Top Cusco Restaurants
Tiradito at Cicciolina.
Here are my favorite places to eat and drink in Cusco!
After six years living in Cusco, I have a lot of opinions about where to eat.
These are my top recommendations based on food quality, service and kitchen quality, i.e. hygiene. I know most of my readers are coming from countries where restaurant cleanliness is carefully monitored. Peru doesn’t have that kind of quality control but these are places that are safe to eat at, no matter where you’re from.
Most are either in the historic center of Cusco, within a few blocks of the Plaza de Armas, or in the San Blas neighborhood, which is the picturesque hillside on the north side of the plaza.
Descriptions are brief because otherwise this blog would be a book.
I am pescatarian, leaning vegetarian and there is something I love at every place on the list. I’m usually dining with carnivores, so you can be sure there are great meat dishes everywhere except Green Point & El Encuentro. Very few are good at catering to vegan or gluten free diets, but lots of Andean dishes are based on potatoes, corn, quinoa and meat, so GF travelers should stick with traditional Cusqueñian dishes or Peru’s Nikkei Japanese-fusion cuisine that’s based on rice and seafood.
In each category lists are alphabetical, rather than in order of which is my favorite, because if it’s on the list then it’s my favorite.
The Best Restaurants
My favorite fancy restaurants where you can expect excellent service, fantastic food and should either make reservations or not be surprised if they can’t seat you immediately.
Chicha: Haute Peruvian cuisine by famous Limeñian chef Gaston Acurio. GF Open daily for lunch & dinner 12-10:30. Reservations recommended. Historic center: Plaza Regocijo 261
Chikara Sushi: Peruvian Nikkei cuisine is a Japanese-Andean fusion. Open for lunch 12-3 & dinner 6-9pm, closed Sundays. San Blas: Tandapata 674
Cicciolina: Mediterranean-Peruvian fusion with great tapas & wine list. Open for lunch & dinner 12:30-9:15pm. Reservations recommended. Historic Center: Calle Palacio 110
Limo: Peruvian seafood and Nikkei cuisine. GF Open for lunch & dinner 12-10pm. Reservations recommended. Plaza de Armas: Portal de Carnes 236
Miwa Peruvian Asian Kitchen: Peruvian-Japanese fusion. Open for lunch & dinner 12-11pm. Historic center: Santa Catalina Ancha 390
Morena Peruvian Kitchen: Peruvian haute cuisine. Open for lunch & dinner 12-11pm. Reservations recommended. Plaza de Armas: Portal Harinas 181
Oculto: Peruvian-international fusion small plates, tapas & wine. Open for lunch & dinner 12:30-10:30. Historic center: Calle Ruinas 459
Osda: Peruvian-Mediterranean fusion & cocktails. Open for lunch & dinner 1-10pm, closed Mon. San Blas: Tandapata 909
Sagrado: Peruvian haute cuisine. Open for lunch & dinner 12:45-10:30pm. Historic center: Calle Plateros 113
Uchu: Peruvian steakhouse that cooks signature dishes on stone. Open for lunch & dinner 12:30-10pm. Historic center: Calle Palacio 135
Top Casual Restaurants
My favorite casual restaurants, which don’t usually need reservations. The food is great, but the service isn’t as good as the restaurants above.
Carpe Diem: Pizza & pasta, always get the tiramisu. Open for lunch & dinner 12-11pm. Historic center: Calle Plateros 361
Casalino: Focaccia & pizza. Open for dinner 6-11pm, closed Sun. San Blas: Calle Suytuccato 777
Green Point: Vegan Peruvian & international cuisine. GF Open 8am-10pm. San Blas: Carmen Bajo 235
Il Olivo: Freshly made pasta and Italian favorites. Open for lunch & dinner 11am-10pm. Historic center: Calle Plateros 365
Jack’s: International favorites with big portions & breakfast all day. Open 7am-10pm. Historic center: Calle Ruinas 493
La Bodega 138: Pizza, pasta & beer. Open for lunch & dinner 12-10:30pm. Historic Center: Calle Herrajes 138
La Bohème: French crêpes, soups & salads with some Peruvian fusion. GF Open for lunch & dinner 11am-10pm. Also a hostel downstairs. San Blas: Calle Carmen Alto 283
La Cantina: Wine bar with Italian bites and desserts. Open for dinner 6-11pm. Historic center: Calle Saphy 554
Cusqueñísima: Ribs with choclo corn, potatoes and solterito salad.
