Welcome to Vista Peru
At Vista Peru, we invite you to experience a flavorful journey through authentic Peruvian cuisine. Our story is rooted in passion and tradition, celebrating the vibrant tastes of Peru in a warm, welcoming setting. Nestled in the heart of Philadelphia, Vista Peru offers a cozy atmosphere, perfect for sharing dishes like our renowned ceviche and tender lomo saltado. Our commitment to inclusivity shines, as we cater to diverse dietary preferences with ample vegan and vegetarian options. Enjoy a refreshing pisco sour during our lively happy hours, or gather for an intimate dinner—every visit promises delectable food and attentive service that reflects the heart of our Latinx heritage.
- 20 S 2nd St Philadelphia, PA 19106 United States Hotline: (215) 398-5046
Welcome to Vista Peru, a culinary gem located at 20 S 2nd St in Philadelphia. This charming restaurant offers a delightful infusion of authentic Peruvian flavors, showcasing the rich diversity of the nation’s cuisine in a vibrant cocktail bar setting. Whether you're a seasoned connoisseur of Latin American fare or a curious newcomer to Peruvian dishes, Vista Peru promises an unforgettable dining experience.
As a Latinx-owned establishment, Vista Peru stands out for its commitment to inclusivity, featuring gender-neutral restrooms and wheelchair accessibility. It's a place where everyone is welcome to explore the tantalizing world of Peruvian gastronomy.
- Cocktail culture: Savor the renowned Pisco Sour alongside an extensive full bar that enhances every meal.
- Vegan and vegetarian options: Enjoy a variety of choices, perfect for plant-based diners, reflecting Peru's culinary versatility.
- Ambience: The atmosphere is a harmonious blend of casual and intimate vibes, making it ideal for group gatherings or romantic dinners.
- Fun extras: With outdoor seating, a pool table, and live sports on TV, Vista Peru invites you to stay longer and immerse yourself in good company.
Signature favorite items from their menu include:
- Anticuchos: A perfect introduction with grilled beef heart, bringing a taste of traditional Peruvian street fare.
- Ceviche Mixto: Fresh fish, shrimp, and calamari marinated in lime juice, artfully combining textures and flavors.
- Causa Con Pulpa de Cangrejo: Layers of crabmeat that triumphantly highlight Peru's coastal offerings.
Customer reviews praise not only the flavorful food but the attentive service that enhances the dining experience. One guest raved about the arroz chaufa de lomo a lo pobre, where the steak's tender juiciness juxtaposed beautifully with the fragrant rice. Another could not get enough of the Causa Acevichada, a dish that exemplifies the creative culinary methods of the chefs at Vista Peru.
Encapsulating a magical evening at Vista Peru is not just about the food; it is about the overall experience—an invitation to savor the essence of Peru in a modern, upscale setting. With happy hour specials and catering options, there is no reason not to celebrate with friends, family, or that special someone.
For good food, exceptional service, and a slice of Peru in Philadelphia, Vista Peru should be your next dining destination. Call (215) 398-5046 to reserve your table or simply walk in to discover the warmth and flavor that awaits you!

Steak and rice and the chicken were so moist and flavorful. Space was cozy and service attentive

Great food and service. Highly recommended restaurant with a nice combination of food selections.

The food was really delicious here, and I'm glad I went here for my first time trying Peruvian food. This restaurant was recommended to me by my Peruvian friend. My favorite dish was definitely the arroz chaufa de lomo a lo pobre. The steak was extremely tender and juicy and the rice was so flavorful. I also love plantains so that was nice to have. The Pulpo a la parrilla was my second favorite dish I tried, the octopus was super tender and really tasty. The Pollo a la Braza was also good. I did not expect the Pargo a la plancha to have a tomato based soup, but it was decent. The snapper also had way more bones, which I didn't mind but be aware if you don't know how to eat around fishbones. Service was good and this is a good dinner spot, chill vibes and nice ambience.

