Cusco and the Sacred Valley Restaurants

1. Chuncho

A labor of love from someone born and raised in Ollantaytambo has resulted in a must-visit restaurant experience—one in which you will savor traditional ancestral foods made with the freshest of local ingredients and prepared to appeal to the foreign palate. The all-wood décor makes for a warm and rustic yet chic atmosphere, with Peruvian accents sprinkled throughout. If you like cocktails, you must try one using Destilería Andina’s artisanal hooch produced, like Chuncho, by the El Albergue family.

2. El Huacatay

One of the best restaurants in the Cusco region was serving Peruvian fusion before it became trendy, perfecting the art of combining flavors in a way that each one can be savored. You’ll need some time to decide between all the enticing options on the menu; the cuts of meat are amazingly tender, and there are some interesting vegetarian choices as well, not to mention an array of fabulous appetizers that might tempt you to just order a medley.

3. La Cantina

More a wine bar than a restaurant, La Cantina has walls lined with Italian vintages that are poured by a friendly and attentive staff, creating a setting that invites both sampling and lingering. For your meal, there are delicious pizzas with wafer-thin crusts and high-quality ingredients, plus meats and cheeses from the Old Country and a killer tiramisu for dessert. If the location in the center is full, there's another in the Magisterio neighborhood.

4. Marcelo Batata

Start with a drink made from one of the many house-made pisco infusions, and then move on to the Peruvian fusion that is Batata's specialty, in particular, mouthwatering alpaca steaks. With a rooftop terrace and a cozy interior dining room, the vibe here is in the sweet spot between upscale-but-friendly and romantic. The wine list is continuously improving, and you may be able to get in a wine or pisco tasting if you ask ahead of time. The restaurant also offers cooking classes that include a trip to the local market for the freshest ingredients.

5. Pacha Papa

The menu at this restaurant, which is modeled after a typical open-air quinta, with wooden tables scattered around a large patio, gets its influences from all over Peru, and the waiters are happy to explain what makes each traditional dish special. For a special treat, go for the underground-oven-baked pachamanca, in which different types of meats are slow roasted together with potatoes and aromatic herbs. This dish, as well as the cuy, has to be ordered 24 hours in advance, so plan ahead.

6. Fallen Angel

Come for the kitschy, fun, over-the-top decor: take your pick of seating from a brass daybed, a heart-shaped couch, or leopard- and cheetah-print stools, and dine off bathtubs that double as fish tanks covered with glass tops, watched over all the while by baroque angels, flying pigs, and disco balls in all sizes. The steak-driven menu, just like the decoration, is absolutely fabulous, darling. A massive angel sculpture presides over the courtyard, whose walls are painted to look like a sky full of clouds. This was one of Francisco Pizarro's houses, and it's doubtful that he envisioned anything so avant-garde. The decor encourages you to indulge, and you won't want to pass up a sinful dessert. There are plenty of tables, but if your heart is set on dinner here, make a reservation. Fallen Angel rents out similarly decorated, uniquely luxurious rooms upstairs starting at around US$200 per night.

7. Greens Organic

Serving delicious dishes that you can feel good about eating, too, this restaurant's use of top-quality, locally produced, and organic ingredients makes it the go-to place in town. Whether you are a carnivore or a vegetarian, you'll find options to make your mouth water and ensure you leave satisfied. The organic offerings even extend to beer and wine. It also serves one of the better breakfasts in town.

8. Incanto

Stylish contemporary design in an Andean setting has made this large, upscale restaurant near the Plaza de Armas a hit with those looking for a classy night out. It dishes up Mediterranean-Andean fusion cuisine, meaning that traditional Italian favorites are given a twist thanks to the use of Peruvian ingredients and flavors. Wander down the back to the open kitchen, and don't forget to have a look at the original Inca wall on the way.

9. Inka Grill

Featuring soups, salads, a plethora of tasty appetizers, sandwiches, and hearty main dishes, as well as delicious desserts, this popular restaurant located in the Plaza de Armas offers both comfort and gourmet choices, all with a Peruvian flair. It's a great place to go when you are with a group that has varying tastes—even the pickiest of palates should find something to suit them—and it also features live Peruvian music.

10. Kampu

11. Kintaro

If you're craving Japanese food, you can get the real deal at Kintaro. Amid a quietly elegant atmosphere, you can order miso soup, udon, teriyaki dishes, tempura, a wide variety of fresh and authentic sushi, and hot or cold sake.

12. Kion

There are plenty of chifa—Peruvian--Cantonese cuisine—restaurants to be found along the side streets of town, but the best by far is Kion, with its modern decor and attentive service. Although the menu has many familiar Chinese offerings, like wontons and fried rice, the Peruvian influences and preparations make it a nice change from your neighborhood wok and, indeed, from straight-up Peruvian eateries.

13. La Bodega 138

The wide selection of pizzas, pastas, soups, and salads here, as well as a few great desserts, ensure that you will leave feeling satisfied. In particular, the unique blue cheese, bacon, and sauco (elderberry) pizza can't be beat. Be sure to accompany it with one of their reasonably priced wines or a selection from the extensive list of craft beers.

14. La Feria

Traditional Peruvian cuisine, rather than the stuff of gourmands, is a food of the people, served on the street or in family-style restaurants called picanterías. At La Feria, you can enjoy good country eating Andean style, with generous portions of such typical fare as slow-cooked pork, beef ribs, anticuchos (kebabs), and much more. With balconies overlooking the Plaza de Armas and a warm and welcoming atmosphere decorated with brightly colored textiles, you’ll feel like you’ve just walked into your long-lost Peruvian grandma’s house.

15. Macondo

Walking through this shop off the busy Cuesta San Blas, part art gallery, part café, and more hip than ever, you may think you took a wrong turn and ended up in New York City. The menu features healthy standards such as soups and salads, as well as some splurges such as bacon-wrapped alpaca. Also a great spot for desserts or a glass of wine. There are just eight small tables, so make reservations, especially for dinner. Come for the food, but be sure to check out the contemporary artwork for sale, rare for this history-focused city.

16. Morena Peruvian Kitchen

Bright, cheerful, and just off the Plaza de Armas, the Australian-Peruvian owned Morena serves its own delicious takes on Peruvian standards, with a variety of traditional appetizers and mains that are perfect for mixing and matching to make your own tasting menu. The soups, sandwiches, smoothies, and other light fare are ideal for when you're adjusting to altitude; tea, coffee, juices, heavenly desserts, craft beers, and creative cocktails round out the offerings.

17. Mullu Café

Rustic but stylish, Mullu Café has a cosmopolitan flair and specializes in Andean-fusion fare, with some especially good Asian-influenced plates. The food and drinks, along with the upbeat atmosphere, can't be topped. Grab a table for dinner overlooking the Plaza de Armas, and you might think you were in Cusco for the night. If you're looking for a lunch spot, come early as the place tends to fill up.

18. Papachos

The brainchild of Gastón Acurio, Peru's most famous chef, Papachos is the place to go for a fresh take on the burger. With a sports bar atmosphere, the restaurant has a huge menu with plenty of other choices, but it's the burgers you come here for. There's every variety you can think of, along with plenty you probably wouldn't have (fried egg and banana), and every topping can be put on a veggie burger if that's your preference.