After much planing, we are going as part of tour to MP and Cuzco and staying for 3 extra days in Lima. Reading travel guides , just wnat to check, is there a 18% foreginer's tax on top of the final bill? I speak fluent Spanish, but the natives will know that my Spanish is Argentinean, right? Is there a way of not paying it. I was considering: Astrid and Gaston/Huaca Pucllan's restaurant/ La Rosa Nautica or Brujas de Cachiche. Has anyone been to these restaurants, and did they charge the 18% tax?

On the other hand, I have not heard of Barranco and the Pedro Osama museum, can you tell me if you like or it's not worth the visit.

We reserved a room at Hotel Runcu, for those who stayed there, is it far from the main district or is it safe enough to walk around?

We live in 2 weeks. Appreciate your feedbacks. Thanks

www.mirafloresperu.com good info

think you are referring to service tip/tax charge

no way to get around that...

also consider Sonia's and El Muelle in Barranco

for awesome seafood at awesome prices

Runku will located and pretty well rated

reviews on tripadvisor.com

The upscale restaurants charge for everything..10%service, 19?% tax, PLUS a cubierto of a few dollars, AND beverages are not included in the meal. The local restaurants may not add any of that, and usually a bottled drink is part of the menu.

At Canta Rana (Barranco cevicheria), nothing was added to my bill.
At Kapallaq (upscale cevicheria), everything was added. For the same order (ceviche mixto), I payed double at Kapallaq, coming in at about 50 soles.

The Pedro de Osma museum in Barranco is worth visiting, 10 soles to enter (half price reduced for students and seniors). The collection is paintings (lots of Cusco school), some furniture, and silver (in a vault). It's housed in two early 20th century mansions. The entire effect is wonderful. PS You may be the only visitors when you go so be sure to bring exact change for the admissions. It is located maybe 4 blocks east of the Plaza in Barranco.

They have a website with some info in English:
http://www.museopedrodeosma.org/engl...ent/view/9/10/

I met a few other travelers around Barranco who visited (and referred one other) and we all agreed it is a hidden gem. It's a shame that most people in Lima will take Larcomar Mall over this.

Those are all high end restaurants that cater to an international crowd. Astrid and Gaston does not get great reviews for the price. Rosa Nautica is good for the views but often has complaints about service and tourist-trappiness.

You might look into these restaurants for seafood and
Ceviche (most will only be open for lunch, except Pescado Capitales is open for dinner):

Pescado Capitales
Pez Amigo
Punta Azul

If you are looking for the high-name tourist restaurants you may want to consider Rafael.

Chala is popular with tourists in Barranco.

thank you everyone. migb, I will take your advice and skip Gaston Y Astrid, but will try Rosa Nautica, just for the experience, and thank you for your thumbs up for Barranco, definitely will visit.

Rosa Nautica is great for the views. Sankuay is an excellent, inexpensive restaurant known for their ceviche. I recommend trying it out. For a different kind of experience, you might want to head to the Surquillo food market on the edge of Miraflores. On the weekends, food stalls line the pathway selling inexpensive homemade food. It's very laid back, and full of locals. Barranco also has a weekend food market.

Wow, I am really lookign forward, thanks