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August 2014 Travel + Leisure "Our Definitive Guide to Lima"

August 2014 Travel  Leisure Our Definitive Guide to Lima

On a walk back from an amazing lunch in Lima.

The new issue of T + L features a great spread on Lima, Peru. It's a great guide, talking about what's new in this very exciting city. They cover new hotels, restaurants, art galleries, and shopping, as well as updates on events, beaches, and local chefs. Check out the new Hotel B, in a converted Belle Epoche mansion in the fascinating Barranco neighborhood. When we walked through back in February, the neighborhood had a quiet and stylish vibe with lots of great local art, great music, and lovely little restaurants; it was almost like a hidden oasis.

Shops mentioned include one of my favorites, Dedalo Art Y Artisana, in the Barranco neighborhood, which is located in a converted townhouse just a few steps away from a cliff overlooking the ocean. Among other things you'll find are the ceramic sculptures of Christian Escajadillo, one of our favorite Peruvian artists, whose work we carry at Diseño.

The article also covers must see museums and galleries. We love the Museo Larco, set in a colonial mansion in the Pueblo Libre area. It showcases pre-Colombian jewelry and ceremonial artifacts, with treasures spanning more than 5,000 years. With a magnificently manicured garden and a lovely restaurant by celebrity chef Gaston Acurio, what's not to like about this place?! It's a must!

And of course they have the latest listing of the hottest restaurants in one of the top food cities in the world. I'm there! Again and again! With many of my favorites listed, which I will always return to, I am eager to check out Acurio's latest 'outpost,’ having taken over a colonial hacienda in the stylish residential neighborhood of San Isidro. With a 29 course tasting menu, the new outpost called Casa Moreyra, offers cooking classes, has newly planted gardens, and an informal tavern, all besides the reincarnation of his flagship Astrid y Gaston dining room. Even though I found this dining room a bit formal in its last location, it still had spectacular food!

Other restaurants mentioned include newcomer favorite Central, which was recently ranked number one in Lima and in the top 10 in the world by “Diners Club Magazine.” We had lunch there in February and were blown away! What a fine, yet casual dining experience. One of the all time best! Also mentioned is Rafael Osterling's cevicheria, El Mercado, another favorite of mine and not to be missed. Why they did not mention his stylish and more formal Rafael, which ranked no. 13 in “Diners Club Magazine” and top 50 in Latin America is beyond me. Rafael is definitely in my top three restaurants in Lima because it has a cool Lima meets Manhattan vibe as well as phenomenal food and fine service. The famous Japanese-Peruvian fusion Maido, an Anthony Bourdain favorite, is one of Lima's most unique restaurants and I can definitely see why. With some of the finest and most refined cuisine I have ever experienced, it is located in a somewhat discrete and unassuming locale in the upscale Miraflores neighborhood. I highly recommend this place!

There’s much more in this article and way too much to cover. Suffice to say, pick up the issue soon on newsstands or, hopefully, it will show up very soon in your mailbox. The cover story is their annual "World's Best Awards,” which is always an interesting and useful read.

Cheers!

Frank Campanale

Remodeling and Home Design