Bars in Barancco: vibrant nightlife in Lima’s hippest hood

Bars in Barancco

Welcome to Barranco, the beating heart of Lima’s nightlife. The Barranco neighborhood is a vibrant bohemian district located in the city of Lima, Peru. It is situated along the coast of the Pacific Ocean, just south of the Miraflores district. Barranco is known for its artistic vibes, colonial architecture, and lively nightlife. It’s Lima’s hippest neighborhood. A little more rough around the edges than it’s more posh neighbor, Miraflores, to the north. 

Historically, Barranco was a summer resort for Lima’s wealthy elite during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Many of the mansions and grand houses from that era still stand today, adding to the neighborhood’s charm and creating some pretty amazing spaces for art galleries, amazing restaurants, and great bars. Barancco attracts a vibrant and creative crowd. The neighborhood hosts various art exhibitions, live music performances, theater shows, and literary events.

Brancco Beer Company

We’re from Denver and love a good brewery. A good brewery that also serves great cocktails? Count us in. Barancco Beer Company was the first bars in Barancco we visited. We stopped in on our first night in Peru and had a blast. The bartenders were great, and made a mean Pisco sour.  

Their house brews are inventive, clean and downright delicious. Plus, the rustic-industrial decor and convivial atmosphere are just the right side of divey. For beer pilgrims in search of a fun brewery with great beers, you’ve found the spot.

Juanito Barancco

If history and character were alcohol, Juanito’s would have you staggering out the door after a single sip. Established over 70 years ago, this is easily one of the most historic bars in Barancco. A bar that’s served artists, writers, musicians, and now, a pair of dive bar enthusiasts.

Juanito is that grizzled character in the corner of the pub, telling tales of a life fully lived. It’s got just the right balance of grit and charm, the kind that only comes with age. Their Cusqueña beer is as cold as it comes, and their Pisco Sours don’t mess around. It’s a testament to Lima’s heritage, a place that wears its heart on its sleeve.

Luna Roja

It’s not often you find a bar that feels like a portal to another world. Luna Roja is that anomaly. A bohemian cocoon in the heart of the city that transports you to a time of revolution, poetry, and psychedelia.

The decor is an acid trip without the acid, with funky murals that dance across the walls. Their craft beer selection is impressive, but the show-stopper here is the live music – a pulsating mix of local bands that keeps the joint jumping. Dive into the mosh pit of culture that is Luna Roja, it’s a wild ride. Luna Roja is, in our opinion, one of the most fun bars in Barancco. It’s a place to be yourself let loose a little and just enjoy some great company and good tunes. 

Ayahuasca Restobar

When it comes to bars in Barancco, we’d be amiss not to mention Ayahuasca. From the outside, this unassuming mansion-turned-bar gives little away. But like stepping through a magical wardrobe, the interior unfolds into a labyrinth of themed rooms, each one a trip down a different rabbit hole. Ayahuasca Bar is less a drinking establishment and more an immersive journey into Barancco’s past. The décor blends old world elegance with trippy, psychedelic elements, as if Salvador Dali took a crack at designing a 19th-century lounge. Each room has its own distinct flavor, and there is no shortage of cozy little spots to explore.

The courtyard with original and stunning tile is an easy place to get lost, and drunk, on a lazy afternoon.

Don’t miss their eponymous Ayahuasca cocktail. It’s a riff on a Pisco sour with aguaymanto juice, tumbo juice, and macerated coca. Pair it with their fusion tapas for a culinary experience that is as eclectic as the surroundings.

Whether you choose to relax in the opulent courtyard, huddle in a cozy corner, or get lost in the ethereal glow of the main bar, Ayahuasca has a blend of history and whimsy that’ll keep you coming back for more. It’s a love letter to Lima’s cultural richness, a celebration of heritage poured into each glass and etched into every inch of its historic walls.

La Feria Market Union

The La Feira market isn’t exactly a bars in Barancco, it’s a modern open air market. This isn’t like the more traditional markets you’ll find all over Peru. La Feria Union is more like the hipster markets you’re starting to see pop up all over the world. It’s part bar, part food truck heaven, part social scene all set to live music. Less stalls selling fruits, veggies, and home goods, and more like young hip clothing boutiques, artists showcasing their work, pop-up culinary ideas, artisan coffee.

It reminded us of the Bazaar or Big Wonderful pop-up markets in Denver, but in a fixed permanent location. The crowd is younger, vibrant, super artistic, and fun. It’s a scene while the sun is up, but really comes alive after dark. Sip, shop, support truly local artisans, and have a blast.

Night of Barancco Bar

An essential staple in Lima’s nightlife, this joint is where music and alcohol have been waltzing together for decades. The charm of Night of Barranco Bar comes from its history, its local fame born out of countless nights of electric performances and glasses raised in celebration, its walls echoing with the whispers of musical legends past and the vibrant hum of those in the making.

From the outside, it looks like a rustic Spanish hacienda – a grand, weathered beauty. Inside, it’s a mélange of vintage aesthetics and casual warmth that gives it an immediate sense of familiarity. An ornate balcony overlooks a worn-in dance floor, and old posters of past performances share wall space with vintage black and white photos.

Night of Barranco Bar is more than a watering hole. It’s a stage, a memory keeper, a staple of the neighborhood. This is the place to go if you’re after a slice of authentic Barranco, a place where history and present intersect, where the echoes of Lima’s vibrant past harmonize with the city’s pulsating present.

What should I order to drink in Peru?

The simple answer is anything made with Pisco.  A grape brandy, it’s as deeply embedded in the country’s DNA as Machu Picchu’s ancient stones or the artistry of the Nazca lines. You’ll be hard pressed to not find Pisco featured heavily on the menu at any of the bars in Barancco, or all of Peru for that matter. 

The beauty of Pisco lies in its simplicity. Made by distilling fermented grape juice into a high-proof spirit, it’s crafted with a passion that borders on reverence. No additives, no water, no wood aging. Its purity is its signature, the grapes’ expression unadulterated in its crystal-clear presence.

Just because it’s simple, doesn’t mean that Pisco variety dont exist. Depending on the grape varietals used, it can be a Pisco Puro, made from a single type of grape, or a Pisco Acholado, a blend of different grapes. Then there’s Pisco Mosto Verde, made from partially fermented grapes, leading to a subtly sweet and complex flavor profile.