Restaurants in Cusco: Where To Find The Best Food
Ahhh, food! To us, you can't experience a country or city without trying its food. Naturally, we had to get our tastebuds into the various restaurants in Cusco, especially since we spent more time in this city than the average tourist.
Same reason why we were able to put together an incredible list of 13 fascinating things to do in and around Cusco.
And why did we spend so much time in that city? Because travelling during a global pandemic slows everything down, even your travelling style.
We tasted everything, from local Peruvian dishes over homemade Italian to Japanese-Peruvian fusion.
I give you: our list of favourite restaurants in Cusco with specific eating suggestions!
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First Things First: How To Get To Cusco?
Depending on where you are travelling from: by plane, obviously.
We came straight from Lima, which is generally a good idea when travelling to a country like Peru. You have to get acclimated first, before heading to high altitude cities like Cusco.
And even here: take a day or two to get used to the different oxygen levels. Otherwise you won't be able to enjoy the delicacies we're showing off here.
For flights, we always - always - always check for the best prices on Skyscanner. It allows us to compare different flight trajectories from all kinds of providers and choose the best deal.
Where To Stay in Cusco?
Here are a few suggestions in order to be near all of the best restaurants in Cusco:
Amaru Colonial | Set in the city centre, slightly on the hill, inside lovely traditional houses; very budget-friendly
El Balcón | Still very reasonably priced, with incredible views over the city, if you choose the right room
Antigua Casona San Blas | A bit more pricey but still doable; located in the historic quarter of San Blas in a colonial house with a gorgeous patio
What are restaurants in Cusco like?
A tiny culinary shock
First of all, let me tell you that typical Peruvian cuisine might not be everyone's taste.
I must admit that after having tried Costa Rican food and travelled through Mexico, coming to Peru was a culinary challenge.
In all honesty: at some point, we were a bit tired of seeing 'lomo saltado' (sautéed loins of whatever animal) and 'chicharrón de trucha' (trout cracklings) on every menu.
It's very different from food in Barcelona for example, where the variety is much larger.
More than alpaca and guinea pig
It didn't get any better once we got outside of Cusco and saw alpaca meat and fried guinea pig were the main ingredients...
But that's the beauty of Cusco: it is incredibly international which means you are absolutely certain to find things to your liking!
Peruvian food is still present at every corner but you can mix it up with French, Italian or even Peruvian-Japanese fusion cooking.
And yes: there are a few vegan options as well.
From authentic little family restaurants to fancy locations
In terms of ambiance, you can find everything as well.
It ranges from rustic little places where the lady of the house is the cook and the waitress like at the Bendita Comida, to fancy and modern interiors with terraces offering incredible views over the city like the Limbus RestoBar.
A lot of these places also have a laid-back bohemian vibe like La Bo'M or Prasada Vegan Temple and some even have a restaurant/café/store as seen at L'Atelier.
As for the bakeries we mention as breakfast options, don't expect anything cozy or beautifully decorated. But they don't need to be as the baking goods they're offering make up for everything in taste: freshly baked croissants filled with all kinds of goodness, anyone?
Traveller's tip:
Wherever you go, I would strongly suggest to get an app called Airalo: it allows you to buy a specific e-sim for the country you're visiting, offering cheap data and good service.
It works extremely well and it allowed us to research restaurants and accommodations on the road, without seeing our phone bill explode.
Local Peruvian cuisine
The traditional dishes would be the following (this list is non exhaustive):
Most of these dishes are served with rice, corn, fried potato and a little salad.
If you truly want to get to know Peruvian food, check out this excellent cooking class taking place in Cusco, including a visit to San Pedro market to get familiar with the used ingredients.
So, where can you find these dishes and what are the alternatives if you're not in the mood for Peruvian?
Read on!
Bendita Comida Restaurante
120, calle Carmen alto
Bendita Comida Restaurante is a cute and very small restaurant with only a few tables in the Carmen alto street in San Blas.
Don't expect fancy dishes here! The lady of the house and her daughter (I guess?) cook and serve. It's all traditional Peruvian kitchen.
Eating suggestion:
Try the typical 'lomo saltado'.
Ayni Organic Restaurant
353B, calle Tandapata
Again, nothing too fancy and a rather small restaurant but try to get one of the three tables on the roof terrace of Ayni Organic Restaurant. The view up there is lovely!
The owners are super friendly and they serve local Peruvian dishes but with a twist by having sort of 'oriental' add-ons like falafel.
Fresh juices and a colourful interior make the whole restaurant very cute - and the price is very budget-friendly too!
