Nightlife · Lima · Peru
Lima nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Lima, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: McKay Savage, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
Lima's nightlife centres on Barranco's bars, peñas and clubs and Miraflores' bars around Parque Kennedy and Calle de las Pizzas. Evenings start late, especially at weekends. The main areas are Barranco, Miraflores and San Isidro.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 3
- Stay near the action
- Barranco
- Local drink
- Leche de tigre
Where to go out
Barranco
Bars, live music, peñas with Afro-Peruvian music and clubs around the Plaza de Armas de Barranco.
Miraflores
Bars and pubs around Parque Kennedy and Calle de las Pizzas, plus hotel rooftop bars.
San Isidro
Cocktail bars and upscale hotel lounges in the financial district, quieter than Barranco.
Nightlife tips
- Peñas, with live criollo and Afro-Peruvian music, are a great introduction to local nightlife.
- Use app taxis at night.
- Watch your drink in clubs and avoid accepting drinks from strangers.
Evening sights
Historic site · Miraflores
Huaca Pucllana
Return in the evening for dinner on the restaurant terrace when the pyramid is lit.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- After dark
Neighbourhood · Barranco
Barranco and Puente de los Suspiros
Visit in the late afternoon, then stay for a pisco sour and dinner nearby.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- Art
- After dark
- Photo spot
Park · Parque de la Reserva
Magic Water Circuit
Go in the evening for the light show, and bring a change of clothes if children want to play in the fountains.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- After dark
- Couples
- Photo spot
What to drink
- Leche de tigre — The spicy, citrusy marinade left over from ceviche, served in a glass, sometimes with pieces of seafood. It is said to cure hangovers.
- Pisco sour — Peru's national cocktail of pisco (grape brandy), lime juice, sugar syrup and egg white, finished with drops of bitters.
- Chicha morada — A non-alcoholic drink made from purple corn boiled with pineapple, cinnamon and cloves, served chilled.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. February has the warmest evenings, with lows around 21°C (70°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 18:40 | 20°C (68°F) | 0 |
| April | About 18:03 | 18°C (64°F) | 0 |
| July | About 17:58 | 15°C (59°F) | 2 |
| October | About 18:04 | 16°C (61°F) | 0 |
Getting home late
- Bus — Buy a rechargeable card at Metropolitano stations; buses are packed at rush hour.
- Metro — Metro Line 1 is an elevated line running from Villa El Salvador in the south to San Juan de Lurigancho in the northeast, passing through the centre; it is less useful for most visitors.
- Taxi — Use an app or ask your hotel to call a taxi rather than hailing one on the street.
- Walking — The Malecón makes walking between Miraflores and Barranco a pleasure, about 30–45 minutes along the clifftops.
Late-night bites
- Anticuchos — Street carts in the evening and anticucherías in Barranco and Miraflores.
Staying safe at night
Pickpocketing and phone snatching occur in the historic centre, on buses and in busy areas; keep valuables out of sight. Use app taxis or hotel-arranged taxis rather than hailing cars on the street, and avoid quiet streets at night.
- Emergency number
- 105 (police), 116 (fire), 106 (ambulance)
Where to stay for nightlife
$$$ · Best for couples, nightlife, culture and food lovers
Barranco
South of Miraflores, Barranco was a summer resort for wealthy Limeños in the 19th century and keeps its colourful republican-era mansions, street art and the wooden Puente de los Suspiros. It is the city's artistic quarter and nightlife centre, with galleries, museums, boutique hotels and bars around the Plaza de Armas de Barranco and along Avenida Grau.
- Good
- Characterful streets and boutique hotels; Best bars and live music; Walk to Miraflores along the cliffs
- Watch out
- Noisy on weekend nights; Fewer large hotels
- Nearby
- Puente de los Suspiros, Bajada de Baños, Museo Pedro de Osma, Plaza de Armas de Barranco
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Lima?
Barranco, Miraflores and San Isidro. Bars, live music, peñas with Afro-Peruvian music and clubs around the Plaza de Armas de Barranco.
+Which area of Lima is best for nightlife?
Barranco: Bohemian seaside district of old mansions, galleries, murals and bars.