Must-see restaurants in Arequipa & Canyon Country

  • Chicha

    Arequipa

    Peru’s most famous chef, Gastón Acurio, owns this experimental place where the menu closely reflects Peru’s Inca-Spanish roots. River prawns are a…

  • La Nueva Palomino

    Arequipa

    An unmissable local favorite, this long-running picantería has old-world formal service but a casual atmosphere that turns boisterous even during the week…

  • Zig Zag

    Arequipa

    Upscale but not ridiculously pricey, Zig Zag is a Peruvian restaurant with European inflections. It inhabits a two-story colonial house with an iron…

  • Zingaro

    Arequipa

    Culinary legends are made in this leading font of gastronomic innovation, an ideal place to try outnouveau renditions of Peruvian standards including…

  • Victoria Picantería

    Arequipa

    Arequipa's picanterías (informal local restaurants) are traditionally communal, and you might be encouraged here to sit at long tables alongside strangers…

  • Las Gringas

    Arequipa

    This pizza cafe stands out for its secluded small courtyard and veggie-friendly pizzas that include interesting bases like gluten-free maíz morado (purple…

  • Hatunpa

    Arequipa

    With the spud as its star ingredient, Hatunpa's cuisine is surprisingly tasty. The trick? Potatoes originate in Peru and the arequipeños know how to…

  • Crepísimo

    Arequipa

    All the essential components of a great cafe – food, setting, service, ambience – come together at Crepísimo, located inside Arequipa's French cultural…

  • Xarza Mora

    Arequipa

    Easily the best budget set lunches in Arequipa. Traditional Peruvian dishes, like causa limeña de pollo (chicken, avocado and potato stack) are served…

  • El Tío Dario

    Arequipa

    Like fish? Like intimate, secret-garden settings? Then grab a taxi (or walk) out to the pleasant Yanahuara district for the ultimate in ceviches or…

  • El Balcon De Don Zacarias

    Cañón Del Colca

    There are buffets galore catering to captive tour-group diners but this large restaurant on a corner of the Plaza de Armas stands out for the freshness of…

  • Cevichería Fory Fay

    Arequipa

    This small and to-the-point place serves only the best ceviche (raw seafood marinated in lime juice) and nothing else. Pull up a chair at a rickety table…

  • Tradición Arequipeña

    Arequipa

    This locally famous restaurant has maze-like gardens, live folklórica and criollo (an upbeat coastal style) music, and does traditional Peruvian fare well…

  • Innkas

    Cañón Del Colca

    Maybe it’s the altitude, but the lomo saltado (strips of beef stir-fried with onions, tomatoes, potatoes and chili) here tastes worthy of star chef Gastón…

  • La Despensa

    Arequipa

    Herby focaccia, delicious brownies, chocolate truffles, handmade pasta, wine and rustic real baguettes filled with arugula and sun-dried tomato are just…

  • Sol de Mayo

    Arequipa

    Serving good Peruvian food in the Yanahuara district, this picantería (informal local restaurant) has live música folklórica every afternoon from 1pm to…

  • Los Leños

    Arequipa

    The indoor smoke from the wood-fired oven and cigarette-puffing diners and staff isn't exactly a sight for sore eyes, but it's worth it for arguably the…

  • La Trattoria del Monasterio

    Arequipa

    A helping of epicurean delight can be found just next door to the austere Monasterio de Santa Catalina. The menu of Italian specialties was created with…

  • La Lucha Sanguchería Criolla

    Arequipa

    Not your standard sandwiches, the sánguches here are panini-like creations with wood-fire-roasted pulled pork, chicken or turkey and creamy sauces such as…

  • Sambambaia’s

    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…

  • Restaurant on the Top

    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…

  • Omphalos

    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…

  • El Turko

    Arequipa

    This relaxed little joint serves a hungry crowd late-night kebabs, Middle Eastern salads and juicy vegetarian falafel, with excellent coffee, sweet…

  • El Charrua

    Arequipa

    This Argentine-Uruguayan grill with its dark-wood, gentlemen’s-club-style cocktail bar, is in the Yanahuara district adjacent to the mirador (lookout)…

  • El Gaucho Parrilladas

    Arequipa

    Not one for vegetarians: these guys are experts in steak and steak alone, and there's no skimping on portions. The long wine list covers Peru, Spain,…

  • Los Guisos Arequipeños

    Arequipa

    This huge, barn-like formal restaurant serves a long list of traditional Arequipan dishes such as chupe de camarones (shrimp chowder) and cuy chactado …

  • Ary Quepay

    Arequipa

    This cozy restaurant offers traditional plates, including alpaca and cuy (guinea pig), in a colonial-style building that extends out to a dimly lit rustic…

  • Inkari Pub Pizzeria

    Arequipa

    You’re pretty much guaranteed to meet a gringo at this predictably popular place behind the cathedral which pampers to Western palates with a happy-hour…

  • Ribs Café

    Arequipa

    This surprising diner cooks up barbecue ribs in a rainbow variety of sauces, ranging from chocolate to honey-mustard to red wine, as well as empanadas …

  • La Canasta Baguetería

    Arequipa

    This French-style bakery serves up flaky pastries, as well as a solid selection of sandwiches, salads and hearty breakfasts. You might have to search a…

  • El Capriccio

    Arequipa

    Coffee, carrot cake, quiche, vegan lasagna and wi-fi; the mezzanine of this refined cafe is where you come to write up your holiday blog.

  • Restaurante Las Terrazas

    Cañón Del Colca

    Not much to look at, but pizza, pasta, sandwiches and cheap cuba libres (rum and cola) are offered here overlooking the main square and its bucolic donkey…

  • El Chinito

    Arequipa & Canyon Country

    The favored breakfast stop for early-morning tour buses. Try the infamous triple-layer sandwich.

  • El Super

    Arequipa

    You can pick up groceries at this branch of the El Super supermarket.

  • El Super

    Arequipa

    You can pick up groceries at this branch of the El Super supermarket.