Llama Inn — New York, USA

After an influential trip to Peru seven years ago, chef Erik Ramirez — whose previous stint was as sous chef at Eleven Madison Park — made a decisive shift to focus his attention producing top quality Peruvian food. This dedication, further fuelled by his family heritage (Ramirez’s parents immigrated to the US from Peru just before he was born), is what sparked the premise for Llama Inn.
The 65-seat restaurant occupies a light-filled corner building in Williamsburg’s north side, in a once sleepy part of the neighbourhood that is now, thanks to a flurry or new residential buildings, quickly being invigorated with dining and retail establishments.
Even in this competitive area, Llama Inn stands out. Everything from the menu to the super-friendly wait staff could be described as vibrant. As is the décor by local outfit, JFD Studio, which includes overhead shelving packed with tropical plants and decorative textiles by local artist Betil Dagdelen that were commissionee for the space and handmade using traditional Andean weaving and knotting techniques.
With inventive, flavour-packed dishes such as quinoa with banana, avocado and bacon or red snapper tiradito with persimmon, yuzu and ginger, along with an inviting, unstuffy atmosphere — intended to feel like a corner barrio bar - it’s not surprising that this spot is packed every night.
If you can, get a seat at the chef’s counter, so you can see the kitchen in action and plot out the dishes you’re going to order over a Llama Del Rey (a not-too-sweet sangria-like cocktail made with pisco that’s available on draft). Or, when the weather warms, head upstairs to the restaurant’s newest addition: a rooftop lounge.
INFORMATION
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
ADDRESS
50 Withers Street
-
Let there be light: a closer look at Prada’s stripped-back S/S 2026 show set
‘This is the first time the Fondazione is completely bare, with the light coming in,’ said Raf Simons backstage at Prada’s ‘light, fresh, colourful’ and ‘human’ S/S 2026 men’s show in Milan
-
A Swedish scooter blends Teenage Engineering’s aesthetic with accessible electric mobility
The EPA1 Scooter is the first product from mobility start-up Vässla, an assured and flexible design shaped in conjunction with TE to assist everyday urban mobility
-
Discover Canadian modernist Daniel Evan White’s pitch-perfect homes
Canadian architect Daniel Evan White (1933-2012) had a gift for using the landscape to create extraordinary homes; revisit his story in an article from the Wallpaper* archives (first published in 2011)
-
Caribbean cool meets mid-century glamour at this new LA hotspot
From golden mirrored chambers to jerk-spiced tomahawk steaks, Lucia reimagines Afro-Caribbean dining and design
-
Classic New York restaurants for delicious food and inspired design
From Michelin-starred fine dining to reimagined retro diners, these are the most emblematic (and easy-on-the-eye) places to eat in the Big Apple
-
Inside Hotel Chelsea’s secret basement sushi restaurant
Teruko, a new Japanese restaurant and sushi bar in Hotel Chelsea, marks the final jewel in the hotel’s years-long transformation
-
Wallpaper* checks in at Fouquet’s New York: a lush, urban cocoon for the 21st century
Set in the heart of Tribeca, Fouquet’s New York balances French-inspired refinement and cosiness
-
This surreal new seafood restaurant in LA is the stuff of mermaid’s dreams
At Cento Raw Bar, delectable fare is complemented by playful, oceanic interiors by Brandon Miradi
-
At The Ned Nomad in New York, home comforts meet a lively atmosphere
This hotel and social club is a vibrant hub of hospitality that evokes 1920s glamour for members and visitors alike
-
For the breakfast lover that is not a morning person, this Hollywood café is for you
Start your day with a ceremonial strawberry matcha latte and freshly baked viennoiseries amid the glamour of Café Goldie at the W Hollywood
-
The best bars in New York for stiff drinks and stunning design
From five-star hotel lobby bars on the Upper East Side to discreet downtown drinking dens, these are the best spots to sip and soak in the ambiance