While travelling in Peru, Lima won’t be the highlight of your journey, but it will be a nice stop where you will find trendy Peruvian food and be able to take a break from long bus rides and multi-day hikes.
Like almost everyone visiting the country, you will certainly stop in the capital of Peru for a few days whether you enter, leave or stop during your North to South or vice-versa route. So why not look into getting your coffee addiction fixed with good speciality coffee and discover what Peru’s food is really about?
With this ultimate Lima must-see and coffee guide, we have got you covered. Sit back (with a coffee), take note and relax. Here is a list of all the things to do in Miraflores and Barranco, where to stop for food and of course all the best speciality coffee shops to enjoy a perfect cup of coffee.
Lima is a quick-growing city with a bit of a bad reputation for safety, but the main districts of Miraflores and Barranco are tourist hubs and shouldn’t cause you any problems. The other reputation Lima has is for an amazing food scene.
We visited after 8 months of travelling and were truly excited to see what the buzz about Lima’s food was, and of course, we made it our mission to finally get a good cup of coffee in Peru. No more of the burnt watery nonsense served in hostels and restaurants.
We won’t lie, before visiting Peru we had never tried Peruvian coffee… In fact, our South American coffee intake back home, consisted of Brazilian, Colombian and African beans. So, we spent most of our time looking for all of the coffee shops, while exploring the sights, sounds and flavours of the Peruvian capital.
With our guides to speciality coffee in South America, we aim to compile a good list of coffee shops that we found, as sometimes it was difficult to find reliable information online.
In this guide, you will find a list of our favourite coffee shops, in no particular order, and ideas for what to do while visited these neighbourhoods. If you feel like we missed any, let us know in the comments.
* Note: no coffee shops in this post paid or asked us to write about them, therefore all opinions, and/or errors, are our own.
Where to get coffee in Barranco?
Tostadura Bisetti
Location – 📍 116 Avenida Pedro de Osma
Arguably Lima’s most famous coffee shop, and for sure the best coffee in Barranco, Tostadura Bisetti has been an institution for coffee lovers since the 1950’s. The Bisetti family have been roasting their own beans in-house and since 2010 they have been sourcing only the finest speciality grade coffee from Peru.
The coffee shop is a relic and you need to look no further for the changes in Lima over the years than right outside its front door. The café is surrounded on all sides by American fast food chains, but this little piece of history still remains.
Unfortunately, we were expecting to step back in time when we walked through the doors but the interior has been recently redone to freshen things up and it feels a little like Starbucks. That being said, the style, and of course, the coffee is top notch.
As soon as you walk in, 60 kg bags of green coffee beans and freshly roasted coffee are sitting beside the roasting machine, which was great to see. We sat and enjoyed a good V60, soaking up the vibes and the history.
Because Barranco is a tourist hotspot, you will see plenty of tourists coming and going, but you will also see locals sitting down and working on their laptops enjoying the best coffee Lima has to offer with a light bite.
Tostadura Bisetti also has its own coffee lab where they do cuppings and offer coffee classes. There is no better way to learn more about Peruvian coffee than this. Check in store to see times and prices.
Other places to drink coffee in Barranco
We heard good things about the coffee in La Bodega Verde, beside Parque Federico Villareal, but didn’t have the chance to stop. Have you been? Let us know in the comments below.
What to do in Barranco?
The neighbourhood of Barranco, in the south of the city, is home to Lima’s art scene. Stroll around the city and take in the street art, art galleries, markets, the old colonial buildings and walk back along the coast to Miraflores.
The heart of Barranco is its main square, Plaza de Armas, which is filled with street performers and food trucks, overlooked by a beautiful church, la Iglesia de la Santisima Cruz. The main square is a good place to take your coffee from Tostadura Bisetti and relax.
Check Out The Street Art
No artsy neighbourhood would be complete without a thriving street art scene, and the murals here are top class. In fact, artists are commissioned by the town council to paint the walls. Our favourites were the pieces under the bridge beside Parque Federico Villareal.
Lima’s Best Museums
Barranco is home to Peru’s most famous artists and you need to look no further than the MATE museum and the MAC, Museum of Contemporary Art.
