COYA: The Peruvian Restaurant You Need To Try This Party Season

London has no shortage of glitzy restaurants – particularly in Mayfair, where the streets are overflowing with high-end dining rooms. But when the first COYA landed on Piccadilly in 2012, it quickly became apparent that this vibrant, Peruvian eatery was bringing something entirely new to the table. With its electric atmosphere, Incan-inspired interiors and standout culinary offering, COYA was one of the first to bring food, mixology, music and art together in one space.

Before long, the brand had expanded internationally, with a second branch in London’s City District and outposts popping up in some of the world’s most glamorous locations, including Mykonos, Monte Carlo, Dubai and Barcelona. Twelve years on, the allure remains stronger than ever, with 12 restaurants now dotted around the globe, as well as two nightclubs, named ‘chanca’ and a new concept, COYA Pool in Marbella. So what makes COYA such a hotspot – both in the capital and beyond? And why is now the best time of year to visit?

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Inside COYA: A Pioneer In Immersive Dining

Award-Winning Food

Since opening the first COYA venue in Mayfair back in 2012, the brand has grown exponentially. Yet its winning formula remains at the heart of the concept today: top-tier chefs bringing a contemporary and upmarket take on Peruvian fusion cuisine. Signature dishes include ceviches, tiraditos (Peruvian sashimi) and anticuchos (succulent grilled skewered meat and fish), but each restaurant also offers unique plates which bring in flavours from its city and country. 

Perennially popular favourites include Arroz Nikkei, Chilean seabass flavoured with lime and aji amarillo; the Josper-cooked ribeye; and the ceviche mixto, made with kingfish, prawns, sweet potato and cancha. 

Cocktails Aplenty

COYA is all about the party spirit, drawing inspiration from the buzzing bars of Lima, where pisco takes centre stage. Each venue has its own Pisco Bar, home to an extensive range of South American spirits, where expert bartenders mix up cocktails – including, of course, the pisco sour. COYA’s secret trick? Macerados: a traditional infusion technique which involves macerating fruit, spices and herbs in pisco. And last year, the group released its own bottled pisco-infused macerado with passion fruit in collaboration with 1615 Pisco, now the most popular pisco sour enjoyed at COYA and available for retail.

Aside from the pisco concoctions you’ll find plenty of unique tequila and rum-based cocktails: the Ají Margarita, for instance, pairs Don Julio Blanco with ingredients like jalapeños, green apple and avocado purée. 

Artistic Flair

All this takes place amid atmospheric Incan-inspired settings – COYA venues are ornate and colourful, with accents of blue and gold paired with carved Peruvian wood panels and antiquities. Art is seamlessly integrated into the experience: each quarter, a new collection of works appears on the walls from both leading and up-and-coming artists, carefully curated to reflect the destination.

In London, the group recently partnered with Alinda Kring Art Advisory, a specialist in contemporary art, who has brought art works from an array of exciting names to COYA. At the Mayfair venue, you’ll find pieces from New York-born Gavin Johnson, a visionary abstract artist known for his creative use of colour, form and emotion, who is showcasing a thought-provoking new collection which draws on the dynamics of the human experience. COYA City, meanwhile, is currently displaying portraits from Brad Kenny, a dyslexic artist who uses art as a unique form of communication, and featured in a documentary for Channel 4, Flawless.

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A Party Spirit

Anyone who has ever dined at COYA knows music is a pivotal part – so much so that in 2017, the group founded its own label, COYA MUSIC. Led by Global Music Director Stephane Petit and featuring both resident and international DJs, COYA MUSIC is an extension of the brand, focusing on electronic music infused with Latin influences, plus a mix of down-tempo, afro-house and organic house music. Whether you’re there for a business lunch, a weekday dinner or one of its famed champagne brunches, you can guarantee your meal will be accompanied by lively beats.

Christmas & NYE

COYA goes big on its seasonal offerings, and the festive period is one of the most exciting times of the year to visit. The Mayfair flagship has been decked out in majestic decor, while the a la carte menu has been given a seasonal refresh. Diners can enjoy specials featuring festive flavours, like the Chuletas de Borego, lamb chops paired with tomato and panca chutney; and Tiradito de Vieiras Y Pera Nashi, Orkney scallops served with nashi pears and drizzled in black truffle sauce.

Dining with a big group? Make the most of the festive group set menus, with a variety of different price ranges on offer. All feature some of COYA’s most iconic dishes, including the Ceviche de Atun Chifa, spicy yellowfin tuna with sesame and rice crackers; Arroz Caldoso con Hongos y Trufa, Bomba rice with roasted mushrooms and black truffles; and Lanosta Rostizata, grilled lobster from the market, cooked with smoked aji panca.

Naturally, COYA pulls out all the stops for New Year’s Eve – the biggest party night of the year. COYA Mayfair will be throwing a Golden Incan Empire soiree, with two seatings available and the option to enjoy free-flowing drinks throughout the night. Sure to be one of the capital’s most dazzling NYE parties, guests can expect a showstopping feast, champagne, entertainment, a live band and COYA MUSIC DJs. Where better to ring in 2025?

BOOK IT:

• COYA Mayfair: coyarestaurant.com
• COYA City: coyarestaurant.com