When visiting Lima, you may want to consider staying in the historic city center. There are many advantages and disadvantages to staying in Central Lima.
The disadvantages include much more noise than other parts of the city, smog and pollution, lack of parking and the general chaos that characterizes the downtown centers of many of Latin America's largest cities.
On the plus side, you'll be staying in the historical center of one of the New World's oldest and most important cities. You'll be close to important historical structures and places as well as some of Lima's best museums. There is an assortment of restaurants in the area, for every taste and budget. There are a variety of hotels to choose from, the most interesting of which are the converted colonial mansions. These vary greatly in quality, cleanliness, comfort, and cost, so if you're interested in staying at one, shop around. They tend to have a lot of character: crooked, creaky floorboards, maze-like floor plans, and no two rooms exactly alike. The only general rule in the area is that you'll pay more for a room with a private bathroom.