Lima, Peru Restaurant Guide: Restaurantes Campestres

When it's cold and cloudy in Lima, the citizens have a favorite way of spending a day in the sun. They head out of town to restaurantes campestres, or camp style restaurants. More than just a place to eat, the restaurants campestres are several acres in size and are loaded with fun things to do for the whole family. Here are three popular choices if you're looking for something to do with the kids while traveling near Lima, Peru.

La Granjita Feliz

This fun restaurante campestre has a mini-orchard where they cultivate more than a hundred varieties of plants, both ornamental and edible. The name means "the happy little farm", and there certainly is enough here to make anyone happy. There are pony rides for the kids and a petting zoo with rabbits, turtles and goats. Play soccer on their large football fields, or just run around and have fun playing in the open play areas. While the kids are wearing themselves out, Mom and Dad can sit back and relax in the sun while they enjoy snacks and drinks. Some favorite foods are the pesto raviolis or the whole fried cuy (guinea pig) with peanut sauce. Open weekends and holidays from 10am until 7pm. For directions, see their web page at La Granjita Feliz.

La Granja Villa

This is the ideal place to go out and have fun with the whole family. Here at the "village farm," you'll also find a ton of activities for the kids, including go-carts, swimming pools and a giant play area. The kids will have fun getting to know all the animals here on the farm, which include pigs, ducks, geese, chickens, rabbits, sheep, and ponies. They can learn about the care of the animals as well as the work done on a farm, like milking a cow or feeding baby animals. And when they're worn out and hungry, there's rotisserie chicken or other delicious charcoal grilled foods to choose from, like anticuchos and chicharron. La Granja Villa is open from 10am to 6pm. For directions, visit their web page at La Granja Villa.

El Pillo

Find even more fun for the family at El Pillo, a place designed to delight and spoil your kids. You'll find all sorts of children's toys and play areas, soccer fields, mini-golf, pony rides, the "Terror Train" and so much more. As far as the food, El Pillo serves delicious young chicken, roasted over a wood fire. The meal is accompanied with fried potatoes and a fresh salad. El Pillo is open every day from 11am until 11pm. Visit their website at El Pillo.