Where to Eat in Cusco – Peru’s Foodie Paradise

There is no denying that Peru is a culinary paradise. After travelling for three months through Ecuador and Colombia, it was nice to find some food that was a little “different”.

But we enjoyed more than just Peruvian style food there. The standard of food, in general, was much higher than in other places we have visited so far in South America. Cusco was no exception. It has the best cuisine we’ve found to date in South America.

Cusco is packed with gourmet restaurants, cafes and bars serving food that’s not only delicious but also incredibly well presented.

We stayed twelve days in Cusco and ate at many different places in town. Here are our favourite places to eat in Peru’s most touristy city.

Jardin Organiko, Yaku and Rucula

Jardin Organiko, Yaku and Rucula share the same owner and they all serve pretty outstanding meals. All of the products used in these three restaurants come from local farms and gardens found in the Sacred Valley.

The food in these restaurants is super fresh and tasty and the presentation is incredible. You will want to photograph your meal before you touch it! The dishes look almost too beautiful to eat.

We tried all three restaurants and they were top-notch. The best part was that the prices were very reasonable for the quality of meals, unlike many other overpriced restaurants in town. You can’t go wrong with either of the three restaurants; if you can, try them all!

Address: 

Jardin Organiko: Calle Chihuampata 564

Yaku: Calle Huaynapata 410 De subida al mirador de San Cristóbal,

Rucula: Calle Ataud 266

Greenpoint Vegan Restaurant 

Vegan or not, you will love this place. It was recommended to us by meat-eaters!

Green Point is a hidden gem, tucked away in a small alleyway in the San Blas area.

Once you’re in, you’ll discover a stunning indoor/outdoor courtyard, filled with trees and fairy lights. The service is good, the food is delicious and like many other places in town, the food is beautifully presented. 

Simon loved that they had a Kombucha bar! Kombucha is not easy to find in South America.

Address: Calle Carmen Bajo 235 San Blas

Avocado Toast & More

Do you love avocados? So do I! This place is a mecca for avocado lovers. If you don’t like avocado, stay away as everything comes with it. Try the trout burger with an avocado bun or the Causa with chicken.

Address: Calle Santa Catalina Ancha 366

Chakruna Native Burgers 

When you crave a burger but want to keep it local, this place is the way to go. Chakruna serves very tasty Andean style burgers. You can get an Alpaca burger or if you prefer to go vegetarian, try the lentil burger; it was amazing! Of course, you can find the usual beef patties as well, if you are not too adventurous. 

Address: 699 Plazoleta San Blas

Limbus Resto Bar

Limbus Resto Bar not only has great food but it has some of the best views in Cusco. It’s located at the top of a hill and has glass walls that provide panoramic views of the city. It’s very popular with tourists who come to enjoy food and drinks with a view.

Address: Calle Pasnapakana 133

Balcon Azul Restaurant 

This is a good place for coffee, breakfast or lunch. It’s a stone’s throw away from the main square. They serve delicious salads and sandwiches, even the club sandwich looked fancy! 

Address: Calle Espaderos 116

Ceviche Seafood Kitchen 

Are you in search of the best ceviche in Cusco? Look no further than the Ceviche Seafood Kitchen. You may think that just because it’s located on the main square, it must be a tourist trap. But even though it’s not the cheapest restaurant in town, the quality is up there. 

If you can, choose a seat by the window side on the second floor, to enjoy a great view of Cusco’s Plaza de Armas. Try one of their Pisco Sours too!

Address: Portal Harinas 181 Plaza de Armas

Chalca Restaurant

Located right across from our hotel, we ate here twice. This restaurant is inside a nice gift shop and offers traditional Peruvian set meals. If you’re after a cheap lunch or dinner, this is the place for you. 

All-day starter + soup + main course for 15 soles! That’s a great price and the food is very good. One final reason to head there is that they have happy hour all day long! 

Address: Calle Siete Cuartones 382

Great bars for drinks and snacks 

Eating a lot at night when at altitude is not a good thing. Digesting food takes forever, so sometimes it’s best to have a bigger lunch and some smaller snacks in the evening. Here are our favourite places for evening nibbles and drinks.

Los Perros 

This expat restaurant is a casual affair, filled with comfy couches, where you can enjoy a drink and delicious food. The crispy golden chicken rolls and wontons were to die for! 

Address: Tecsecocha 474

Republica Del Pisco

Although pricey, this place serves some mean cocktails and some pretty tasty food to accompany them. Visit for happy hour (5-9 pm) for buy-one-get-one-free Chilcanos. Try their ceviche and their bruschetta. Yum!

Address: Calle Plateros 354

Nuevo Mundo Draft Bar 

Local craft beers with an incredible view of the main square. What’s not to like? The food and service are pretty decent too.

Address: Portal de Confituria 233

Where to stay in Cusco

We can absolutely recommend staying at Askha Cusco but if you’re looking for something a bit different, try using HotelsCombined to search across all major accommodation websites. We use it all the time.

Read More:

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