La Bodega Verde — Restaurant in Lima Metropolitan Area

I first visited this charming café some time ago with a friend. Yesterday, I decided to return on my own, hoping to get some work done while enjoying the peaceful garden atmosphere.

During my first visit, my friend and I were thrilled to see kefir on the menu and eagerly ordered it. However, I must clarify for others: the kefir here isn’t the traditional kind many are familiar with in Europe. Instead, it’s a bottled, transparent drink that’s quite different from what we expected. I mention this so others aren’t caught off guard.

Yesterday, since it was a bit late in the day, I opted for a refreshing drink and chose one of their detox options. Unfortunately, the drink was underwhelming. It lacked any distinct flavor or character, and I’d even say it was quite basic. To make matters worse, it was overly foamy, which detracted from the overall experience. At 17 soles, the price felt like a disappointment, especially considering that other cafés in the area offer similar drinks that are both more flavorful and more reasonably priced.

That said, I don’t believe their menu is a strong point, but this café holds a unique charm that makes up for it. As part of a chain, it’s clear that their offerings aren’t designed to stand out. However, the serene and secluded atmosphere of this location is truly special. It feels like an escape from the city’s noise, and working amidst the tranquil garden setting is simply priceless.

While the drinks and menu might be ordinary, I can confidently say I’ll keep coming back here. Finding a café with such a peaceful and garden-like ambiance is incredibly rare, especially in Lima. I just wish their offerings could match the beauty...

This place used to be great but has gone downhill progressively over the past few years, some of their hallmark dishes have been eroded by changing and replacing and watering down ingredients. What were formerly some of the best smoothies in Lima are now watered down shadows of their former self. Newer smoothie bowl dishes which attempt to emulate dishes of other popular places in Barranco are badly formulated and just yuck. Their huevo huachano has less and less huachano (sausage) and uncooked egg (stomach ache). There are notable degradations in the food when cooks change exposing a lack of consistency. Great ambiance in each location, but not worth eating much there, even the coffee is pretty second rate. They need to bring back the cook from perhaps 2015-2016 time period and retrain all chefs and make a plan to maintain consistency across their meals and across...

Beautiful outdoor seating in garden with lovely music. Gorgeous table candles and outdoor fire heaters make for a romantic intimate environment.

Very slow service and hardly any alcoholic options. I saw one couple who was seated with menus leave early because no one came to ask for their order.

Staff was not willing to make any substitutions or additions of ingredients listed as available in other menu items. (I ordered the poke panko bowl but wanted it with the salmon from the salmon poke bowl instead of the chicken that came with the panko ingredients. They said they couldn’t add the salmon, so I got the panko bowl without the chicken. The delicious mushrooms were the best part of the dish but the portion size was small and too heavy on the rice.)

They have many vegetarian options. Would recommend the...