It's also a hostel at the same time. We didn't have a look at the rooms but the community areas seemed super cozy.
Eating suggestion:
Their 'papa rellena' with chicken and curry is yummy!
Km 0
100, calle Tandapata
The KM 0 (which is 'zero', not O) was actually our first try at Peruvian dishes in Cusco and it was very tasty!
We had what they call the 'tacu tacu', a dish where rice and beans are fried together, served with pieces of beef. And we ate the 'lomo saltado' which had a creole twist with noodles.
The interior is cozy with lots of art displayed everywhere and the service very friendly.
Eating suggestion:
The 'tacu tacu' is worth the try!
San Pedro Mercado Central
477, Thupaq Amaru
Okay, not really a restaurant but this is where you'll get the most authentic Peruvian food. Locals shop here as well!
If you look past the chaos of the market and the not so super-hygienic looking stalls (although now with the pandemic, everything is extremely sanitised), you can get some really tasty food.
You'll also find fresh fruit, juices made-to-order, dried foods in all forms and any kind of souvenirs.
Eating suggestion:
Anything Peruvian, really. But do try one of the fresh juices.
Peruvian & International cuisine
View House RestoBar
100, Kiskapata
We didn't have a lot of choice on their menu as we were travelling during the pandemic. Which means that most of the restaurants in Cusco were either closed or just had limited supplies.
But heading up to the View House RestoBar is worth it for the views alone. Add an ice-cold beer (which they brew themselves), some chicken wings and 'papas fritas picante con salchichas y queso' (spicy fries with frankfurter and cheese) and you'll have a great time.
The place is also a hostel that has a lovely vibe.
Eating suggestion:
Fries with pieces of frankfurter might not seem like a traditional dish but it is something you can get in any Peruvian restaurant - they just love their 'salchicha'.
Limbus RestoBar
133, calle Pasñapakana
This is a restaurant in Cusco that is actually pretty famous for the views you get from the terrace: the Limbus RestoBar.
But their food is pretty amazing too. And who doesn't love getting free samples of their home-brewed beer while having a lovely waiter explaining you what these little ceramic bulls on the roofs stand for (they are spirits protecting the house).
Eating suggestion:
If you only go for drinks, make sure to taste their amazing nachos!
La Fábrica Sports Bar
120, calle Carmen alto
For a sports bar, La Fábrica has actually quite a lot of decent meals on their menu.
The food was great and I'll let you read down below why we felt super safe here, being at a sports bar during a global pandemic with viruses flying around.
Eating suggestion:
Depends on whether you're only going to watch some game with a drink (chicken wings!) or for a proper meal.
Restaurants in Cusco with a French touch
I don't exactly know why but there are a LOT of French expats in Cusco.
Most of them seem to be travellers who ended up falling in love with the country (or with a Peruvian), stayed in Cusco and decided to build a life here.
Especially in the calle Carmen alto.
L'Atelier Café Concept
Atoqsayk'uchi
L'Atelier Café Concept only has a small menu but it covers a variety of things: tasty breakfasts, light lunch like sandwiches, vegan desserts.
All freshly made in the tiny concept store/café owned by a lovely French lady.
While you are sitting there, enjoying a light lunch or one of their freshly baked cakes like tarte tatin or carrot cake, have a look at the clothes, jewellery and arty items they sell.
Very tasteful! Both the food (and that Chai Latte made to order with fresh ingredients - takes 20 minutes though) AND the items for sell.
You'll have to be a bit lucky, though, as they only have three tables and the one in the middle window is THE place to sit!
Eating suggestion:
Even if you're not in the mood for food, do try the tarte tatin with a coffee or their incredibly yummy Chai Latte.
La Bo'M
283, calle Carmen alto
Again: the owner of La Bo'M is a French lady. And that shows in La Bo'M's kitchen too.
What you get here is a mix of French dishes like salty crêpes with a lot of cheese and onions but with a Peruvian twist like cañihua flour (similar to quinoa) and local ingredients like avocado.
We would have loved to sleep at their backpacker-friendly hostel too as we loved the vibe of this bohemian-feeling place (hence the name - pronounced 'la bohème'). Sadly, they couldn't reopen the hostel during the pandemic.
But we did enjoy the lovely sunset-view with crêpes and beers we had never tasted before: a Peruvian beer made based on a BELGIAN recipe!!
Can't tell you how proud a Belgian I was that day - haha.
Eating suggestion:
Their tartiflette is amazing!!
Italian 'cocina de la nonna' in Cusco
Just as much as there are French inspired restaurants, there are Italians in Cusco. Run by real Italians who fell in love with Peru and serve the authentic Italian cuisine.
