Mérito
Fine dining restaurant · Lima
Jr, 28 De Julio 206, Barranco 15063, Peru
"Mérito’s kitchen is the first thing you see when you step into this modest yet warm space by Juan Luis Martínez. It’s a simple dining room of wood, adobe, earth tones, and stone, flooded by light that filters through the old house’s windows—it all sets the scene for the incredible dinner ahead. It’s the only Venezuelan-Peruvian fine dining in town—a cuisine that’s been growing in the latest years—and the tasting and à la carte menus pull you into the chef’s roots, his world travels, and the universe he has found in his new home country. Think roasted giant corn with guasacaca, arepas filled with pork or seasonal fish, fresh scallops, and seafood straight off the morning boat. Everything has an obsessive, flawless aesthetic that never skimps on flavor." - paola miglio
"Mérito’s kitchen is the first thing you see when you step into this modest yet warm space by Juan Luis Martínez. It’s a simple dining room of wood, adobe, earth tones, and stone, flooded by light that filters through the old house’s windows—it all sets the scene for the incredible dinner ahead. It’s the only Venezuelan-Peruvian fine dining in town—a cuisine that’s been growing in the latest years—and the tasting and a la carte menus pull you into the chef’s roots, his world travels, and the universe he has found in his new home country. Think roasted giant corn with guasacaca, arepas filled with pork or seasonal fish, fresh scallops, and seafood straight off the morning boat. Everything has an obsessive, flawless aesthetic that never skimps on flavor. RESERVE A TABLE" - Paola Miglio
"Made a new-entry debut on the 2025 World’s 50 Best Restaurants list at No. 26." - Erin DeJesus
"Venezuelan chef Juan Luis Martínez opened Mérito in 2018 in a narrow two-level space. It has quickly gained a cult following for its unique blend of Venezuelan and Peruvian influences. Some dishes feel more Venezuelan, like glazed pork belly with arepas, while others are purely Peruvian, such as raw razor clams with cushuro. The restaurant emphasizes the eclectic roots of the Barranco neighborhood, featuring original adobe walls and hand-painted tiles." - Nicholas Gill
"Rank: #37 "The organic encounter of two cultures – Venezuelan and Peruvian – in a small and welcoming space defines Mérito. The team’s impeccable use of ingredients from the Peruvian pantry, showcased in creative and ever-evolving preparations, sets the standard. The plot thickens when flashes and memories of Venezuelan cuisine – the chefs’ country of origin – feed in. Respect for the product and exaltation of its qualities are key parts of the experience. Debuting on the list at No.37, the restaurant is the winner of the Highest New Entry Award 2020, sponsored by Aspire Lifestyles."
