Rafael

September 7, 2025

Come to Rafael for an art-filled, elevated atmosphere, attentive service, and deftly executed seafood-forward Peruvian-Italian fusion. I came here for my birthday lunch and it was my personal favorite over some other fine dining spots I tried around the city (did not make it to Maido up the street, but that’s in another price category!) Don’t skip the bread basket. It’s an assortment of delicious warm goodness. Ours came with whipped goat cheese, butter, and tomato jam. The scallop appetizer (scallops in lemon butter) is an absolute must-order and nothing short of sublime. We ordered two pasta mains, and while the duck ragu lacked depth of flavor and the portion was a bit small, the stracciatella-filled pasta with prawns, peas, and a light cream sauce was a winner. The dessert menu was also an absolute highlight and you absolutely must save room for dessert. It was my birthday so they gave me one dessert on the house and we also ordered one of the most mind-blowing desserts I’ve ever had: cherimoya royale which consisted of - from bottom to top: custard apple mousse, praline, a flambéed custard apple slice, custard apple sorbet, enrobed in custard apple foam. The combination of great execution, the balance of complexity and simplicity, and the outstanding service and atmosphere makes this a worthwhile stop on any Lima itinerary!

October 2, 2025

This is supposedly rank 19th out of the top 50 restaurants in South America. We made our reservation 45 days in advance. To be honest our roasted pork belly, squid and few other dishes were good but I missed the magic dust (whatever that is). Maybe we have to get the tasting menu or wine pairing to get the full experience? Our waitress was professional but feels like she’s tired of us tourists and seems bored.

August 23, 2025

Rafael delivers on service, ambiance, and cocktails, the lighting and music set the tone perfectly. Food is good but feels overpriced compared to Mayta, and it doesn’t spark the same excitement. Still, desserts are excellent and the overall experience is polished and enjoyable

July 13, 2025

The food, referring to the taste was good in general, no complaints on that part, but the wait between the plates was too long. In top of that you must now that you will have to order multiple courses to be satisfied, because the portions are quite small so go with time. About the prices, in my opinion, they have great plates which deserve the high cost, but there’s others that are quite average, not worth it.

June 23, 2025

A must visit spot with a great ambiance. This definitely feels like fine dining! Warm fresh bread to start and a great drinks list. A small food menu but all worth trying. The scallops are a must and a signature dish. Loved the special of the Crudo and then steak main.