Lima’s Museo Larco And Museo Larco Cafe Review
Peru’s culture stretches back thousands of years with a unique story that every traveler will want to hear. Keep reading for my review of the Larco Museum in Lima, Peru, and the Museo Larco Cafe Restaurant.
What Is The Museo Larco In Lima, Peru?
The Museo Larco in Lima, Peru showcases Peruvian artwork and artifacts capturing the pre-Columbian cultures over a 5,000 year span. The carefully curated museum moves chronologically through significant times in Peruvian history showing the progression of each society.
How Much Time For Museo Larco?
Museo Larco takes anywhere from 1-3 hours to see all the artifacts and artwork in the exhibit. Everyone’s time will be different but this is a good estimate. My wife and I took our time reading most of the descriptions for each item and still made it through the main exhibit in a little over an hour.
The Larco Musem isn’t huge and definitely not a whole day affair, but worth the time.
What Languages Are Displayed At Museo Larco?
Currently, Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, and Japanese languages are displayed next to the artifacts at the Larco Museum. Each language translates the description of the item and any other information the museum finds important for visitors.
Museo Larco Exhibit Review
If you love museums, then the Museo Larco will entertain and surprise you. Everything is well curated with different themed rooms showcasing ceramics, paintings, jewelry, and clothing of the early civilizations living in Peru.
Walking into the Larco Museum stunned my senses. A colorful array of flowers and vines climb the walls around the walkway to the exhibits. My wife took a thousand pictures and smiled continuously as she appreciated the variety of flowers growing in the courtyard.
Definitely a place for pictures and selfies.
The staff pointed us in the right direction to the main exhibit entrance, where we showed them our prepaid vouchers. They handed us an English map with the layout of each room and explained how to navigate the museum. You basically just walk in one direction. Simple and easy.
I found the changes in art style between different regions in Peru particularly interesting. With limited experience in ancient artifacts, I assumed most artistic characteristics would stay uniform throughout the country. I learned that each section of Peru developed its own unique culture and thus, its own unique interpretation of art.
The Sacrificial Ceremony rooms engaged me the most with a glimpse into the intense rituals that governed the culture for hundreds of years. Although I won’t go into the gritty details, but items used in these ceremonies are on display with full descriptions of their purpose.
After the main exhibit, we walked across the courtyard to the artifact storage area open to the public. Every museum shows only a small selection of artifacts chosen specifically for public viewing with the rest of their items locked away in a secure storage area somewhere else on the premises.
Not the Lacro Museum. Here, guests are invited to walk through the storage area and see thousands of artifacts giving each visitor more time to see the details.
For me, the storage area was just as awesome as the main exhibit. From floor to ceiling, different variations of the artifacts show the consistency of early artisans and the importance these symbols played in their everyday culture.
Erotica Gallery At The Larco Museum
Downstairs close to the cafe, we found the entrance to the Erotic Gallery, showing unique sculptures and pottery explaining the sexuality of ancient Peru. Although this section is not super graphic, it’s definitely intended for more mature visitors.
Honestly, crude pottery depicting sex acts only brought out my buried immaturity with muffled snickers. I’m happy my wife could appreciate the culture with me as we both walked through the exhibit holding back our urge to laugh and make the occasional dick joke.
Seriously though, we did our best to show respect to the ancient culture of Peru, but sometimes we couldn’t help but crack a smile.
Was The Larco Museum Worth It?
Yes! I think the Larco Museum is an awesome way to spend an afternoon in Lima. I know museums are reserved for rainy days, but for the best experience, I recommend going on a nice, sunny day to enjoy the courtyard flowers and dining area of the Museo Larco Cafe.
Museo Larco Cafe Restaurant Review
I think a trip to the Larco Museum is worth it just for the restaurant. Nestled on the bottom floor of the complex is a wonderful veranda with vines and flowers hanging around the dining area.
