Rafael

I’ve been in Peru for two weeks trying to find the best food, and who knew that I would find it just a few blocks away from my hotel. Rafael was a revelation, made complete by the incredible service from Ale and Jolu who knew the menu for both cocktails and food like the back of their hand and recommended me the most delicious meal I’ve had in the country. They truly made the experience personal. The art, music, ambiance, and most importantly staff made it feel like home. Chef Giancarlo is one of the best!

I recently dined at Rafael, and it was a fantastic experience. The ambiance was upscale yet welcoming, with beautiful touches of classic decor. The seafood stole the show—fresh ceviche, octopus, and sea urchin cocktail, with a perfect balance, making each bite a delight. The Pisco Sour was a must-try, smooth and perfectly balanced. Service was attentive and knowledgeable, adding to the overall experience. If you’re a seafood lover looking for an elegant night out, Rafael is a top choice!

Arrived directly from our flight without reservations and host figured out a way to take care of us 🇵🇪 I would recommend reservations if you know you are going esp for more than 2 people All dishes were unreal and service impeccable ✨ Def have the piso sours

We ordered scallops, octopus, and ceviche as starters. The octopus was excellent, but the other two dishes were just so-so. For my main course, I had the Bombay fish, and I also tried the other fish dishes. While all the dishes tasted good, they were quite one-dimensional and lacked complexity. When you pay a premium, you expect more depth of flavor. Additionally, the environment was a bit too crowded and noisy for my liking. The service was okay, but the waitstaffs were not very attentive; I had to make several attempts to catch their eye.

The worst meal I had so far after 2 weeks in Peru. The service was not great; the waiter just dropped off the drink menu and didn’t come back with the main menu for 10 minutes. We had to ask the bartender to place our drink order and mains. They automatically charge you 15/soles per person for bread without telling you. We ordered the scallops, which were delicious and buttery, and the grouper steak. The grouper steak was very fishy and was definitely frozen. Would not recommend.

Yeah so, this is one of those places with delicious food, phenomenal service, very solid cocktails and just good vibes. Entire bar team is great, and came upon recommendation form Lady Bee, which if you’ve been there you listen to the recco and check it out. Great dishes, felt kind of like a classic. One of the best dishes has been on the menu for 24 years. It’s that type of place - dishes are great. It’s a certain crowd too. Not just gringos, it’s a slightly older Peruvian crowd which makes sense when you soak of the vibes of the spot. Like the same type of New Yorkers who’d go to 4 Charles or some steakhouse. But it ain’t a steakhouse, that’s just what i compare it to from living in nyc for a bit. I’d describe this restaurant as comfort food that’s elevated but still feels comfortable (but definitely elevated without a doubt).

Atmosphere and service is out of this world. Such a cozy, private, intimate place and I really enjoyed my interactions with all of the staff. Thanks for going above and beyond! I enjoyed the duck pasta but probably would go for something seafood instead.

Amazing cocktails and a delicious dinner! Truly one of my favorite meals that I’ve had this year!

I’ve been in Peru for two weeks trying to find the best food, and who knew that I would find it just a few blocks away from my hotel. Rafael was a revelation, made complete by the incredible service from Ale and Jolu who knew the menu for both cocktails and food like the back of their hand and recommended me the most delicious meal I’ve had in the country. They truly made the experience personal. The art, music, ambiance, and most importantly staff made it feel like home. Chef Giancarlo is one of the best!

I recently dined at Rafael, and it was a fantastic experience. The ambiance was upscale yet welcoming, with beautiful touches of classic decor. The seafood stole the show—fresh ceviche, octopus, and sea urchin cocktail, with a perfect balance, making each bite a delight. The Pisco Sour was a must-try, smooth and perfectly balanced. Service was attentive and knowledgeable, adding to the overall experience. If you’re a seafood lover looking for an elegant night out, Rafael is a top choice!

Arrived directly from our flight without reservations and host figured out a way to take care of us 🇵🇪 I would recommend reservations if you know you are going esp for more than 2 people All dishes were unreal and service impeccable ✨ Def have the piso sours

We ordered scallops, octopus, and ceviche as starters. The octopus was excellent, but the other two dishes were just so-so. For my main course, I had the Bombay fish, and I also tried the other fish dishes. While all the dishes tasted good, they were quite one-dimensional and lacked complexity. When you pay a premium, you expect more depth of flavor. Additionally, the environment was a bit too crowded and noisy for my liking. The service was okay, but the waitstaffs were not very attentive; I had to make several attempts to catch their eye.

The worst meal I had so far after 2 weeks in Peru. The service was not great; the waiter just dropped off the drink menu and didn’t come back with the main menu for 10 minutes. We had to ask the bartender to place our drink order and mains. They automatically charge you 15/soles per person for bread without telling you. We ordered the scallops, which were delicious and buttery, and the grouper steak. The grouper steak was very fishy and was definitely frozen. Would not recommend.

Yeah so, this is one of those places with delicious food, phenomenal service, very solid cocktails and just good vibes. Entire bar team is great, and came upon recommendation form Lady Bee, which if you’ve been there you listen to the recco and check it out. Great dishes, felt kind of like a classic. One of the best dishes has been on the menu for 24 years. It’s that type of place - dishes are great. It’s a certain crowd too. Not just gringos, it’s a slightly older Peruvian crowd which makes sense when you soak of the vibes of the spot. Like the same type of New Yorkers who’d go to 4 Charles or some steakhouse. But it ain’t a steakhouse, that’s just what i compare it to from living in nyc for a bit. I’d describe this restaurant as comfort food that’s elevated but still feels comfortable (but definitely elevated without a doubt).

Atmosphere and service is out of this world. Such a cozy, private, intimate place and I really enjoyed my interactions with all of the staff. Thanks for going above and beyond! I enjoyed the duck pasta but probably would go for something seafood instead.

Amazing cocktails and a delicious dinner! Truly one of my favorite meals that I’ve had this year!