La Picantería

La Picantería is a gem in Lima. The vibe is super relaxed, with bright-colored walls, rustic decor, and a really authentic, welcoming atmosphere. Perfect for going with friends or for a more chill lunch. The food was amazing: we had a super fresh salad with avocado, tomato, and lettuce, and a fish dish with golden potatoes in an incredible sauce full of crispy garlic and chili. Everything was beautifully presented and full of flavor. They also have a great little bar area with a nice wine selection and cocktails — it adds a cool, lively touch to the experience without being overwhelming. The glass of white wine we had was the perfect match for the food. Definitely a place I’ll come back to and keep exploring. Highly recommend!

A must!! Open only for lunch and offers fresh seafood… the ambiance, the service and the food can be an industry standard. We loved every dish we had and every other dish we saw on others table looked amazing!! The portions are big so sharing is totally fine. Drinks are delicious as well. La Picanteria is already in Top50 restaurants’ discovery list and one of the best restaurants in Lima!!

Food and service is excellent. Menu options are good if you have the secret decoder. I recommend the Jalea, Shrimp with garlic and butter and of course the ceviche, all pictured.

La Picantería is hands-down one of my top 3 lunch spots anywhere. The seafood is incredibly fresh and full of flavor. The grilled octopus is perfectly charred and tender, and the langostinos en salsa de ají amarillo might be one of the best things I’ve ever tasted. You pick your fish, and they prepare it however you want — ceviche, tiradito, garlic sauce — all of it is top-tier. An absolute must if you’re in Lima.

Nothing extraordinary! Waiting time 40min. I think they prioritise locals over tourists although no reservations are possible. No English menu but some staff speaks English and helped us with the order. The concept is to choose the fish/seafood and the cooking method. The kitchen is downstairs which is not very efficient for a restaurant especially when they don’t have a lift for the food. Staffs need to go down and up all the time. Extremely loud music. The dishes arrived quickly and seemed to be fresh. Not bad seafood but I think some are overpriced compared to the same food we can find in Europe (especially lobster ~€65/kg) Too small plates to eat the dishes, zero service to replace or give tissues.

Absolutely amazing. We loved the food and the overall unique experience as well as the interior design.

Muy rica comida! Fun, busy room. Piscos sours are delicious and strong!

It’s probably our best culinary experience so far in South America . We chose a fish which was cooked in two different forms : a ceviche to start with, and a cooked fish in a banana leaf and Chili sauce. The fish bones were also used for a seafood broth. Delicious, very good portion and creative.