Beneath the sweeping canopy of the Pan Pacific Perth Hotel on Adelaide Terrace lies Uma, a restaurant that feels less like a dining room and more like a passage to another continent. The air hums with warmth and the faint perfume of citrus and spice, a promise of the Peruvian soul that infuses every corner of the space.
Golden light spills across soft timber tones and smooth marble, echoing the dusky hues of a Lima sunset. The rhythm of the city fades, replaced by a gentle murmur of anticipation - an orchestra of clinking glasses, laughter and the sizzle of something extraordinary emerging from the kitchen.
At the heart of Uma is a story of heritage and transformation - a collaboration that marries Peruvian passion with Perth’s laid-back elegance. Here, the experience is a celebration of contrasts: fire and freshness, precision and exuberance, the familiar and the exotic. Each plate that leaves the pass feels like a postcard from South America - vivid, heartfelt and deeply human.
From the first bite, Uma reveals its artistry through balance. Bright bursts of lime cut through the soft richness of seafood, while tender meat - seared and smoky from the grill - arrive laced with the fragrance of native herbs.
There is an unspoken rhythm to the flavours: the bracing tang of ceviche against the earthy depth of Andean spices; the cool snap of corn and sweet potato beside the silk of a citrus dressing. It’s a dance - spirited yet precise - that plays across the palate with effortless grace.
The room itself mirrors that harmony. Sleek and contemporary, yet touched by raw natural textures, it hums with a kind of quiet vitality. Candles flicker like tiny embers across dark stone tables. Behind the bar, a collection of spirits glows - pisco, gin and bottles with labels whispering of distant valleys and ocean breezes.
Bartenders move with fluid confidence, shaking cocktails that shimmer like liquid sunlight. The signature drinks here are as thoughtful as the dishes: crisp, aromatic and alive with the same brightness that defines the kitchen’s creations.
Dining at Uma is not simply a meal - it’s a passage through memory and imagination. Each course unfolds like a conversation between Chef and guest, between past and present. The Peruvian philosophy of ‘sabor y alma’ - flavour and soul - is evident in every detail, from the whisper of smoke on grilled fish to the jewel-like colours of tropical fruit desserts.
By the time dessert arrives - perhaps something cool, fragrant and unexpectedly nostalgic - time seems to soften. The buzz of the hotel lobby feels a world away. What remains is a sense of connection: to place, to people and to the joy of discovery that lingers long after the final sip.
Uma is more than a restaurant within the Pan Pacific Perth - it is a sensory bridge between continents, an ode to craft and culture and a testament to how food, when treated with reverence, can tell the most extraordinary stories.
