Lima's El Mercado Restaurant

At Lima's El Mercao Restaurant, the theme is old meets new—not just in the food, where acclaimed chef Rafael Osterling puts a new twist on classic Peruvian dishes, but also in the architecture. Opened in 2010, the restaurant is located in the city's Miralores district. On the triangular site, architect Jaime Ortiz de Zevallos created a "little green area" in the semi-industrial area. Here, we take an off-hours tour of the bustling cerviche lunch spot.

With Lima's climate as warm as it is, all the seating at El Mercado is outdoors.

The two-level structure accommodates not only the restaurant's dining area but also Osterling's office and workspace.

The first floor houses the patios (3), dining area (2), and restrooms (9).

The corner site is surrounded by car garages and old adobe houses.

The first-floor space between the two second-floor structures creates one of two dining patio.

"The focus is on the working counter," Ortiz de Zevallos says of the space where shellfish and seafood dishes are...

The elegant design extends through the washrooms.

Osterling, who owns several restaurants in Lima, relocated his office to the second floor of the new space.

Also upstairs are Osterling's experimental kitchen and a private dining terrace.

El Mercado is open for lunch only but is reportedly worth the trip.

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