Bar Cordano, Historical restaurant and bar near Government Palace in Lima, Peru
Bar Cordano is a restaurant and bar on the ground floor of the former Hotel Comercio building in central Lima, at the corner of Carabaya and Ancash streets. It sits right next to the Desamparados train station, steps from the Government Palace, and serves traditional Peruvian food and drinks.
The bar was founded in 1905 by Italian immigrants Vigilio Botano and the brothers Luis and Antonio Cordano. After more than seven decades of family management, the staff took over ownership in 1978.
The walls are lined with photographs of Peruvian presidents who have eaten here, giving the room the feel of an informal national gallery. Ordering a butifarra sandwich or a pisco sour at the old wooden counter is something locals and visitors alike still do today.
The bar is easy to reach on foot from Lima's historic center and the Plaza Mayor is just a short walk away. Visiting in the morning or early afternoon tends to be quieter, as the surrounding area gets very busy later in the day.
The bar stands so close to the Government Palace that it has served as an informal meeting point for politicians and officials for over a century. Some regulars say that significant decisions have been shaped over a simple lunch at its tables.
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