The Best Lima Restaurants for Eating Dairy-Free

Neighborhood: Miraflores

What I Ordered: Sashimi, Tigre De Leche Ceviche, Sweet Potato Chips, Paloma

One of the friendliest restaurants I visited in Lima, El Mercado was truly a treat! From the moment I walked in the door, staff and even other customers struck up light conversations that made me feel like I was dining with the community rather than dining solo.

From a dairy-free perspective, I didn’t have to worry about much. The restaurant focuses on seasonal Peruvian ceviches and global dishes like gyozas, tacos and curries. In other words, El Mercado had lots of dairy-free options or options were cheeses, creams, and more could be removed.

Together, we decided to split all the dishes so that we could each try as much on the menu as possible – allergies allowing, of course. And being the only one with food restrictions in our group, I was incredibly impressed with how the staff handled us.

Not only did they help advise what I could safely eat from the menu, but also what I could modify to be dairy-free. And the allergy accommodations didn’t end there. Our server made sure to point out exactly which dishes we ordered were safe and which were not as they began arriving to our table so I could avoid any potential mix-ups with my new friends. It’s exactly this level of thoughtfulness and service that truly made Rafael stand out as one of my personal favorites in Lima and as an amazing place to eat dairy-free.

Neighborhood: Miraflores

What I Ordered: Tacos, Conch Ceviche, Linguine Seafood and Caviar (with cheese on the side!)

Museo Larco is an interesting and unique museum in the heart of Lima’s Pueblo Libre neighborhood. It’s renowned for its collection of Indigenous artifacts from the Wari, Chimu, and Moche civilizations and has particularly gained acclaim for its assortment of erotic ceramics.

And despite being outside the city’s trendy Miraflores and Barranco neighborhoods, it’s still easy to find dairy-free eats here as the museum has an onsite cafe and restaurant with a large menu of items.

I had a wonderful time dining alfresco and enjoying Museo Larco Cafe + Restaurante‘s Salmon Tartare, Grilled Asparagus and signature Margarita.

Neighborhood: Pueblo Libre

What I Ordered: Salmon Tartare, Grilled Asparagus, Margarita

Neighborhood: Barranco

What I Ordered: Tostadas Acevichadas, Ceviche (Ceviche no longer available)

A small and trendy restaurant in Lima’s Barranco neighborhood, Merito is a two story powerhouse in the city’s food scene. With dishes that wow in both presentation and flavor, Merito is an excellent choice for foodies looking for dairy-free eats. I normally can’t eat the “prettiest” or the most popular dishes at restaurants, but that was not the case here. Much of the seafood-heavy menu was already dairy-free or quite easy to change-up with my allergy-friendly swaps.

On top of that, the food was so tasty! I’m so happy that I chose the Tostadas Acevichadas as the first ever dish I ate in Lima. It was a perfect example and introduction to the city’s fresh seafood and rich tastes.

Mayta is a Lima restaurant with wonderful dish presentations, a gorgeous interior and amazing cocktails. The menu here isn’t huge, but has a good number of vegetable and seafood-focused items that were typically dairy-free.

And while I don’t remember the restaurant having specific allergy indicators on their menus, it was still beyond easy to speak with my server about my restrictions, even receiving notes about which dishes were or weren’t dairy-free right on the spot.

Neighborhood: Miraflores

What I Ordered: Tallarines, Langostinos Melcocha, Humo Punch

Searching for a filling breakfast or brunch recommendation in Lima? Look no further than Popular. Located in Miraflores’ Larcomar shopping center, Popular is a trendy restaurant with an enchanting ocean view.