12 Delightful Cusco Restaurants you’ll Love

LLama Cafe Cusco

Who can resist the charm of a café that embraces its inner llama? (Spoiler alert: Not us.) Llama Café is a quirky little Cusco restaurants that stole our hearts and filled our bellies with its eclectic mix of local and international flavors. Think quinoa-stuffed avocados alongside empanads, and you’ll get the idea.

Whether you’re craving a hearty Andean breakfast or a smoothie bowl topped with a burst of tropical fruits, Llama Café has you covered. Oh, and don’t forget to try their coca tea to help you acclimatize to the altitude – it’s llama-zing!… Damnit, sorry we had to. 

Cicciolina Café

This one can be slightly cofusing. Cicciolina Café and Cicciolina restaurant are in two different buildings. The cafe specializes in breakfast while the restaurant, which we’ll talk about later, is a tapas joint. 

The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with a rustic charm that echoes the city’s rich history. As soon as you walk in, you’re met with the inviting aroma of fresh coffee beans and fresh baked bread. 

The bread here is a game changer, it’s not just baked fresh daily, but baked fresh throughout the day, ensuring that you’re always getting the freshest, fluffiest bread you could dream of. We both ordered fresh baked read topped with local veggies and eggs, and it was elite.

To pair with the food, their coffee game is on point. They source their beans from the finest estates in Peru’s coffee-growing regions, and the meticulousness with which they brew their coffee is something of a ritual. We recommend trying the Puno blend. It’s a smooth coffee with low acidity, perfect for sipping as you take in the morning sights of Cusco.

Café Pastelería Tortini

Sweet tooth, rejoice! Café Pastelería Tortini offers the perfect excuse to have dessert for breakfast. This enchanting café is a wonderland of delightful pastries, tortinis, and coffee that tastes like a warm hug.

Everything in their pastry counter looks amazing, and judging by the pretty constant flow of locals stopping in to grab a treat out of the case it’s a hit with Cusceanans as well. 

Their egg based breakfasts are really amazing here too.

We actually stumbled onto Café Pastelería Tortini looking for Jake’s, which is right across the street and among the most popular Cusco restaurants. Jakes always had a long line, and we don’t regret chosing not to wait! Café Pastelería Tortini is a gem that deserves more praise!

Any breakfast stall at the San Blas Market

You know we have a penchant for local markets, and San Blas Market is Cusco’s best in our opinion. It’s smaller and less busy than the San Pedro market. It’s clean. The people are super friendly. You can get an amazing breakfast for really cheap. What more do you want? Where the usual suspects (Cicciolina, Llama Café) are the city’s gourmet breakfast kings, the San Blas Market is its unsung hero.

Tucked away in the artistic neighborhood of San Blas, this local market is where the heart of Cusco beats strongest. The market comes alive early in the morning, as locals rush in for their daily shopping, and food vendors prepare for the breakfast rush.

There’s just something about bellying up to a market counter on a small metal stool in the midst of the chaos of a market that is our happy place. The atmosphere is a wonderful sensory overload. The chatter of vendors and customers, the myriad colors of fresh fruits and vegetables, the mouthwatering aroma of sizzling eggs and meats. 

While you won’t find a fancy menu or designer coffee here, what you will find is authentic, homemade Peruvian food, fresh juices and strong drip coffee. There are numerous stalls offering breakfast, each with their own specialty. 

What sets San Blas Market apart isn’t just the delicious and cheap food, it’s the chance to immerse yourself in the local culture, to rub elbows with the people of Cusco, and enjoy the simple pleasures of Peruvian breakfast fare. It’s a true local experience that you’ll remember long after the tastes have faded.

L’Atelier Café Concept

If a picture-perfect view of the cobblestone streets of San Blas and the smell of coffee beans roasting gets your day off to a great start, then L’Atelier Café Concept should be your go-to.

More than just a café, L’Atelier is a boutique and an art gallery rolled into one, with an inviting atmosphere that inspires creativity. They feature art, clothing, and jewlery from local artisans and designers. We weren’t working during our trip, but this would be a perfect place to post up with a laptop (if you can snag one of the few seats in the small upstairs cafe). 

Their Gâteau au chocolat L’Atelier is an unforgettable breakfast pastry made with local Cusco chocolate. Paired with a cup of their locally-sourced coffee, it’s a breakfast experience that rivals any.

Chicha por Gaston Acurio

Gastón Acurio is, without a doubt, one of the most influential figures in Peruvian gastronomy, and some might even argue that he is among the most influential chefs globally. Acurio has successfully put Peruvian cuisine on the world stage with his trailblazing culinary initiatives.

His Cusco restaurant, Chicha, is a testament to his love for Peru and its vast culinary heritage. It’s one of the top restaurants in Cusco, Peru. In Chicha, Acurio promotes the concept of “Peruvian Cuisine from the Soil to the Table,” which is evident in the restaurant’s use of fresh local ingredients. From Andean tubers to fresh river trout, Acurio showcases the abundance of Peru’s produce in his menus. He’s also dedicated to supporting local farmers and producers, reinforcing a sustainable and community-based approach to dining.

This might be sacrilegious to some, but we actually didn’t dine in at Chicha. We ordered delivery! We were exhausted from our rainbow mountain hike, but desperately wanted to try Chicha before we left Cusco. So, we ordered in and enjoyed our last  meal in Cusco from the comfort of our amazing AirBnB in San Blas. The la gran Pachamanca a la olla and the lamb ragu fettuccine are amazing! Slow cooking at it’s finest.

