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20 Apr 2025
Peruvian food. You have heard of it. You have probably scrolled past it on Instagram. You may even have eaten it once, and politely pretended to understand what aji amarillo means. But here is the thing — if your palate has not yet been flirted with by the zing of lime-soaked ceviche or the comforting hug of lomo saltado, what exactly have you been doing?
Let's clarify: Peruvian cuisine is the Beyoncé of South American food — glamorous, globally adored, and unapologetically spicy. It is a flavour-fusion fever dream, born from a love triangle between the Andes, the Amazon and the Pacific. Oh, and the Spanish showed up with wheat, beef and colonialism (as they do), which added even more drama to the mix.
What does this mean for you, dear reader? It means Dubai, in all its glittery, gold-plated glory, has become a surprisingly fertile ground for Peruvian greatness. From the unapologetically posh to the beautifully modest, here are five spots where you can find your ceviche salvation.
Fusion Ceviche
The best ceviche in town, as claimed by our Business Development Director Sophie She. And she knows good fish.
Tiny spot hidden in the depths of JLT, and — against all odds — absolutely iconic. Fusion Ceviche is the Peruvian equivalent of a cool underground band that plays in someone’s garage but is inexplicably better than anything on the radio.
Chef Penelope Diaz is the mastermind here, and she has gone for the minimalist, no-frills, let-the-food-do-the-talking approach. And talk it does. It sings. It roars. It gives you limey, fiery, sea-bassy joy on a plate. This place proves that not all heroes wear aprons — but they should.
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COYA
Selected by Brand Director Ariza Danielian, who once referred to it as “a vibe, not a venue”, COYA is not so much a restaurant as it is a mood board brought to life. It is loud, luxurious, and slightly smug — but when the food is this good, who cares?
Founded in London and now frolicking across the globe in cities you either love or pretend to hate (looking at you, Mykonos), COYA takes Peruvian cuisine and dresses it up for a gala. Expect a pisco sour that could double as perfume, tuna tataki served like modern art, and staff who could moonlight as runway models.
Come here for brunch. Come here for dinner. Come here to spot influencers mid–duck confit. COYA does not disappoint, unless you try to book last minute. In which case, it very much does.
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Above Eleven
For those who like their ceviche with a side of skyline.
Above Eleven is what happens when a Peruvian-Japanese lovechild grows up, goes to art school, and moves into a high-rise penthouse. This rooftop beauty offers “Nikkei cuisine”, a fusion of Japanese technique with Peruvian ingredients — think sushi that has been on a spiritual journey.
The views are outrageously good, the cocktails are complex enough to require an origin story, and the vibe is somewhere between rooftop serenity and Friday night mayhem. Bonus points, recently they have tried a new format of collaboration, bringing together their very own Chef Erick Ramos and Chef Penelope Díaz from Fusion Seviche, mentioned above. Did you miss the dinner on April 17 & 18? Stay tuned for more!
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La Mar by Gastón Acurio
Peruvian food wins the lottery and moves into Atlantis The Royal — this is how La Mar gets born. This is the Dubai outpost of Gastón Acurio, a man so important in the culinary world that you had better learn about him from his Wikipedia page.
Expect high-end ceviches, immaculately seared meats, and a menu that reminds you — gently but firmly — that you are about to spend more than you intended. The ingredients are sublime. The pisco is cold. The Kobe beef is so good it should be illegal.
If you are celebrating, or simply need to feel like a character in a Netflix drama about success and betrayal, book a table here. Sunset view optional. Regret not likely.
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Issei Dubai
Nikkei cuisine strikes again — this time in a sleek, chic setting that tells the story of Japanese immigrants arriving in Peru in 1899. (If only every dinner came with a historical subplot.)
Issei is less showy than its rivals but no less delicious. Think delicate sashimi with a citrusy Peruvian twist, miso corn that you will dream about later, and a thoughtful menu that is equal parts innovation and nostalgia.
It is perfect for date nights, quiet cravings, or when you want to eat like a sophisticated adult who reads cookbooks for fun. We see you. We respect you.
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