Party
Barranco is without a doubt the best place to drink and party with tonnes of bars suiting all tastes. Make sure to check our the Barranco Beer Company for some great craft beers.
Get lost
The best thing to do in any new town is to just wander the streets, head towards the La Puente de Los Suspiros (Bridge of Sighs) and playa Barranco and just admire what the city is offering.
Where to eat in Barranco
Our top tip for eating is the Chinese restaurant Chifa Chun Yion. We know everyone who visits Peru is there to taste the famous Peruvian food, however, locals queue up outside this restaurant for both eating in and takeaways.
When you see locals queuing, it must be good. Of course, if you have more cash for a proper dining experience, head to Central the worlds #1 ranked restaurant to taste food from every altitude in Peru. To be honest, the waiting times and prices aren’t as bad as you would expect and with a little organisation, you could have a world class tasting menu during your stay.
Where to get coffee in Miraflores?
Estacion 329
Location – 📍319 Calle Teniente Enrique Palacios
This small coffee shop is perfect for grabbing a coffee on the go. Right in the heart of high rise office buildings, the standing bar offers quality coffee to those with little time.
This was the closest coffee shop to us while we were in Lima and a perfect stopping point for us on our way into the centre of Miraflores. It is also the closest coffee shop to the ruins of Huaca Pucllana.
If you’re passing by, pop in grab a take out and continue on your way.
Cate Tasting Room
2 Locations – 📍Av. Mariscal Cáceres 667, Surquillo – 📍Av. Javier Prado 5595 La Molina
Eventually, we found Cate Tasting Room, which is located near Estacion 329. They have been open since 2015 and specialize in third wave coffee, speciality teas and high-quality chocolate.
The interior is very minimal and you enter through a long hall. You could easily walk straight by it, we did a few times!
It is in the business district and the also offer work rooms so it’s not surprising that it was a little hard to spot, not your usual café.
The Coffee Road (San Isidoro)
2 Locations – 📍Prescott 365 – 📍 Chinchón 250
The Coffee Road is an ideal stop for coffee aficionados. This minimalist, cozy café serves meticulously brewed coffee sourced from Peru’s finest regions.
On my visit, I savored a pour-over from Cajamarca with bright acidity and delicate floral notes—a true delight.
The knowledgeable baristas add to the experience with their passion for coffee, making it a must-visit for those looking to explore Lima’s evolving specialty coffee scene.
They also serve delicious cakes!!
Café Verde
Location – 📍1305 Calle Santa Cruz, Miraflores, Lima.
This coffee shop has been open since 2007 and roasts their own beans in a separate room made of glass. Unfortunately, we walked in and right back out.
While we read online that the coffee was top notch, with the owner has worked with the top coffee companies in America, the staff knew nothing. They were unable to tell us where their coffee came from, what type of roasts they had and when asked what variety the beans they used, they looked puzzled and replied “arabica”. When asked what variety, they had no idea.
Research online suggests that they were one of the first to open in Lima and that they do buy Peruvian Cup of Excellence lots, but it seems that the owner is the best part of this coffee shop.
If he is not around, many others agree that the staff don’t do much.
What to do in Miraflores?
The neighbourhood of Barranco, in the south of the city, is home to Lima’s art scene. Stroll around the city and take in the street art, art galleries, markets, the old colonial buildings and walk back along the coast to Miraflores.
The heart of Barranco is its main square, Plaza de Armas, which is filled with street performers and food trucks, overlooked by a beautiful church, la Iglesia de la Santisima Cruz. The main square is a good place to take your coffee from Tostadura Bisetti and relax.
Stroll along the Malecon
Lima’s Malecon stretches along the coast for 6 miles offering stunning views out over the Pacific ocean. The walkway is popular with locals as a meeting place for picnics and outdoor sports. It’s not hard to see why this one of the main attractions in Lima.
Take a stroll to Parque Amore, where lovers meet, to see the El Beso statue of two lovers kissing and the ceramic tile benches which were inspired by Parc Guell in Barcellona.
Continue walking and you will come across Antonio Raimondi Park where you will witness people running straight off of the cliff. They are taking part in Lima’s growing sport, Paragliding. With an instructor, you can take flight over the Pacific ocean.