You recognise them by the freshly made pasta hanging right by the entrance!
La Cantina Vino Italiano
554, calle Saphy
The name says it all: La Cantina Vino Italiano is a restaurant/wine bar in one of the main roads leading to the Plaza de Armas.
It was actually one of the (French) store-owners of San Blas who recommended this place. We didn't plan on having Italian food but we were kind of craving pizza that day...
And wow, this was delicious!!
The ambiance was very Italian too with loads and loads of wine bottles displayed on the wall and several types of Italian sausages and cheeses in the counter.
Be it pasta or pizza or a heavenly tiramisú for dessert: it doesn't get more Italian than this.
Eating suggestion:
The 'fior de latte' pizza is to die for! So good that I forgot to take a picture when it got served...
Carpe Diem Cucina Italiana
361, calle Plateros
We actually stumbled upon the Carpe Diem by accident. And yes, it's the fresh pasta hanging to dry next to the entrance that caught our eye.
The portions were not huge - I admit - but the taste explosion was real! The pasta really tasted like Italy!
We had the ricotta and spinach filled ravioli and the pasta 'a la trucha' - which is actually Peruvian as the trout is part of their national cuisine.
But the highlight was the tiramisú! The waiter actually layered the whole thing right at our table - and it was soooooooo good!
Eating suggestion:
Don't leave there before having tried their tiramisú - I don't care how full you already are!
La Bodega 138
138, Herrajes
Okay, we actually only tried their delivery-service so far... but it was SO awesome that I can only imagine how brilliant the food is when served at the minute in the restaurant!
We passed the restaurant once and didn't get inside - what a mistake!
While we were still trying to figure out our plans for the next weeks (travelling during a global pandemic ain't easy), we were feeling too tired to head out for food. Especially since the weather was pretty gloomy.
So our hostess from the AirBnB we were staying at recommended to call for the delivery service of La Bodega 138 - what a great idea!
Their pizzas and pasta are sublime and come with extras like fresh olives, sauces and spices to put on. And even the garlic bread is still warm when it arrives.
And yes, we ordered a tiramisú for dessert the second time. And the Nutella cheesecake... heaven!
Eating suggestion:
Try the Pituca pizza with artichokes, prosciutto and blue cheese! And don't forget the Nutella cheesecake...
Peruvian-Japanese fusion
There are a lot of them! Unfortunately, we only tried one so far...
But we're getting back to Cusco in a few days anyway while I'm typing this guide. So we will most certainly try a few other ones as well and this post will be updated.
Sakanarest.pe
300, calle Tandapata
To be honest, we went to this one out of convenience: the Sakanarest.pe was right outside of our AirBnB and we didn't have much time before catching our night bus from Cusco to Arequipa.
But we passed this tiny place so many times, taking a peek inside every time, we had to try it out someday.
While they are apparently known for their ceviche, we went for classic maki.
I say 'classic' but they are actually Peruvian-typed maki with local ingredients, freshly prepared and spicy sauces on top!
Also, ceviches are very popular and considered a Peruvian dish as well.
Eating suggestion:
Honestly? Just try everything! The chef makes super original creations!
A little bit of everything - or rather a lot
Jack's Café
509, Choqechaka
Okay, call us crazy but... we came to Jack's Café about five times!
Twice for a proper meal, three times (!) for their amazing breakfast-menu (read below).
Their site reads 'an American style café restaurant with Australian roots' - but we actually felt very connected with the lovely Peruvian waiter José Carlos.
He used to be a tourist guide before the pandemic hit and he is always super friendly and a bit chatty with customers - speaks very good English! He recommended another guide to take us to see amazing sites around Cusco.
Service aside, the choice of light lunch or proper dinner dishes is huge and a mix of different cuisine-styles. From richly filled toasts over tortillas with beans and burgers to Italian pasta.
We tried several things and each one was delicious!
Eating suggestion:
The cheese steak sandwich/toast is yummy.
ABRA Bistro
395, Santa Catalina Ancha
Stepping into the ABRA Bistro was actually also quite a nice surprise because the restaurant is barely visible from the street.
We went up a side-street of the Plaza de Armas after looking for a new rain coat for me and I saw these cozy looking light bulbs through the windows on the second floor of a building.
Because a lot of places are currently using the absence of tourists for renovation works, we didn't think this restaurant was open.
But we wanted to check it out anyway and looked for the entrance on the other street. Turns out it WAS open.
And it was one of the best restaurants we've tried in our two weeks in Cusco!
Lovely interior with a lot of light-colored wooden elements, art and these cool light bulbs, giving it a cozy Scandinavian vibe.
