Stop by the finest hotels in Miraflores, Lima. Miraflores is the upscale district in Lima that has the best restaurants and cafes. The concierges at these hotels are very open to giving recommendations to their favorite cevicherias. Tell them your price range and the area you are looking to dine and they will give you a recommendation. Make sure you tip that concierge. Even if you are not staying at that hotel, it is polite to tip them for their expertise.
Walk along the Costa Verde. There are several cevicherias all along the rugged Lima coastline. They overlook the coastline and provide a dramatic view while you dine on your ceviche.
Try the lunch-only ceviche restaurant, Pescados Capitales, a local haunt. (La Mar 1337, Miraflores, phone 421-8808/222-5731, open Mondays through Sundays 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.) Located in the wealthy Miraflores section, it's a very rustic, authentic looking cafe.
Dine at Puerto Madero. (Calle Bellavista 231, Miraflores, phone 242-1873, open Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon to 5:00 p.m.) This cafe is owned by Daniel and Fernando Hawie. It features creative but rustic Peruvian cuisine that features the best seafood the Pacific can offer. They serve traditional ceviche containing scallops, shrimp and octopus just to name a few. The place is simple and rustic, and has a quiet laid-back atmosphere. There is a roomy terrace from which you can see how they cook your seafood in the big outdoor grill.
Eat at La Mar. (Av. La Mar 770, Miraflores, phone 421-3365, open Tuesdays through Sundays 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.) This cafe, owned by chef Gastón Acurio, is a lunch-only cevicheria, and like Pescados Capitales, serves a local crowd. The menu includes classic Peruvian ceviches as well as sushi and other Japanese creations. The decor is simple and rustic, letting the food be the star.
