From rich Brazilian flavours to spicy and aromatic Peruvian cuisine, there are plenty of South American restaurants in London that offer a taste of the continent. Whether you’re a fan of juicy Argentinian steaks, citrusy ceviche, sumptuous seafood, or a tasty Pisco Sour, when you can’t buy a plane ticket, London’s South American dining scene is the next best thing.
These restaurants bring a splash of South America to the city with some of the most delicious food the continent has to offer.
YOPO
YOPO, tucked away inside The Mandrake hotel in Fitzrovia, has reopened with a fresh design and updated South American menu with European influences. Executive Chef George Scott-Toft drew inspiration from his travels through Argentina, Chile, and Peru, incorporating it into the menu as well as the restaurant’s design.
The menu includes indigenous and seasonal ingredients, low-intervention Argentinian wines, and traditional dishes – from small plates like mushroom, parsley, garlic and white bean tostada; to tuna tartare with chilli and cashew cream, and grilled sirloin with charred spring onion and chimichurri. The new bohemian interiors are home to plush furniture and exotic art, including a grandiose ostrich sculpture called ‘Showgirl’.
WHERE: 20-21 NEWMAN STREET YOPO, LONDON W1T 1PG
WEBSITE: WWW.THEMANDRAKE.COM
Pachamama
You might not know it, but that protein-packed superfood everyone’s grown to love, quinoa, originates from Peru, and you’ll find it here on Pachamama’s menu – from the miso-cured carrot with quinoa and Peruvian kimchi to Peruvian chocolate quinoa ice cream.
The Peruvian-inspired bar and restaurant is nuzzled away in Marylebone and Shoreditch serving tasting menus for a South American-style feast. Peruvian food has stolen our hearts and thrown away the key with Pachamama’s delicious offering.
WHERE: MARYLEBONE / SHOREDITCH
WEBSITE: WWW.PACHAMAMALONDON.COM
Lima
Lima stands out from the rest by making Peruvian cuisine both approachable and delicious, and the interiors and lively atmosphere make it a must-visit destination. To start, sip on a refreshing Pisco Sour and sample the homemade bread and tuna nikkei tartare. Let the knowledgeable staff guide you through the menu and choose from dishes like hand-dived scallop tiradito with olive oil and lime emulsion, plantain, and coriander; and red quinoa with passion fruit, palm hearts, and feta cheese.
For the main course, try the standout slow-cooked rib of beef with salsa de seco, plantain puree and coriander, and end the meal on a high note with the piura chocolate mousse with raspberry coulis.
WHERE: 31 RATHBONE PL, LONDON W1T 1JH
WEBSITE: WWW.LIMALONDON.COM
Zuaya
Zuaya is a Latin American restaurant with a funky name and even funkier ethos. The Kensington-based restaurant draws on punchy flavours from Peru, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil to deliver lesser-experienced dishes to London’s eclectic food scene. With an immersive jungle interior and resident DJ on select nights, the restaurant will take you on a culinary journey through Latin America.
Try the Pork Belly Patacones with Coriander Aioli, Argentinian Sirloin with Chimichurri, and the Seabass Ceviche with Wild Berries, and finish off with one of their imaginative signature cocktails, like the “London to Lima”.
WHERE: 35B KENSINGTON HIGH ST, LONDON W8 5EB
WEBSITE: WWW.ZUAYA.CO.UK
Mano Mayfair
This lively and lavish Brazilian-fusion restaurant and bar delivers fine dining with a side of atmosphere – think South America meets the unbridled glamour of late 1960s St Tropez beach clubs. Returning to London with a new location on Mill Street in Mayfair and kitchen headed by renowned Michelin Chef Rafa Gomes, the restaurant is split over two floors, with the main restaurant on the lower ground floor. Menu highlights include grilled salmon with slightly pickled cucumber, tatziki and cilantro syrup; octopus carpaccio with celery and green apple, pickles and ginger vinaigrette; and slow cooked lamb shoulder served with sweet potatoes, nuts, red onions, dates and black sesame sauce.
WHERE: 4 MILL STREET, MAYFAIR, W1S 2AX
WEBSITE: WWW.MANOMAYFAIR.COM
SUSHISAMBA
Who’d have thought bringing Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cuisine could work so well? Well, thanks to SUSHISAMBA you can enjoy the energy and spirit of these three distinct cultures in one sitting.
So whether you’re after a Japanese hit, a taste of Peruvian cooking, or a touch of Brazilian fire, there are options for all. Their robata black cod with Peruvian asparagus and miso is a definite favourite of ours.
WHERE: CITY / COVENT GARDEN
WEBSITE: WWW.SUSHISAMBA.COM
Gaucho
Bringing the vibrance and colour of Argentina to the dreary streets of London comes Gaucho. Their beef comes from Argentinian, premium Black-Angus cattle bred at hand-selected farms, and their offering is 100% carbon offset.
