All-Day Brunch & Specialty Coffee
With a female name that is not too girlie, Amarena Urban Coffee has gained a space on the local scene.
The Power of Three
Camila Unzueta (Bolivian) and Andrea Rodriguez (Peruvian) have known each other since high school. Once they graduated, they took separate roads; Camila went to Le Cordon Bleu Peru, which led her to a career in high-end kitchens around the world, Ritz Carlton, Mandarin Oriental, Astrid & Gastón, and finally Central; on the other hand, Andrea went to Universidad de Lima where she studied a Business degree, and was always waiting to manage her own business.
Laura Tibaquira (Colombian) went to study restaurant administration in Switzerland. After working there and back in her native Colombia, she decided to intertwine culture and food, leading her to Central, where she met Camila; both looking to understand local products, excellent service, and a business of their own, they met and Amarena was born.
We visited Amarena when it opened in 2021; we thought, as the name claims, it was an urban coffee, but that was far from true; this is a place for an all-day brunch, a place to stay. A long seat with some tables on a side and a few round tables is what they have inside to sit and enjoy while their music plays close to the bar.
They took advantage of the front terrace, where eight more tables are set, and you can enjoy your meal outside but with the perfect amount of privacy.
Pop culture is part of their thing; if you are a collector, be aware of the ever-changing movie-inspired coasters.
As we mentioned, it has an All-Day Brunch, and the girls are usually innovative, so you should ask for the special. As for staples in the menu, their arepas con queso are plenty to share; the recipe based on an adapted Colombian recipe, the Squash Bowl is a fresh salad with roasted squash, homemade ricotta, and a poached egg, the perfect salad for a warm day, their sandwiches are also great, from their “mixto” is grilled cheese with ham, to their pulled pork with native potatoes both are great fillers.
One of the things we connect with them is their love for specialty coffee, and as they travel a lot, coffee from different parts of the world are there to try; also, they use coffee for pour-over methods by Ciclos specialty coffee and a separate house blend for their espresso machine.
Chai tea and hot chocolate are also great finds in Amarena, and they have simple yet delicious cocktails like their cold brew, negroni, espresso martini, or various vermouths.
Just for a great weekend brunch, an evening cocktails with friends, or a whole day of work, Amarena is a great place to be.
IN THE KNOW: Amarena is located at 438 Mariscal La Mar Ave. Miraflores is open Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 9 pm and Sundays from 9 am to 8 pm.