But the cooks are Peruvian. Cooking with fresh, local ingredients, creating very original dishes like Malfatti with a twist or chicken in panko-envelope.
Eating suggestion:
Sebi had the panko-chicken with rice twice because it was SO tasty.
Prasada - The Vegan temple
430, Choqechaka
Although we aren't vegans, we love vegan food. And we were totally craving some purely plant-based dishes after all the meat-rich Peruvian stuff...
If you read my food odyssey with Ulcerative Colitis, I went vegan for a while but it's just impossible to get all the nutrients with a chronic intestinal disease.
We hardly eat meat in general, though, when we are cooking ourselves. But during travels, trying out national, local food is part of the travel experience in our opinion. So we do eat a lot more meat when travelling...
Anyway... we specifically looked for vegan on Happy Cow and found Prasada - The Vegan Temple. It's a lovely place where you sit on comfortable cushions on the floor.
The chef takes his time, sure, but the dishes he creates are sublime: we had the falafel with hummus and a spicy, yet rich, curry.
Eating suggestion:
They also sell incredibly good vegan chocolate! Go for the 'dark chocolate & cookie' ones, you'll thank us later...
Best breakfast restaurants/cafés in Cusco
When we're staying at an AirBnB, we usually buy our breakfast stuff ourselves and eat at our place.
But we also want to get out for a richer breakfast from time to time. So we tried out a few ones that you already know from the lunch and dinner list but also some local little bakeries.
Jack's Café
509, Choqechaka
Yes, the same one as above!
They have an insane breakfast menu ranging from eggs of all kinds, warm sandwiches with lots of veggies over to french toasts.
And their coffee is incredible! Plus it comes in these cute mugs with llamas painted on them that I totally wanted to (but didn't) steal...
Eating suggestion:
The 'gordo', be it with bacon or the veggie variant with avocado, is a yummy full breakfast.
And the French toasts are what made us come back after we tried it the first time!
L'Atelier Café Concept
Atoqsayk'uchi
Also the same one as above!
They serve simple, yet thoughtfully prepared breakfasts.
If you are early enough (they open at 8.15 am), you can get the best table which is at the sun-soaked (that is, if the sun is out) window overlooking the lovely Carmen alto street.
Eating suggestion:
The Andino breakfast is the best one with fresh Peruvian avocado.
Panadería Ayllu
137, Almagro
A tiny little bakery, doesn't look like much from the outside.
But we were drawn in by the delicious smells coming out of it every time we passed by. This tiny Peruvian 'panadería' offers a large choice of homemade baking goods.
They do have little tables and serve full breakfasts as well.
Eating suggestion:
Try everything! Filled with chocolate or 'crema pastelera' (custard), you choose.
El Buen Pastor
575, cuesta de San Blas
Again, a small little Peruvian bakery but they do have a second floor with more tables to serve breakfast.
In El Buen Pastor, you can find a whole array of pastries but also freshly baked cookies and chocolate sweets plus insanely good café latte.
Eating suggestion:
Their bread alone is very tasty.
Where to enjoy a drink & snack in Cusco
Limbus RestoBar
Yes, yet again: the same one as mentioned above!
They also serve amazing cocktails and snacks to go with. And their home-brewed beer.
'nough said?
Hanz Craft Beer & Restaurant
Located in the middle of the Plaza de Armas, Hanz Craft Beer & Restaurant, like the name says, also serves food but we didn't get a chance to try.
We went there in the middle of a rainy afternoon to enjoy some drinks (it was Happy Hour) while waiting for our night bus for Arequipa.
The menu looked awesome though!
But the Pisco Sour is also pretty good.
Plus you get a cool view all over the Plaza from the (roofed and windowed) balcony.
La Fábrica Sports Bar
Like any good sports bar, they serve a large variety of drinks along with tasty snacks to nibble on like chicken wings and fries, etc.
Plus: they have totally adapted to the current virus-situation: all booths are entirely separated from each other by plexi-glas.
But not just a window, no! You actually sit like in a big cage. While this might seem creepy, it is a perfect solution as sports bars are reputed to have a lot of saliva flying around from screaming supporters.
While we were sitting there, the manager was showing customers their new ultra-violet lamps they were going to install in each one of the booths so that everything inside gets disinfected all the time.
Pretty cool, ey?
So this was our non-exhaustive list of restaurants we tried in Cusco.
I hope you enjoyed this Cusco food-guide and it got you drooling all over the place...
Please comment, pin and share if you liked it - that would help us a lot.
As ever
xx
Cyn
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