Trujillo
You wouldn't expect to find it in this part of town, but this hip, healthy cafe serves great snacks, sandwiches, main meals and desserts with plenty of…
Must-see restaurants in Peru
Iquitos
Resembling the inside of an ayahuasca vision, Mitos y Cubiertos is one of the places to be cool in an understated way in Iquitos. The menu loosely hinges…
Cuzco
This sleek 3rd-story cafe bursts with city views, yet the off-street location means it's quiet and conducive to chilling out. With white leather booths…
Iquitos
Wondering what to do for breakfast? Don't wonder. This is the spot; has been for decades. Grab a newspaper from the old dude outside and pull up a pew…
Aguas Calientes
This friendly streetside cafe is popular with the backpacking set. Perhaps it's all the craft beer and burgers on offer. It's worth checking out the arroz…
Máncora
Away from the honks and exaust of the main drag, this friendly retreat serves up ample Mexican dishes and a smattering of standard pub fare such as hot…
Lima
This hip, bare-bones ceviche joint just happens to be spearheaded by culinary star Rafael Osterling. Diners pack in for fresh, fusion-style shellfish and…
South Coast
This long thin restaurant does a good job of emmulating traditional architecture, with a high cane ceiling, wrought iron grills and clay urns dotted about…
Huaraz & the Cordilleras
Carhuaz is an ice-cream town and its Plaza de Armas is ringed with about half a dozen helado-serving establishments. You can save time testing them all by…
Cuzco
If you are craving spice, this London-style curry house will do the trick, with its garlicky naan, lassie and a variety of creamy kormas and curries (try…
Cuzco
Facing the sacred garden, this ambient bakery sells truffled cupcakes, whole-wheat sandwiches and good veggie empanadas served on patterned china. There…
Máncora
There used to be several Lama restaurants in town, all owned by different family members, but this one, owned by Orlando, is the only one that remains. It…
Iquitos
One of the most popular local spots for juice, and cake and tamales (corn cakes filled with chicken or fish and wrapped in jungle leaves). The juices are…
Arequipa
An elegant upper-crust alternative to the city center (located 2km away), with both Italian and Peruvian specialties, good wine and cocktails, and live…
South Coast
There are several cevicherias (restaurants serving ceviche) on the waterfront but Malecón is the best offering great-value, fresher-than-fresh ceviche and…
Puno
Dinner-show venue with traditional local food. The nightly show (7:30pm to 9pm) stands out for its quality and sincerity – no panpipe butchering of 'El…
Lima
Never underestimate the value of a thin-crust margherita pizza blistered by a searing wood oven. Upholding Neapolitan tradition, this tiny brick…
Amazon Basin
On the plaza, this famous hole-in-the-wall restaurant provides an Amazon-centric menu so extensive you can be lost for choice, but includes sensational…
Puno
A solid choice for upscale criollo (spicy Peruvian fare with Spanish and African influences) and international food, even if portions are on the small…
Cuzco
Feel good about having a fresh, light lunch in this good food cafe with white bricks with wooden benches. Options are plenty, ranging from poke and quinoa…
Huaraz & the Cordilleras
A super place to grab an early breakfast, this tiny five-table cafe is a one-woman show run by the exuberant Maria. She’ll talk your ear off about your…
Lima
Calling all coffee connoisseurs: this cafe of long bars and leather stools will brew you delicious espresso, Chemex, French press, Aeropress and more,…
Iquitos
The Fitzcarraldo is an upscale option on the riverside strip, with very good food, but occasionally dopey service. It does various local and international…
Huaraz
If you can cook it on a grill or in a wood-fired oven, El Horno can make it sing. The different varieties of meat skewers and excellent thin-crust pizzas…
Lima
This all-hours corner sandwich shop is the perfect fix for the midnight munchies. Lechón a la leña (roasted pork) is its specialty, but there’s also roast…
Puno
A couch-cafe with free wi-fi, good brownies and board games. Colors also caters to travelers with its lounge-bar looks and fusion food – set menus not…
Arequipa
The hike up the stairs to this rooftop eatery is well worth it for the view of the Plaza de Armas and mountains beyond. An enormous menu features…
Lima
This thriving all-hours sidewalk cafe is best known for its piping-hot churros, which go smashingly well with a chocolate caliente espeso (thick hot…
Huaraz
Make a temporary camp for breakfast at this diminutive cafe affiliated to the Andean Kingdom climbing shop that does wonderful fruit salads, egg…
Lima
Traditional French techniques are taken seriously at this small French bakery, yet the bakers get playful with flavors by incorporating native grains and…
North Coast
For great seafood prepared in classic Peruvian ways, go no further than this humble little family-run diner on the main strip. It's right across from the…
North Coast
While ostensibly a chifa (Chinese) restaurant this busy place, a couple of blocks from the plaza, also serves up some topnotch traditional Peruvian plates…
Cuzco
Traipse through an uneven stone courtyard to this little gem of a pizza joint with wooden tables and gorgeous wood-fired pies. Original toppings include…
Máncora
This is the place to sink your sweet tooth into some great cakes, including tiramisu, pecan pie, brownies and the ever-popular apple pie. It also does…
North Coast
This funky bar-restaurant right on the sand serves up some of Punta Sal's best seafood in uber-relaxed surroundings. It also has vegetarian options and is…
South Coast
Settle in at a table in the thatched-roof dining area or in the garden out the back and enjoy a wide selection of well-prepared traditional plates at this…
Arequipa
A casual and unpretentious place to enjoy a delicious meat-free pesto pasta, spinach risotto or Indian eggplant curry in a lovely courtyard in central…
Iquitos
Once you have gotten over the miserable service, the mountains of tasty Chinese food at this most legendary of the chifas (Chinese restaurants) near the…
North Coast
This popular bright corner bistro is decked out in smart red and black motifs and serves sandwiches and light meals, in addition to more filling…
Cuzco
With a cozy fireplace, this upstairs cafe has the distinction of serving fresh coffee from its own farm. You can't go wrong with an espresso drink, but…
