Chiclayo
Lines run deep at this no-frills Peruvian haunt, where the burger stand draws legions of céntimo pinchers for burgers and sandwiches that are practically…
Must-see restaurants in Peru
Lima
Sandwiched between a gas station and a Chinese restaurant, this restaurant is unexpected, and then some. Serving up classic American breakfasts such as…
Pizzería El Hornito/Chez Maggy
Puerto Maldonado
'I get knocked down, but I get up again…' this could well be the anthem to this popular upstairs hangout on the Plaza de Armas, which burned to the ground…
Restaurante Turísitico Rumi Wasi
Northern Highlands
It’s not often that tiny Leimebamba gets a new restaurant, so all hail Rumi Wasi on the main plaza, whose congenial owner, Eliott, scrawls his daily menu…
Aguas Calientes
The rustic ambience of Tree House provides a cozy setting for its inviting fusion menu served alongside South American wines, craft beers and cocktails…
Northern Highlands
A chic spot with the fanciest espresso machine in town, Terra Mia's wonderful menu has regional and international breakfasts (ahem…waffles!), plus…
Aguas Calientes
Touting 'cocina de autor,' this stylish shoebox of a restaurant serves beautifully plated food, but in its mass production it might not quite live up to…
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…
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…
Huaraz
Managed by a Californian, this hip traveler magnet does breakfasts at any time, plus light lunches and salads. It’s a funky, chilled space to while away…
Lima
This wonderful upscale restaurant has a prime spot in LarcoMar. It's run by second-generation Chinese restaurateurs using cherished family recipes…
Ayacucho
Café La Miel spent years trying to make the Plaza de Armas a convivial place to eat. Now, it has competition, but with its chirpy atmosphere strangely…
Huaraz & the Cordilleras
The ambiance might be a bit wooden, but this doesn't stop the locally loved Terraza filling up at lunchtime for three-course S8 meals, or anything else on…
Huaraz
This upscale pollería (restaurant specializing in roast chicken) is the ultimate budget refueling stop. Not only is the chicken perfect, but you get five…
Pisac
The balcony of this chill and welcoming place may be the best spot to watch market-day interactions in the plaza below. The menu is fusion (think Thai…
Huaraz & the Cordilleras
This excellent restaurant grills Angus beef on its outdoor parrilla (grill) alongside cuy (guinea pig) and other meats. Outdoor tables are arranged around…
Mordisco's Cevichería & Seafood
Huaraz
Seafood tends to get short shrift in high-altitude Huaraz, but you can indulge in a little vicarious coastal living in this dark little fish restaurant…
Arequipa
All the essential components of a great cafe – food, setting, service, ambience – come together at Crepísimo, located inside Arequipa's French cultural…
Huaraz & the Cordilleras
Surrounded by gardens, just off the main highway at the north end of town, Alpamayo is a pleasant touristic restaurant, complete with a garden gazebo,…
Iquitos
On the corner of the Plaza de Armas, this clean, chirpy and brightly lit joint is known locally as gringolandia (gringo land).Two walls are open to the…
Trujillo
This simple family-run affair pulls a crowd for its traditional local desserts, including mazamorra (made from boiled purple corn with dried fruits),…
Central Highlands
Like a ruthlessly efficient machine the Khon Wa keeps turning out very good Chinese dishes – and these days, more classic Peruvian food, too – in an ever…
Lima
With views of the Pacific Ocean, Mirasol offers fresh seafood and creole dishes in a comfortable, casually elegant atmosphere. Situated nearly half way up…
Northern Highlands
Classic local steakhouse serving large portions supplemented by some chunky side dishes (excellent plantains). The meat-heavy menu is highlighted by the…
Huaraz & the Cordilleras
A solid option, especially for trucha al ajo (garlic trout) and trout sudado (in sauce), this place has rickety tables around a tiny courtyard and a…
North Coast
At first glance this flash corner place near the Plaza Bolognesi looks like just a posh bakery, but up on the mezzanine it serves some of the best gourmet…
Huaraz & the Cordilleras
Garden-style restaurant right next to Monterrey's hot springs designed – one imagines – to attract bathers. The orientation of the place is similar to…
Cuzco
This Cuzco classic has been in business for over half a century and its courtyard patio is a score on a sunny day. The chalkboard menu features the…
Amazon Basin
Keeping the flame burning for good machine coffee and tantalizing cakes in Oxapampa is this 2nd-floor plaza-fronting gem. It serves simple, tasty lunches…
Cuzco & the Sacred Valley
Worth the short taxi ride (it’s behind the stadium), Villa Venecia is Abancay’s most noteworthy restaurant. Serving up every local food imaginable, it’s…
Lima
With an Amazonian bent, chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino’s seasonal menu features deftly prepared delicacies such as crisp, seared cuy (guinea pig) and…
Lima
If you’re looking for traditional Peruvian dishes such as pastel de choclo (a savory corn casserole with layers of meat and cheese) or lomo saltado (stir…
Huacachina
The menu might have been ripped off from anywhere else on the banana-pancake trail, but the cafe restaurant at the front of the hostel of the same name…
Lima
Serving seafood, fried rice as light and fresh as it gets, and sizzling meats that come on steaming platters, Wa Lok is among the best chifas (Chinese…
Ica
It's worth the short taxi ride from the center to dine at this modern Peruvian bistro which specializes in seafood but has a wide-ranging menu. It's very…
Cajamarca
This wildly popular hamburger-and-sandwich joint features an extensive menu of handheld snacks. It has 16 varieties of burgers (including vegetarian) and…
Huaraz & the Cordilleras
Easy to miss in Carhuaz is this uncharacteristically modern restaurant that opened in 2016, serving Peruvian food with a few Asian and European twists. A…
Cuzco
Baking Cuzco's best multiseed and sourdough loaves (gold on a multiday trek), wonderful carrot cake and other baked goods including vegan treats, this is…
Lima
A country mile from the tourist traps, this hip cantina and cevichería in La Victoria serves six heavenly versions of marinated fish with metal cups of…
Lima
A jolly light-blue exterior invites you inside to gaze at Ana Avellana’s sweet and savory creations. A dense flourless chocolate cake or luscious Borgoña…
