An Introduction to restaurants in Cusco
Cusco's dining offer has multiplied at amazing speed during the last decade or so, and although its restaurant scene is far behind that of Peru's capital city, it's still most variegated and appealing.
The most upscale restaurants, like MAP Café or Tunupa, are located in unique settings and offer a sophisticated cuisine, mainly fusion creations with Andean influences (know as Novo Andean cuisine).
For traditional pachamanca, a way of cooking food underground that has remained unchanged since Pre Columbian days, we suggest Pacha Papa.
On the other side of the tradition/modernism spectrum, you find Fallen Angel: always novo Andean fare, but cheered up with wild parties and a touch of Drag Queen flamboyance.
Some of our favourite restaurants in Cusco include:
Pacha Papa Set in a beautiful old colonial house surrounding an attractive courtyard, across from the San Blas church, it offers the best typical Andean dishes with a slight European influence.
Green's A Peruvian-British restaurant located in Tandapata, just behind the San Blas church, it's cosy and most stylish. The two rooms with intense green walls, modern art, big sofas, and candlelit tables, together with the good chill out music, are ideal for laid-back evenings and intimate conversation. Their Sunday roast is a Cusco's favourite.
MAP café Set within the Pre-Columbian Art Museum's colonial patio, it serves a sophisticated cross-over of Peruvian, French, and Italian traditions. Considered one of Cuscos' best and most elegant restaurant, reservations are a good idea.
Trotamundos A great café for warming-up with a big cup of coffee or hot chocolate, while enjoying the panoramic view of Cusco's main square from their carved wooden balconies.
AVERAGE PRICES (in US$) for a complete meal, excluding wine and other alcoholic drinks:
$ - Under $10
$$ - $11-20
$$$ - $21-30
$$$$ - More than $30
All restaurants are open daily unless otherwise specified.
Services and taxes should be included in the bill, but it's common to leave a 10-15% tip (that is, unless your dining experience wasn't good).