Best Traditional Cusqueñian
My favorite restaurants for traditional Cusqueñian & Peruvian dishes.
Campo Cocina Andina Slightly fancier versions of traditional Cusqueñian dishes. Open 12-11pm. Historic center: Calle Plateros 310
Cusqueñísima Every Cusqueñian grandmother’s best recipes. Open 8am-5pm. Magisterio: Av. José Gabriel Cosio 401 (15 min from the center)
El Encuentro Vegetarian and vegan versions of Peruvian classics. GF Open 8am-10pm, closed Sun. Historic center: Calle Tigre 130
Pachapapa Cusqueñian recipes and woodfired breads. Open 12-10pm. San Blas: Calle Carmen Bajo 120Top Hotel Restaurants
Cusco’s Best Hotel Restaurants
My favorite hotel restaurants serve Peruvian haute cuisine with a focus on Andean ingredients, and reservations are always recommended.
Qespi Restaurant at JW Marriott Monasterio. Open for lunch & dinner 12-11pm. Historic center: Calle Ruinas 432
Inti Raymi Restaurant at Palacio del Inka. Open 5am-11am & 12-10pm. Historic center: Santo Domingo 259
Mauka Restaurant at Palacio Nazarenas. Open 5am-10:30pm. Historic center: Calle Palacio 144
Cusco’s Best Bars
My favorite bars for drinks, ambiance and live music. They all serve food, but the drinks are better.
Calle del Medio: Plaza de Armas balcony views & sportsball in the bar. Noon to midnight. Historic center: Calle del Medio 113
Cerveceria del Valle: Locally brewed beer with several locations. Noon to midnight. Historic center: Espaderos 136
Garibaldi Cocktail Bar: Cusco’s best mixologists. 5pm-midnight, closed Sunday. Historic center: Calle Maruri 320
Km.0 Arte y Tapas: Friendly bar with live music downstairs and boardgames upstairs. 6pm-midnight. San Blas: Tandapata 100
Massimo: Amsterdam-themed with plaza balcony views. 5pm-midnight. Plaza de Armas: Santa Catalina Angosta 116
Museo del Pisco: Pisco specials. 3pm-midnight. Historic center: Santa Catalina Ancha 398
Norton Pub: Solid rock’n’roll bar. 5pm-midnight. Historic center: Calle San Agustín 280
Paddy’s: Cusco’s Irish Pub with many sportsball screens. 10am-1am. Plaza de Armas: Calle Triunfo 124
The Library: Cusco’s first speakeasy. 6:30-midnight, closed Monday. Plaza de Armas: behind Micaela at Portal Comercio 121
I rarely blacklist anybody but don’t go to La Fábrica. It’s a gross sports bar with horrible service and every time I’ve gone there I’ve regretted it. If you need to watch a game, go to Paddy’s.
Cusco’s Best Cafés
My favorite cafés for excellent coffee and good atmosphere.
3 Monkeys Rated 22 in the top 100 coffee shops in the world. 8am-9pm, Sun 10am-4pm. Historic center: Pasaje Pampa de la Alianza 474
Café d’Wasi Locally grown coffee. 7am-10:30pm. Historic center: Calle Heladeros 135
Cercanía Pan y Café Good coffee and great baguettes. 9am-8:30pm. Historic center: Plazoleta Santa Catalina 219
Cicciolina Café Great coffee and food. Same owner as the restaurant. 7:30am-9pm. Historic center: Calle Ruinas 465
Florencia Fortunata Revolutionary coffee. Open 8:30am-7:30pm. Historic center: Calle Suecia 332