Whether you like your steak rare, medium or well done, in true Argentinian style it’ll be smokey from an open flame, and slathered in your choice of peppercorn, chimichurri or smoked chipotle BBQ sauce.
WHERE: MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
WEBSITE: WWW.GAUCHORESTAURANTS.COM
COYA Mayfair
Combining the elegance of Mayfair with traditional Peruvian cuisine, COYA boasts lavish decor and equally impressive dishes. The menu includes a ceviche selection, tiraditos, tacos and skewers, as well as large plates like miso Chilean sea bass and a decadent Chilean wagyu sirloin.
There’s also a Pisco Bar, dedicated to the South American spirit, making it the perfect spot for a pre-dinner drink like the Tucan Sour, made with cherry Pisco, mulberry and coca Leaf liqueur, guanabana, citrus and pineapple.
WHERE: 118 PICCADILLY, LONDON W1J 7NW
WEBSITE: WWW.COYARESTAURANT.COM
Floral by Lima
Created by world-renowned Peruvian Chef, Virgilio Martinez, Floral by Lima in Covent Garden is the younger sibling of Lima in Fitzrovia. Dishes include the likes of tuna tiradito with avocado and nikkei tiger’s milk; baked beef empanadas with chimichurri and yellow chili cream; and smoked octopus with coriander sauce and aji amarillo bubble and squeak.
On Sundays, there’s bottomless Pisco Sours for £30 per person.
WHERE: 14 GARRICK ST, LONDON WC2E 9BJ
WEBSITE: WWW.LIMALONDON.COM
Amazonico
Proving you can do more with food than just taste it, Amazonico takes visitors on a sensory journey through Latin American culture using taste, touch and sight.
Since arriving on the scene in 2019, the restaurant has been delivering an explosion of the senses, with live music, lush natural décor and a distinctive jungle-inspired atmosphere to accompany their exotic dishes. The menu is rich in Latin American cuisines and flavours, from traditional Brazilian dishes and cachaça cocktails to Peruvian sushi, championing only the finest produce from the rainforest.
WHERE: 10 BERKELEY SQUARE, LONDON W1J 6BR
WEBSITE: WWW.AMAZONICORESTAURANT.COM
Chotto Matte
If you’re looking for confirmation that nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian cuisine) is big right now, Chotto Matte is it. In fact, it’s not only big, it’s three floors big. This vast restaurant, dedicated to Japanese Peruvian food is the nikkei go-to, with its multiple levels including a cocktail lounge, an à la carte restaurant, sushi bar and a Robata grill.
The vibrant design, wide array of choice and decent nikkei fodder, make this Soho multi-storey eatery a must for anyone keen to experience this unique cuisine. Expect yellowtail jalapeño crispy rice, spicy tuna sashimi, sea bass tempura, black cod aji miso, and octopus with spicy yuzu and purple potato purée from the extensive menu.
WHERE: MARYLEBONE / SOHO
WEBSITE: WWW.CHOTTO-MATTE.COM
Señor Ceviche
This Kingly Court Peruvian restaurant is one of London’s more easily accessible options, with a small space and vibrant interior. There’s a welcoming and fast-paced atmosphere amid colorful graffiti and black-and-white photographs showcasing Peruvian life. The highlight of the menu is the ceviche list, which includes sea bass, salmon, and BBQ Jerusalem artichoke. Other delicious options are the papaya marinated flat iron steak with salsa verde; and the baked courgette with smoked huancaina, rocoto salsa and crispy quinoa.
There’s a great-value lunch deal available midweek, and the cocktail list focuses mainly on Pisco – from the Chilcano de pisco with ginger syrup, angostura bitters and ginger ale; to the Lima Espresso Martini made with Pisco, espresso, and Kahlúa.
WHERE: KINGLY COURT, CARNABY, LONDON W1B 5PW
WEBSITE: WWW.SENOR-CEVICHE.COM
INCA London
Soho’s INCA London is a dramatically chic restaurant that incorporates Latin flair into its fusion menu – from seared salmon tiradito and salmon jalapeno tacos to wagyu beef and grilled octopus.
As well as their flavourful cuisine, the restaurant features live performances for a dining experience like no other.
WHERE: 8-9 ARGYLL ST, LONDON W1F 7TF
WEBSITE: WWW.INCALONDON.COM
By The Handbook
YOPO
Pachamama
Lima
Zuaya
Mano Mayfair
SUSHISAMBA
Gaucho
COYA Mayfair
Floral by Lima
Amazonico
Chotto Matte
Señor Ceviche
INCA London