Cicciolina Cusco Restaurant

We’ve already mentioned Cicciolina Cafe for breakfast, but let us assure you, their dinner game is just as strong.

Ciccionlina is a tapas bar, a culinary stage showcasing the vibrant flavors of Peru’s rich produce and Spanish cooking techniques. They have an amazing wine list and great cocktails as well. Try the chef’s favorite tapas sampler. You can’t got wrong. 

Perched on the second floor of an old colonial building in Cusco’s buzzing historical district, you’re enveloped in a sense of charm and warmth that is unmistakably Cusco.

This Cusco restaurant seamlessly blends its historic setting with a subtly modern aesthetic. Original features of the colonial architecture, such as the exposed red brick walls and wooden beams, are beautifully offset by contemporary art pieces and delicate lighting fixtures. The space is adorned with rich, deep tones that ooze sophistication, while the cozy, mismatched furniture gives the space a homely touch. It’s like stepping into a well-traveled friend’s eclectic living room—one who also happens to be an exceptional chef.

Perhaps most intriguing is the large open kitchen, where guests can watch the culinary team craft their artisan dishes with focus and finesse. It’s always a bit of theatre seeing a professional kitchen in action, and Cicciolina doesn’t disappoint.

Kion

In the mood for something different, we ventured to Kion, a restaurant celebrating the bold flavors of Chinese-Peruvian, or Chifa, cuisine. The interior design – with its stunning antique Shanghai-style screen – swept us away to another era and place. 

The dishes were a fascinating blend of cultures, like the chaufa aeropuerto, a fried rice dish bursting with Chinese sausage, roast pork, and chicken, crowned with a delicate egg crepe. The dim sum is fantastic, and the spicy noodles with chicken, carrots, Chinese beans and Kion’s chimichurri sauce is super interesting and delicious. 

It was a meal that reminded us of the diverse cultural influences that weave through Peru’s culinary tapestry. Chaufa cuisine is an amazing blend of flavors and techniques that create some stellar dishes. 

Pachapapa

Tucked away in the picturesque San Blas neighborhood, Pachapapa is a warm invitation to experience traditional Andean cuisine in a charming courtyard setting. They often have live music in the courtyard, as well. 

Our waiter suggested we try the Kankacho, which is a dish this specific Cusco restaurant is famous for. It’s a Lamb shoulder or shank marinated in panca chili and local herbs and then slow cooked for hours in their wood-fired outdoor oven. It fell off the bone. It was succulent. I ate the entire giant portion and could have gone back for more! This was some of the best peruvian food in Cusco in our oppinion. 

They also have a great selection of Pisco-forward cocktails and other delicious dishes like smoked short ribs, authentic Peruvian stews and a trout ceviche that is to die for. 

Aura Restobar

Aura offers the perfect fusion of traditional Peruvian dishes with a modern twist. A popular approach for Cusco restaurants, but why fix what isn’t broken?

Set on the hills above San Blas, Aura Restobar is a chic, stylish haunt that offers great food, amazing drinks, and one of the best views of any Cusco restaurant. Aura boasts a really fantastic view of Cusco, especially enchanting as the city lights begin to twinkle at dusk. The outdoor seating and wood fireplace makes you want to curl up with a few drinks, chat up the friendly patrons and staff, and just melt into your chair. 

We tried the Lomo Saltado and Bistek Montado, which were both fantastic.. Aura also has a fantastic cocktail menu – the maracuya sour, a passion fruit take on the classic Pisco sour, was perfectly balanced and addictive.

Limbus Restobar

Limbus, perched on the hills of Cusco (literally right next to Aura), offers another unreal panoramic view of the city. 

The atmosphere at Limbus is electric, with an open terrace that allows you to take in the city from every angle. It’s a touch of the cosmopolitan in the middle of historic Cusco. Plush seating, a gorgeous bar, stylish lighting, and a minimalist style make Limbus feel very posh. The entire broad side of the restaurant is floor to ceiling windows, so not a inch of the view is obscured.

The ambiance at Limbus is great. Perhaps the only thing to rival it is the creative presentation of their food and cocktails. Limbus gave us of the coolest desserts ever. Brownies and blondies colored green created an “earthen” bed for the delicious ice cream placed on top of it. And a fluffy sphere of cotton candy acting as a cloud rounded out the scene. It was as much a feast for the eyes as it was for the taste buds. 

Their cocktails are next level. With names like the Tupac, Candy Crush, Miss Amsterdam and even one called Cocaine exploring the house cocktail list is a blast. Each is served in an elaborate presentation with interesting vessels, wild garnishes, and even props like a white trash Barbie. Limbus knows how to have fun.

Qucharitas

And now, the pièce de résistance of our Cusco gastronomic adventure – the delightful Qucharitas. Calling it just an ice cream shop is like saying Machu Picchu is just a pile of rocks – it’s an understatement of epic proportions.

You step into a world of frosty delights that would make Willy Wonka proud. With an array of flavors covering every amazing Peruvian fruit, from the traditional lucuma and maracuya to their adventurous quinoa or coca flavor, Qucharitas makes every lick an unforgettable experience. They also have deserts like tarts, churros, and crepes. We ended up ordering several things (way too much for two people) and enjoying all of it. No regrets!

What sets Qucharitas apart is the passion and the creativity they bring to their scoops. Every ice cream is hand-churned and made with local, fresh ingredients. The staff is super friendly and lets you sample flavors before making your choice, which is a lifesaver because everything looks so tempting!