Wow what a gem of a find! We had just finished suit shopping and wanted to get an early dinner/late lunch since we were in the city. Decided to try something new so we landed here. The menu appealed to us as we both really love pulpo and there were quite a few options on the menu for that. The restaurant is very cute and like most restaurants in Philly there really isn't a lot of room so their bar is in the front and the dining area is towards the back. Very nice layout and the spacing between the tables was great. Mostly two to four tops and I noticed two larger tables situated one in the back and one in the front of the dining area. The clientele was mainly IMO Spanish speaking. So for me that was a great indication that we so chose correctly! Our server was great for suggesting entrees when we couldn't decide between dishes. We started with calamari which I will say wasn't any different than what you get from all restaurant menus but I will say that theirs was on the top for light batter n crispiness just how I like it. The accompanying aioli was really good though I was looking for that wedge of lemon to add a bit of acidity. Our entrees were the seafood lobster paella and the grilled pulpo. I'll start with the grilled pulpo - for those of you wondering what pulpo is its octopus. The flavor profile of the pulpo was soooo good. I personally would've like to see it really grilled a bit more so have that smokiness flavor to make it really pop. We both agreed that it could be a lil more tender but mind you it wasn't chewy or tough by any means. My fiancé indicated that the potatoes that accompanied it was less than stellar but all the other veggies shared in the same great flavor of the pulpo. I don't like potatoes so I can't weigh in on that but they did look quite bland. Let's get to what I felt was the star dish in today's dining adventure ... the paella. First the aroma is bar none one of my favorite smells the sweet aroma of saffron! It's up there with garlic in olive oil originating from Italian restaurants. The presentation and the abundance of all that seafood satisfied that "eyes bigger than your stomach" concept. Visually appealing and the taste was just as satisfying. While you can only see the pool of shrimp and the lobster round the sides of the bowl buried underneath were the mussels and clams and plenty of that golden rice that has absorbed all the yummy goodness of those saffron threads. Oh how I love thee paella. This has got to be one of my favorites aside from my own homemade version. Every time I have this I'm always regretting the miss in London's Borough market but I digress. Hopefully you get the picture that this is a must try paella if you are a fan. If not it's definitely worth a try and you'll be sure to be hooked. Lastly, we had the flan sadly to my disappointment this was not the warmed version. But it was good. I had my hopes set on it being warm ... this is where our inability to have another language under our belt was a minor problem in communicating my ask about the temperature. C'est la vie. Oh wait that was French.

Love the food. Jalea and ceviche were really good. The shrimp were cooked perfectly. Sauce was jalea was really good. A bit too much tomato and onions and not enough actual seafood in the jalea dish. Pisco sour nice tart flavor. Ambiance was good prefer downstairs to upstairs.

A+ service, stupid good food, and a simple but welcoming atmosphere make this place one of the best I've ever been to. And I'm not exaggerating. From the moment we walked in--in fact, from the moment before we walked in, we knew this was the perfect place. These days, we travel with a 9-month-old and a heavy, bulky stroller. We're well aware that our semi-truck of a stroller can't go everywhere, so we trepidatiously waited on the street to assess the situation before going in. But we were interrupted by a member of the staff, who not only welcomed us in but helped bring our Abrams tank stroller into the restaurant. The staff is incredibly accommodating, and every measure should be taken to ensure they are well compensated for their troubles. Now, if you're not familiar with Peruvian cuisine or the Spanish language, you're in luck, because it turns out any dish you order will be a winner. Their calamari is literally the best I've ever had, and I've had a lot of calamari. The lomo saltado is inspired. The goat dish whose name I can't remember is epic (and interestingly not unlike some of the goat stews prepared in Kenya). Coupled with some excellent by-the-glass wine pours, you've got yourself a feast to die for. I am usually against music being played in restaurants, where the quality of the conversation can suffer from a pounding bass beat or mis-timed track change; however, the (what I can only assume is) traditional Peruvian music playing over the PA adds to the experience, especially in contrast to the modernist/minimalist design of the dining room. And that they treated our 9-month-old with dignity and respect gives it the biggest vote of confidence from me. Go now!

This was the second time I've been to Vista Peru, and I was even more impressed! The Causa Acevichada was INCREDIBLE and we loved the Mazamorra Morada dessert (not pictured) way more than we had anticipated. It was a hot jelly like dish (purple corn pudding technically) sprinkled with cinnamon and made with pineapple, cherries, and lime juice I believe. Not too sweet! Their rice and ceviche dishes are great too, and I'm also a fan of their pisco sour. Service is kind and was patient with us! We did have a little mix up towards the end of our meal, but it was otherwise smooth sailing. Love the decor in here but we were seated under a light that felt a little too bright. It was minor in the grand scheme of things but felt worth noting. I'm sure staff would've accommodated us had we asked to move since it wasn't crowded! Group Friendly: Yes, and it's ideal for sharing! Veg/Pesc: More pescatarian friendly in my opinion. Fish dishes are the stars of the show here! Date Friendly: Yes!

I was closed by and Peruvian food is always a yes. This is more of a modern upscale restaurant. The place is somewhat small, the service was good and quick. I wanted to get the ceviche but it had celery, so I ordered lomo saltado, my mom got causa and to share we had cholló con queso. It all was really good, the meat could have been better prepared but it had good flavor. They had ají peruano which was the best. I would recommend giving it a shot.