From the cliffs, you will be able to see people floating in the ocean catching waves. Surfing is becoming more and more popular in the city and the two best beaches are Makaha beach and Waikiki beach
Visit the cats of the Parque Kennedy
Named after John F. Kennedy, the park at the heart of Miraflores is an icon of the city due to its resident stray cats.
For 20 years the cities cats have called Parque Kennedy home and are now protected by the city council and animal charities. This is a great spot to relax with a takeaway coffee.
At night, the park comes alive with street food vendors and people flocking to the surrounding bars and restaurants.
Discover the secret of Huaca Pucllana
Huaca Pucllana is the only remaining ruin open to the public inside the city of Lima. The pyramid, made of adobe, was created between 200AD and 700AD. Entrance to the ruins is 10 soles, but for the best experience, join a sunset tour and evening dinner in the onsite restaurant. Check out the tour.
Where to eat in Miraflores?
El Pan de la Chola
Location – 📍 Avenida La Mar 918, Miraflores, Peru
While not strictly a speciality coffee shop, El Pan de la Chola was our favourite café in Lima. The reason? The bread is simply amazing!
Set up by a former actor from England and with a European style interior, this is more of a brunch spot that should be on your coffee hit list. Grab any of their freshly baked loaves of bread, we recommend the simple yet effective pair of sourdough and avocado drizzled with olive oil and cracked black pepper, with a well-made americano or latte.
This place is so popular with locals and tourists that on weekends you should be prepared to wait. They also have a sister café/bar in San Isidro called “La Chola Dasso” which serves bread and Peruvian craft beer!
Book a culinary experience at a starred restaurant
Lima is regarded as the culinary capital of South America. There are several starred restaurants in the city including Astrid & Gaston, Maido and of course Central. For sure these will offer you the best of what Lima has to offer, but not all everyone can afford these places or be able to book in advance. If you can for both, go ahead and let us know, because we would have loved to visit either one of them during our time in Lima…
For local food, find a hole in the wall restaurant that serves Anticuchos (Beef hearts cut into strips, marinated and bbq’d), Ceviche, Papas a la Huancaina, Lomo Saltado and wash them down with a Pisco Sour.
Alternatively, take a food tour to get the real flavours and history behind the food.
Walking tour of Central LimA
To top off our time in Lima we took a walking tour of the old town or historic centre of Lima. We joined the Free Walking Tour Peru’s tour, meeting in the Barbarian pub in Miraflores, before getting a bus downtown.
The tour officially starts at Plaza Mayor (Plaza del Armas) which is surrounded by some of the city’s most impressive buildings. In fact, the tour doesn’t stay too far from Plaza Mayor as the main spots like the Presidential Palace, the Basilica y Convento de San Francisco, the Catacombs of San Francisco church are all within a square kilometre of each other.
Lima Coffee Shop Map
Scroll to zoom in, click for directions
Where to stay in Lima
For our entire time in Lima, we stayed in ZigZag hostel which is a non-profit organisation. All funds coming from the hostel are used to help local kids. This is not a party hostel, but a nice place to relax and only a few meters from Huaca Pucllana and a short walk from the centre of Miraflores.
While we were there, they had pizza nights, free basic breakfasts, a kitchen and you can also ask to help out with their projects. The hostel is close to the metro line for easy access around the city, whether it is the old town or the bus terminal, but a handy tip for Lima is that Uber is widely used and much cheaper than taxies.
To check the availability at Zig Zag hostel, follow this link.
Have you visited any of these coffee shop? Do you have other coffee shop recommendations? Leave us a comment!!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jen – Owner, writer & photographer – has lived for the past 10 years across Oceania and Ireland while also travelling long-term in Latin America, North America and Europe. She has visited more than 60 countries and set foot on every continent in the world!
>> Favourite countries: New Zealand, Bolivia, Iceland.
>> Wishlist: Svalbard, Japan, Botswana, Alaska.
>> Philosophy: “We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.
Jen is a coffee nerd, passionate about photography, wildlife and outdoor activities. Her organisation and curiosity make her a great travel companion always looking for DIY and off-the-grid adventures. For more info, check out the About page.
If you’ve found this travel guide useful and want to say Thank You, you can now buy me a virtual coffee!