Cocktails
Where to find the best Pisco Sours in Lima, Peru
Along with ceviche, the Pisco Sour is probably Peru’s most famous export. Made with pisco (a floral and complex grape brandy), fresh lime juice, simple syrup, egg white and a dash of Angostura bitters, this delicious cocktail invented in the 1920s is a national institution.
Naturally, in Lima, Peru’s vibrant capital, Pisco Sours are all but ubiquitous – but these 5 bars are where you’ll be able to sample the very best.
Hotel Maury
Just a stone’s throw away from the buzzing Plaza Mayor, Hotel Maury is where Pisco Sour inventor Vaughen Morris’s apprentice came to work as a bartender after the death of his mentor. Legend has it that Mario Bruiget was responsible for improving Morris’s original recipe by adding the modern Pisco Sour’s two defining ingredients, the egg white and the Angostura. He then continued serving it at the Maury, where its popularity quickly began to grow. The rest is history.
Gran Hotel Bolivar
Recognized as a national monument, this historic location is as famous for its prestigious past guests (Ernest Hemingway, Orson Welles, Walt Disney…) as it is for its “Pisco Sour Catedral”, made with a whopping 5 ounces of pisco and almost just as much lime juice mix. This one is not for the faint of heart.
Orient Express Bar
All glossy wood and soft blue velvet, this cozy venue takes us straight back to the golden age of train travel. The interior is a life-size replica of a luxurious railway car that will make you feel like you’re sitting inside the actual Orient Express. Intimate and memorable, this one is a big date night favorite – and their Pisco Sour is one of the very best in town.
Antigua Taberna Queirolo
If you’re in the mood for something traditional, then head straight to the iconic Antigua Taberna Queirolo, or simply “El Queirolo” for the locals. Dating back to the 1870s, this is one of the oldest taverns in town. It is owned by national liquor brand Queirolo, and their pisco is distilled and sold right next door. A must-visit for the food, too.
Bodega Piselli
Located in bohemian Barranco, Bodega Piselli is one of the most emblematic bars in town. With its old wooden floors, marble tabletops and dozens of bottles on display up to the ceiling, this is a place with soul. No music, no wifi, just the clinking of glasses and the buzz of conversation. Come here to mingle with locals and make new friends, Pisco Sour in hand.
