Lima has long been recognized as a world-class fine dining and gastronomic hub, but few also know about the city’s thriving coffee culture and cafe scene that has developed over the past 10 years. That might sound strange since Peru has long been one of the top coffee producing countries in the world, but only until somewhat recently has the country’s capital city seen an explosion in local coffee demand. As demand has grown, so has the growth in the number of specialty roasters, coffee shops, and cafes. Here at Lima City of Kings, we will be covering the thriving Lima cafe scene through an ongoing series of coffee shop tour articles. There’s no better way to start the series than by showcasing two cafes that have been at the forefront of the Lima coffee and cafe scene, Arabica Espresso Bar and Tostaduria Bisetti.
Owned by the same company, Bisetti, Arabica Espresso Bar and Tostaduria Bisetti both trace their roots back to the 1950s, when Romulo Bisetti, a Peruvian of Italian descent, opened his first Italian-style cafe in Brena. Romulo Bisetti’s brand has continued for the past 50+ years and is now being led by his grandson David Torres Bisetti, one of Peru’s most recognized coffee professionals.
Under David’s leadership, not only has Bisetti transformed themselves, but they’ve also helped transform Lima’s coffee culture and cafe scene as a whole. After successfully opening both Arabica Espresso Bar in 2008 and Tostaduria Bisetti in 2011, Bisetti has renewed and revamped its commitment toward serving world-class coffee and developing sustainable and organic coffee production in the Peruvian coffee market.
Arabica Espresso Bar
Just a few blocks from Parque Kennedy, tucked away on Calle Gral Recavarren in the heart of Miraflores sits Arabica Espresso Bar. With a chic-looking front that includes bright red-colored front doors, Arabica is one of the most recognizable shop fronts in the district, you can’t miss it. Arabica is an institution in the Lima cafe scene, as it is one of the first European-style espresso bars to thrive in Lima. New to Lima at the time of its opening in 2008, the original concept was developed by Bisetti owner David Torres Bisetti while living in New York City.
Arabica is a true espresso bar, which means it’s an experience far from what you’d normally expect at a large coffee chain. Front and center at the entrance is a sleek Italian La Marzocco espresso machine, along with a half dozen other coffee making contraptions, including Chemex and V60 brewers, siphons, Moka pots, and French presses. If you can dream of a coffee preparation method, Arabica can brew it. The espressos and americanos prepared at Arabica are the best in Lima and are our all-time favorite. In addition to the classic espresso-based hot coffee drinks, Arabica prepares a number of different cold coffee drinks which are perfect on a hot summer day.
Arabica also serves small plates such as sandwiches and salads, which include vegetarian and vegan options. Last but not least, Arabica offers a fresh selection of homemade pastries and sweets that change from season-to-season. To this day, Arabica is the only cafe we’ve seen in Lima that makes delicious pumpkin pie, which is obviously the surest way to win over an American’s heart.
While the food and coffee at Arabica Espresso Bar truly speak for itself, the location’s space limitations do hinder the experience during peak hours from time-to-time. While it’s definitely possible to hang out and even work on a laptop at Arabica for hours on end without interruption or annoyance, the cafe is best suited for a quick lunch and coffee while out and about in Miraflores. Either way, if you are a coffee addict and you are in Miraflores, you can’t miss out on Arabica Espresso Bar.
Tostaduria Bisetti
After opening in 2011, Tostaduria Bisetti unquestionably became the flagship location of the Bisetti brand. Housed in an old colonial-style building on Pedro de Osma in Barranco, Tostaduria Bisetti features a full cafe, espresso bar, tasting and roasting room, coffee preparation laboratory, and a workshop for trainings and classes. Tostaduria Bisetti also features a beautiful, plant-filled terrace that’s complete with a bar that serves coffee-based cocktails. Like a literal coffee-mecca, no other cafe in Lima can come close to boasting the features that Tostaduria Bisetti has.
Tostaduria Bisetti is more than just a cafe, it’s a place for discovery and innovation. It’s where Bisetti develops strategies for sustainably sourcing and roasting the perfect organic coffee beans direct from independent farmers’ organizations in the Cajamarca, Junin, and Villa Rica coffee regions of Peru. It’s also where Bisetti develops a talented team of tasters, roasters, and professional baristas, similar to chefs training in a 5-star restaurant.
Like Arabica, Tostaduria Bisetti also features an elegant La Marzocco espresso machine, along with numerous other Chemex and V60 brewers, siphons, Moka pots, and French presses. The food and drink selections at Tostaduria Bisetti are more numerous and diverse than Arabica, in addition to its extensive list of coffee-based cocktails. The Chilcano de Cafe (pisco, espresso, sparkling water, ginger, and orange zest) is a refreshing and unique spin on Peru’s famous Chilcano cocktail.
Located conveniently in the heart of Barranco right across the street from Parque Municipal, Tostaduria Bisetti is a great option for those seeking a cafe with a tranquil ambiance for lunch or coffee. With a spacious and well-seated interior, you can also easily work and hang out at Tostaduria Bisetti by yourself or with others in a group of 4 or 5.
Arabica Espresso Bar & Tostaduria Bisetti Info
Arabica Espresso Bar
Calle Gral Recavarren 269, Miraflores 15074
Hours: Mondays to Fridays 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturdays 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sundays 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Tostaduria Bisetti
Pedro de Osma 116, Barranco 15063
Hours: Mondays to Thursdays 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sundays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
To check out various pictures of the Arabica Espresso Bar and Tostaduria Bisetti below, just click to enlarge! Or for high-res slideshow viewing, see our Arabica Espresso Bar and Tostaduria Bisetti photo album on the official Lima City of Kings Facebook page!
