Lima

Lima, London: The Verdict

Lima is not the place to book if you want a quiet, formal dinner with long pauses between courses. Correct that expectation now. This is a lively, colour-forward Peruvian restaurant in Fitzrovia that runs on punchy flavour and pisco — and it works better for that than most Peruvian restaurants in London. Chef Roberto Ortiz's kitchen holds a Michelin Plate (2025) and a 4.4 Google rating from 1,235 reviews, which together suggest a kitchen that delivers consistently without demanding reverence in return. If you want a special occasion dinner that feels celebratory rather than ceremonious, Lima is a credible answer.

What Lima Actually Is

Walk into 31 Rathbone Place and the room tells you immediately what kind of evening you're in for: vivid, high-energy, and visually arresting in the way good Peruvian cooking tends to be. The food at Lima leans into colour and contrast — this is a cuisine built on ceviche brightness, chilli heat, and the deep, savoury backbone of Andean ingredients. It is not a tasting menu experience, and that is part of the point. Lima is informal without being casual, and fun without being loud in a way that kills conversation.

The cocktail program deserves specific attention. Pisco sours here are not an afterthought , they are a genuine reason to arrive early and order before you look at the food menu. Peruvian spirits and citrus-forward builds suit the kitchen's flavour profile in a way that wine pairings sometimes don't. If you're choosing Lima for a date or a birthday dinner, factor in time at the bar or at least a round of cocktails before sitting down. The drinks program is a meaningful part of the experience, not a formality. For comparison: if the bar at Llama Inn is your reference point for how well pisco cocktails can anchor a Peruvian restaurant's identity, Lima operates in that register.

Booking and Logistics

Lima is open Monday through Saturday, noon to 10 pm, and is closed on Sundays. Booking is rated easy , you are unlikely to need more than a week's notice for most nights, which makes it a practical option when you're planning a last-minute birthday dinner or a midweek date. It is located at 31 Rathbone Place, W1T 1JH, putting it squarely in Fitzrovia, walkable from Tottenham Court Road. For special occasions, book a weeknight over the weekend if you want a more relaxed atmosphere; Saturday evenings at restaurants in this part of London tend to run louder.

Who Should Book Lima

Lima works leading for: a date where you want dinner to feel like an event without the stiffness of a tasting menu; a birthday with a group that drinks well; or a business lunch where you want to impress without booking a room that requires a two-hour commitment. The Michelin Plate recognition signals a kitchen that takes its craft seriously, and the Google rating at scale (over 1,200 reviews at 4.4) suggests that experience holds across a wide range of visits , not just critic nights. If you want London's most technically rigorous Peruvian cooking in a room that doesn't take itself too seriously, Lima makes a strong case.

For those who want to explore the broader London dining scene, see our full London restaurants guide. If Peruvian food is your focus and you're travelling further afield, Causa in Washington D.C. and ITAMAE in Miami are worth knowing about. For London hotel and bar planning around your visit, see our London hotels guide and our London bars guide.

How It Compares

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I order at Lima?

• The kitchen's Michelin Plate recognition is built on Peruvian technique , ceviches and dishes built around aji amarillo and other Andean chillies are the core of what chef Roberto Ortiz does well. Start with ceviche and a pisco sour. The cocktail program is strong enough that ordering drinks alongside food, rather than defaulting to wine, is the better call here.

Is Lima good for a special occasion?

• Yes, with the right expectations. Lima is celebratory rather than formal , it suits birthdays, anniversaries, and dates better than it suits client dinners requiring a quiet room. The Michelin Plate and 4.4 Google score signal consistent quality. For a more structured tasting-menu occasion, CORE by Clare Smyth or The Ledbury are the alternatives , but they cost significantly more and require much more advance booking.

Is lunch or dinner better at Lima?

• Lunch is the better call if you want a lower-energy version of the same kitchen. Lima opens at noon Monday through Saturday, and midday sittings tend to be less packed than weekend evenings. The food and cocktail program are the same either way , you're just trading atmosphere for ease. For a date or birthday, dinner is the more obvious choice.

Can I eat at the bar at Lima?

• The database does not confirm specific bar-seating arrangements. Given Lima's informal Fitzrovia format and the strength of the cocktail program, arriving early to drink at or near the bar before your table is a practical move regardless of formal bar-seating policy. Call ahead if bar seating is important to your plan.

Can Lima accommodate groups?

• Seat count is not confirmed in available data, but Lima's informal, high-energy format suits groups well in principle. For larger group bookings (6+), contact the restaurant directly at 31 Rathbone Place, W1T 1JH to confirm availability and any private dining options. Easy booking difficulty suggests group reservations are manageable with reasonable notice.