12 Best Restaurants in The Southern Andes and Lake Titicaca, Peru

Chicha

$$$ Fodor's choice

With a covered courtyard that evokes images of a traditional yet upscale outdoor picantería, the offerings at celeb-chef Gastón Acurio's stylish bistro provide delicious gourmet twists on typical regional fare. Unlike many restaurants offering fusion menus, the plate sizes here are ample. Be sure to begin your dining experience with one of the their unique pisco cocktails. Reservations are a good idea.

La Granja del Colca

$$ Fodor's choice
Set along the highway to Cabanaconde near Cruz del Condor and surrounded by ample fields, the hotel Kunturwassi is best known for its excellent organic restauran. All the food, including meats, is sourced or raised locally. You can go hiking or take a horseback riding tour after your meal.

La Nueva Palomino

$$ | Yanahuara Fodor's choice

Chef Mònica Huertas is one of the great promoters of arequipeña cuisine, and, to many, this is the most authentic restaurant in town. She uses many of the same classic recipes—some more than a century old—that her mother and grandmother used, and her preparations of regional standards such as rocoto relleno, adobo, lechón al horno (oven-roasted pork), chupe de camarones, and queso helado (ice cream) have become the definitive recipes. This sprawling picantería with a maze of pleasant patios and dining rooms is a great place to come on the weekend and spend the entire day eating, drinking, and listening to live music.

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Mojsa

$$ Fodor's choice

Located in a beautiful colonial building, there are a couple of intimate tables on the balcony overlooking the Plaza de Armas, while the more lively interior rooms make it seem like a popular place to eat for both Peruvians and travelers. Mojsa, which means "delicious" in the Aymara language, serves reasonably priced Novo Andino cuisine, fused with fresh traditional and criollo flavors in an elegant space with wood floors and a long bar.

Salamanto

$$$$ Fodor's choice
Reconstructing rich ancestral dishes in a modern way, Salamanto prepares locally sourced meats and fish, together with native corn, papas andinas, and algae and mushrooms from El Valle Sagrado, with centuries-old methods and modern spices and sauces. Try a seven- or ten-course tasting menu, accompanied by carefully selected local wines. This is bucket-list dining, worthy of a special occasion. Reserve ahead.

Balcones de Puno

$$
Come to this upscale tavern, tucked on the first floor of a heritage building hemmed with wooden balconies, to try a range of alpaca- and quinoa-based dishes, all served with zest and creativity. The wood-fired pizzas are also recommended. One of the real highlights here are the daily traditional dance and music shows organized to entertain guests starting at 7:30 pm.

InnKas Resto Bar

$
This long-standing Peruvian restaurant, tucked on a corner of Chivay's Plaza de Armas, serves reliable and tasty alpaca, chicken, and beef mains that include lomo saltado and pollo chimichurri (grilled chicken with piquant sauce), as well as a choice of pastas to quell comfort-food cravings. Excellent and inexpensive espressos pair up with crepes and a variety of cakes. This is a great place to linger prior to visiting Cruz del Condor.

La Lucila

$ | Sachaca

Rivaling La Nueva Palomino for Arequipa's favorite picantería, La Lucila has been in operation for more than 70 years. Although its beloved namesake owner passed away in 2012, her recipes—iconic regional dishes that have been passed down through generations—live on, as does the simple, rustic atmosphere. Come here for classic rocoto relleno, cuy chactado, or chupe de camarones (spicy shrimp chowder). It's outside of town, and though you'll spend about S/10–S/15 on a taxi, the prices here make up for it. Daytime only.

Cl. Grau 147, Arequipa, Arequipa, Peru
054-205–348
Known For
  • traditional regional food
  • historic location
  • chupe de camarones (spicy shrimp chowder)
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: No dinner

McElroy's Pub

$
Owned by a true Irishman, this pub dishes up good pizzas, burgers, and sandwiches alongside the usual Peruvian dishes. It has a pool table and packs in most of the gringos in town.

Pacha Restaurant & Draft Bar

$
Right next to Puno's Catedral, this Novo Andino restaurant pairs good food and a social atmosphere with a selection of Peruvian craft and imported Belgian beers, some of the strongest in the world. The cuy, trucha, alpaca, and cebiche dishes are all tasty and well-presented; there's a good-value tourist menu; and the local, award-winning tunki coffee, bittersweet and strong, is the cherry on top.

Restaurant Museo La Casona

$

An upscale modern restaurant but with colonial-era artwork and antiques throughout, this two-decades-old local institution is filled with savory aromas of flavorful soups and grilled meats and fish. Try local fare, such as the lomo de alpaca (alpaca steak) or their take on quinoa soup, a must-try dish wherever you go in Peru. Or ask for the Menu Turistico, a set meal including an appetizer, main, and dessert for S/30.

Sambambaia's

$

Specializing in both classic Andean meat and fish dishes, as well as international fare, this restaurant is in the quiet residential neighborhood of Vallecito, a 10-minute walk from the Plaza de Armas. Try the chef's favorite, a tender, juicy lomo al vino tinto (beef tenderloin in red wine), but if you're craving something more familiar, wood-oven pizza is another specialty of the house. Buffet specials are offered throughout the week.

Luna Pizarro 304, Vallecito, Tacna, Peru
054-223–657
Known For
  • variety of dishes
  • lomo al vino tinto
  • excellent service
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted