exploor Peru 24 October, 2021 at 5:51 am
Hey Pat,
first of all enjoy your time in Lima and Peru!
The best way to get around in Lima is by Taxi or you can use the apps: Uber & Beat which are slightly more expensive.
Let us know if you have any further questions.
Team Exploor