Lima Entertainment
Lima is well-known for its thriving nightlife that is enjoyed by both locals and visitors in this beautiful old city. The locals prefer meeting at penas (bars offering folk and Creole music) and shopping at the open marketplaces, which are experiences you should not miss. There are also fabulous restaurants serving excellent food, especially fresh seafood, and many other leisure and entertainment opportunities to enjoy.
Eating out
Peruvians love to dine and Limas residents are no exception. There is plenty of opportunity to try the local dishes as well as the international cuisine. Many quaint cebicherias (small restaurants) line the streets and specialise in seafood menus. The districts of Miraflores and San Isidro have numerous restaurants, cebicherias and delightful cafs with a relaxing ambience in which to enjoy a tasty meal.
Also located here are excellent Creole restaurants; eateries serving a wide variety of international cuisine including French and Italian; fast-food outlets; and franchise restaurants. Chinatown has numerous restaurants that offer tasty authentic Chinese cuisine as well as several other restaurants serving a combination of Peruvian and Chinese.
Local cuisine
The local cuisine has been influenced by the Spanish and waves of immigrants that have settled here throughout the years. Nevertheless, there are several dishes that are particular to Peru, all of which can be savoured while in Lima.
The more adventurous diners may wish to try anticuchos. The dish is made from cows heart and is marinated in a spicy sauce. It is served with boiled potatoes in a shish kebab style. Tamales is corn that is either boiled with meat or cheese and then wrapped in a banana leaf. It has an interesting flavour, but the smell, if boiled with meat, can be a little strong.
Many restaurants serve papas a la huancaina, which is actually sliced boiled potatoes served on lettuce with a slightly spicy cheese sauce with olives. Other interesting authentic dishes to try include ceviche, consisting of chilli peppers, onions and aromatic lemons; sancochadao, a beef and vegetable stew with sweet potatoes; and lomo saltado, sliced beef fried with French fries, tomato, onion, vinegar and chilli, and served with rice.
Theatre and music
Music is central to the life of Limas inhabitants and there is a wide variety for the tourists to enjoy. Penas and bars usually offer folk music, jazz and Peruvian Creole. While Miraflores and San Isidro have many theatres that host international and local performances and shows, the Barranco neighbourhood is home to Limas contemporary arts.
Shopping
Just as Lima is a haven for gourmet lovers, it is a shopper's paradise too. There are so many places to shop that it will be difficult to stay within your budget. There are several modern shopping malls including the Jockey Plaza Shopping Center. This shopping centre is considered to be the best in South America and it has more than 200 shops.
Scattered around the city are all sorts of gift, souvenir and speciality shops that are very interesting to browse around and they have some really tempting items. Markets abound in Lima including the Petit Thouars Handicraft Market and the Indio Market (Mercado Indio). Both these markets display a wide variety of items including antiques, carpets, handicrafts, clothing, wood carvings, small pieces of furniture, silver jewellery and other curios.