Ayahuasca Restobar

Ayahuasca Restobar is one of the classic places for a night out in Barranco, set in a grand old house rather than a modern bar. Barranco, a fashionable beach resort for Lima's upper class in the 19th century, is now the city's bohemian and artistic quarter, and many of its old mansions have found new lives. Ayahuasca occupies the Mansión Berninzon, a Barranco mansion from Lima's Republican era built at the end of the 19th century, which was restored and turned into a restaurant-bar about 15 years ago. The house covers more than 1,200 square metres, and the theme of the place draws on the spirit of ayahuasca and on Peruvian identity.

The bar is known above all for its pisco sour, and the restobar presents itself as a reference point for the drink in Peru. The signature pisco cocktails are mostly made with a house macerate of herbs and coca leaf. Start with a classic pisco sour and then try one of the house creations.

Food is served all day. From midday there is a lunch menu of criollo and fusion dishes, and from 18:00 a bar menu of piqueos, small plates for sharing, takes over. The most popular is the piqueo Ayahuasca, a good choice for a group. Ordering a few plates to share is the easiest way to line your stomach before a long evening.

Ayahuasca keeps late hours. It opens at 12:00 every day and closes at 02:00 from Sunday to Wednesday and at 03:00 from Thursday to Saturday. Reservations can be made by WhatsApp on the number published on the website, which is a good idea for groups on weekend nights.

It suits groups of friends, couples and visitors who want to experience Barranco after dark in a memorable setting. Avenida San Martín is in the heart of the district, close to Isolina, Hotel B and Casa República, and a short walk from the Bridge of Sighs, so it is easy to combine dinner, a drink and a late walk. Hotel B, at the corner of Sáenz Peña and San Martín, is a convenient place to stay if you want to walk home. Take a taxi back to your hotel at the end of the night.