Some couples plan trips around beaches. We plan ours around dinner bookings, and my husband plans his around how the light hits the plate. So when we heard the world’s most famous restaurant ranking is heading to Lima this November, our suitcases nearly packed themselves. But why has Lima earned the spotlight, and how will we eat our way through it without emptying the savings jar? Let’s find out
The Big Night Is Heading South
On 4 November, The World’s 50 Best Restaurants will reveal its new list in Lima, the first time in its 24-year history that it’s been held in Peru. For food lovers, this is the Oscars. However, this one is with better snacks and shorter speeches.
The Plot Twist: It Was Meant for Abu Dhabi
Sometimes the second choice is the right one. The event was first set for Abu Dhabi before moving to Lima. We also switched dinner plans at the last minute.
Lima Already Has a Trophy Shelf
Central was named the world’s best restaurant in 2023 and Maido took the top spot in 2025. Two wins in three years is like your neighbor winning the bake sale twice and still sharing the cookies.
Why Maido Has to Sit This One Out
Once a restaurant hits No.1, it joins a hall of fame and can’t be voted on again. So Maido, known for mixing Peruvian and Japanese cooking, will cheer from the sidelines in its own city. Win once, and you’re too good to compete.
One City, Many Great Kitchens
Kjolle, Mérito and Mayta also made last year’s top 50. Planning a food trip here is like walking into a bakery hungry: finding something good is easy, stopping is the hard part.
Dinner With a Visiting Chef
Like your favorite band playing a surprise show at the café down the street, Lima restaurants will host chefs from ranked kitchens at ticketed dinners called Signature Sessions during the week.
Our Splurge-and-Street Plan
A week of tasting menus sounds dreamy until you see the bill and need a lie-down. So our plan is one fancy dinner, then everything else at markets and family-run tables. Spend your money on one night, and your appetite on every day.
Markets Before Menus
Peru is great for wandering eaters. Market tours, cooking classes and traditional picanterías, the relaxed local spots where lunch turns into the whole afternoon. My husband calls markets free photo studios with fruit. The fruit is not free.
Coast, Mountains and Jungle on One Plate
Peruvian food pulls from the coast, the Andes and the Amazon. It’s like a potluck where every corner of the country brought a dish. However in Peru, the map is the menu.
Why We’d Go Now
This November, Lima will be packed with chefs, buzz and one-off dinners that won’t be back next year. Waiting for the perfect moment is how great trips become old saved posts. Someday is not a date on the calendar.
