After having become one the food capitals of the world (believe me, Peruvian food is worth the travel), Lima is also turning into one of the cocktail spots of Latin America, with several bars in the well-known charts and a growing cocktail movement attentive to local approaches and products. Still, even if top-level cocktail bars abund in Lima, in my humble experience finding a proper Martini spot can take some time, so here goes my advice. The Bar Bijou is located in a tiny alley in Miraflores, a neighbourhood where cocktail bars abound, and is named after the Bijou cocktail, a delicious pre-prohibition drink that I admit I did not know, a sort of Negroni with green Charterouse instead of vermouth (I had to try it at the bar, it is delicious). The Bijou is small and cozy, with cool athmosphere and a very professional and welcoming bartender named Carlos: in a nutshell, a beautiful tiny bar where they “do things right”, with a smile. You can see how seriously they take classic cocktails from the “table of cocktails” of their menu (a sort of elements table that shall guide you in choosing your classic drink) , and by discussing with the bartender how their twists have been designed: it is a plaesure to see so much knowledge shared in such a humble way.
Now, the Martinis. The classic Dry Martini was just perfect: cold, dry and balanced, the kind of drink you’d like to get three at the very least. Similarly, the house Martini was a great discovery: Tanquerey 10 infused with olive oil, manzanilla and celery and a house blend of dry vermouths, extremely balanced and complex but stll traight and enjoyable as we like it. All in all, if you have some time in Lima and want to get a top-quality but still very enjoyable and friendly cocktail experience the Bijou is your place, and from there, thanks to Carlo’s advice, you can keep on discovering other bars almost endessly… Classic Martini rate: 8.
The Martini Hour 
Just shared it with my nephew and girlfriend who are going to Perú in September xx