Restaurants in Amazon Basin
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A
La Noche
The friendliest service in Iquitos, the best location, a cool sophisticated vibe and oodles of tasty food: no wonder La Noche is the number one traveler choice for a relaxed Malecón meal. There’s real espresso, a host of gourmet sandwiches (the vegetarian triple can’t be beaten) for lunch, and river fish and crisp salads grace the dinner menu. There is street-front or balcony dining and a chill-out lounge-bar upstairs with sofas.
reviewed
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B
Ari’s Burger
On the corner of the Plaza de Armas, this clean, chirpy and brightly lit joint is known locally as ‘gringolandia.’ Two walls are open to the street, allowing great plaza- and people-watching. It’s almost always open, serves American-style food as well as local plates and ice creams, changes US dollars and is popular with tourists and locals alike. Desserts in Iquitos don’t get gooier.
reviewed
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C
Taberna del Cauchero
This place pays homage to the city’s rubber-boom days with intriguing memorabilia on the walls. The only Cordon Bleu chef in Iquitos serves up innovative modern takes on Amazon cuisine (such as river langostinos with chorizo and avocado stuffed into a Mexican-style tortilla) in a spacious, stylishly rustic eating area. It even does sushi, and there’s a pool. A traveler hangout in the making.
reviewed
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D
Gran Maloka
Enter the bygone world of the rubber-boom glory days at this atmospheric Amazonian restaurant. It’s an elegant tiled mansion with silk tablecloths, wall-length mirrors and imaginative regional delicacies such as chupín de pollo, Amazon venison with toasted coconut and the scrumptious Loretan omelet with jungle leaves. Locals consider this to be the town’s best restaurant.
reviewed
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E
Antica
New in 2006, the Antica is the best Italian restaurant in town. Primarily a pizza place – there’s an impressive wood-fired pizza oven – pasta also takes a predominant spot on the menu with the lasagna being an excellent choice. Chow down at solid wooden tables and choose from the range of fine imported Italian wines; unparalleled for the Amazon.
reviewed
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Bucanero
For great river views in civilized air-conditioned environs, this restaurant with a fish-dominated menu is a great lunch stop. Pescado a la plancha (grilled river fish) with chicharrones (fried chunks of pork) goes down remarkably well with an icy Iquiteña (Iquitos beer).
reviewed
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F
Fitzcarraldo Restaurant-Bar
The Fitzcarraldo anchors a whole block of riverside restaurants and is the most upscale of them, with good food and service. Dine indoors (the air-con can be extra chilly) or on the streetside patio. It does good pizzas (delivery available) and various local and international dishes.
reviewed
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La Casa Nostra
This convivial joint used to serve as a local hangout for guides; it has now moved to smaller premises and lost its hangout status but remains the top cafe in town. It serves varied breakfasts, tamales, great juices, snacks, desserts and Puerto Maldonado’s best coffee.
reviewed
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G
Ivalú
One of the most popular local spots for juice and cake in the city, this place does a handy sideline in tamales (chicken or fish in corn dough, wrapped in jungle leaves). It normally opens at 8am; go sooner rather than later if you want a seat.
reviewed
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Burgos’s House
There has long been need of a restaurant like this in the town center: large, airy, courteous and serving up regional goodies with an emphasis on fish. Burgos’s also provides juanes and a mixed platter of jungle dishes for S22.
reviewed
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H
Chez Maggy
A wood-burning oven produces fresh pizzas, just like its sister restaurants in Cuzco and other Amazon cities. Across the street, they’ve now opened a second, yet more ambient venue, Parilladas Chez Maggy, for those preferring grills.
reviewed
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I
Kikiriki
How does a Peruvian cock crow? ‘Kikiriki.’ This is the best place in town for grilled chicken. Have it served on a bed of fried banana, the jungle way, with a dash of the legendary hot green sauce. Delivery is possible.
reviewed
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Los Gustitos del Cura
For a sweet treat or the best ice cream in town, drop in to this French-owned patisserie with a pleasant courtyard at the rear. Sandwiches, cakes and drinks are dished up, and local objetsd’arte are on sale.
reviewed
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Restaurant
It may have no name, street number or phone number but this place is far from unknown by the locals, who flock here for great fish with rice and plátano. Food is prepared on a grill outside and tables fill up fast.
reviewed
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Restaurant
It may have no name, street number or phone number but this place is far from unknown by the locals, who flock here for great fish with rice and plátano. Food is prepared on a grill outside and tables fill up fast.
reviewed
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J
Amazon Café
You can sit here on the balcony at the top of the Casa de Fierro and enjoy premium plaza views and a varied if overpriced menu ranging from seafood to steak. There is a good selection of whiskies and cocktails.
reviewed
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Parilladas El Zorrito
Food is cooked outside on a grill at this lively, ambient, immensely popular local joint. Juanes and river fish are the thing to go for here. Portions are huge. There is great live music at weekends.
reviewed
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Chifa Sol Grande
The Peruvian Amazon version of Chinese food is actually quite tasty. This place is the most locally popular joint to try it out. Closing time is officially 11pm, though the place often stays open much later.
reviewed
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Chez Maggy
Maggy serves up pizzas nothing short of superb, and from a wood-burning oven. The interior is modern and not plasticized. The unusual, tropical-tasting sangria goes down well with all dishes.
reviewed
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Pizzería El Hornito/Chez Maggy
This popular but dimly lit hangout on the Plaza de Armas serves pasta and amply sized, wood-fired pizzas – the best in town. There’s no lunch: the oven makes it too hot during the day!
reviewed
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Cebichería El Escorpión
This option has a prime plaza location, with (noisy) sidewalk tables, and serves good seafood (tender and fresh despite Pucallpa’s distance from the coast) for breakfast and lunch.
reviewed
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K
Huasai
Efficient service, a variety of dependable tasty meat and fish lunch specials and great juices are the cornerstones of this good-value, centrally located restaurant.
reviewed
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Restaurant El Golf
This upscale seafood restaurant has a variety of ceviche made with freshwater fish – try the local doncella rather than the endangered paiche.
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Dolci Pensieri
This well-designed, attractive heladería-cum-restaurant does great cakes and juices, plus a line in pizzas and Mexican food in the evenings.
reviewed
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Chifa Mey Lin
This place gets the gong for being the best of Pucallpa’s chifas (Chinese restaurants) . A spacious, convivial eating environment.
reviewed