I felt comfortable, and wonderfully at ease with a light breeze carrying the smell of blossoming flowers between the tables. The setting felt pristine and I could’ve stayed all day.
With the food and the ambiance, I thought the Museo Larco Cafe Restaurant to be one of the best restaurants in Lima.
The Menu At Museo Larco Cafe
I thought the menu was well diversified with plenty of great options. The cafe put an emphasis on Peruvian cuisine, with classic dishes offered with the restaurant’s own unique flare.
We decided on the Tacu Tacu Con Lomo Saltado and the Pollo al Horno with Creme Brulee and coffee for dessert.
The Food At Museo Larco Cafe
The food came out super fast, about five minutes after ordering. Everything was well plated, showing attention to detail.
The Tacu Tacu Con Lomo Saltado tasted perfect with medium rare strips of beef seared and cooked in a dark gravy with carrots and onions. Savory and tender, the beef tasted like any steak from a highly ranked restaurant.
Eating the Tacu Tacu (beans and rice) added a scrumptious carby element that I loved especially after breaking the yolk of the fried egg and mixing in the brown gravy.
Together, everything tasted deep and unctuous with all the flavors pairing nicely for a satisfying meal.
The Pollo al Horno showcased a fall off the bone chicken leg quarter with a mix of vegetables all covered in a wonderful gravy. Yes, gravy again, and I have zero complaints.
From the fatty chicken skin to the green beans, the whole dish hit the savory notes while staying light and easy to eat.
For dessert, we ate the Creme Brûlée, which was nothing fancy, but perfectly executed with a delicious vanilla custard topped with a nicely torched sugar shell.
We sipped our cappuccinos and cracked the top of the creme brûlée, slowly enjoying every bit of custard. The setting at the Museo Larco Cafe was so ideal, we took our time sipping our coffee and finishing the dessert.
All in all, I recommend the Museo Larco Restaurant to everyone visiting the Museum. The kitchen served up delicious Peruvian cuisine while the ambiance impressed with an amazing garden display.
Do You Need a Reservation for Museo Larco Restaurant?
Although I didn’t need a reservation, I saw plenty of tables with signs for reserved guests. If you plan on coming to the restaurant, go ahead and pop online and set it in stone. You don’t want to miss this opportunity.
Visit the Museo Larco Gift Shop
My wife and I find the gift shop as the “dessert” of any attraction or museum. We worked our way through the exhibits, learning about the ancient culture and the gift shop is our time to goof around and pick an item to commemorate our day of “super intense” learning.
The gift shop at Museo Larco features replicas of artifacts and art from the exhibits, but also other items of Peruvian culture, such as alpaca fur hats and scarves.
We decided on a handmade magnet picturing the Museo Larco sign before entering the main exhibit area.
How Much Does Museo Larco Cost?
The price is relatively inexpensive for general admission at 35 SOL or about $9 USD. They have discounted admission that I listed below. You can pay online for your tickets and reserve a guaranteed spot in the museum, or you can pay at the main counter.
– General public: S/ 35.00
– Seniors (+60 years): S/ 30.00
– Students and minors (up to 17 years): S/ 17.00
– Children aged 8 years or under: Free admission
Getting To Museo Larco In Lima, Peru
For most people in Lima, I recommend taking an Uber or taxi to the Larco Museum. The location is a bit out of reach for most tourists to walk and the bus system in Lima tends to move slow throughout the city.
For the easiest option, I used Uber to reach Museo Larco. They took me right to the front door with no problems finding the location.
Museo Larco Contact Information
Av. Simón Bolívar 1515, Pueblo Libre, Lima 21, Peru
Entrance on Navarra Street
Telephone: +51 1 461-1312
Open from Monday to Sunday, from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm.
Reduced hours: December 24, 25, 26, and January 1 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
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Chris Kretzer has traveled the world visiting over 35 countries and eating his way through every city. With his wife Tiarra, they explore different food cultures and create food guides, podcasts, and travel articles helping everyone experience the world through food.