Peru captivates travelers with its ancient Incan heritage, including the iconic Machu Picchu, diverse landscapes from Amazon rainforest to Andean peaks, and vibrant culinary scene. This South American gem offers world-class hiking, rich indigenous cultures, and colonial architecture in cities like Cusco and Lima.
Peruvian cuisine is ranked among the world's finest, earning Lima eight consecutive 'World's Best Culinary Destination' awards from the World Travel Awards. The cuisine blends indigenous Andean ingredients (quinoa, potatoes, ceviche) with Spanish, African, Chinese (Chifa), and Japanese (Nikkei) influences brought by waves of immigration. Peru has the world's largest potato biodiversity with 3,000+ varieties, and its geographic diversity — coast, Andes, Amazon — creates dramatically different regional cuisines.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Peru.
Ceviche Clásico
Raw fish cured in fresh lime juice with red onion, cilantro, and ají amarillo (yellow chili). Peru's iconic dish should be eaten at lunch when fish is freshest. The leche de tigre (tiger's milk) broth remaining is considered a hangover cure.
Where to try: La Mar Cebichería, El Mercado, any good Lima cevichería
Price: S/30-60 ($8-16)
Lomo Saltado
Stir-fried beef with tomatoes, onions, yellow pepper, and soy sauce served with French fries and white rice. This Chifa (Peruvian-Chinese) fusion dish is Peru's ultimate comfort food found everywhere from street stalls to fine restaurants.
Where to try: Any Peruvian restaurant nationwide
Price: S/20-60 ($5-16)
Ají de Gallina
Tender shredded chicken in a creamy sauce of ají amarillo pepper, bread, and walnuts served over rice with boiled potatoes and olives. A distinctly criollo Lima dish showing Spanish and African culinary influences.
Where to try: Traditional Lima criollo restaurants, home cooking
Price: S/20-45 ($5-12)
Rocoto Relleno
Arequipa's signature dish: a whole rocoto pepper (fiercer than jalapeño) stuffed with seasoned ground beef, vegetables, and melted cheese then baked. Essential when visiting Arequipa and not available in the same quality elsewhere.
Where to try: La Nueva Palomino, El Leño restaurants in Arequipa
Price: S/20-40 ($5-11)
Anticuchos
Marinated beef heart skewers grilled over charcoal, Peru's most beloved street food originating from African culinary traditions. Served with boiled potato, choclo (large corn), and various ají pepper sauces from street vendors every evening.
Where to try: Street carts everywhere after 6PM; Anticuchería Grimanesa Lima
Price: S/5-15 ($1.50-4)
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Central
Ranked among the world's best restaurants, Central showcases Peruvian biodiversity through innovative tasting menus organized by altitude zones. Chef Virgilio Martínez sources ingredients from coast, mountains, and jungle to create state-of-the-art culinary experiences. Reservations required months in advance.
Av. Pedro de Osma 301, Barranco, Lima
La Mar Cebichería
Gastón Acurio's casual cevichería serves Lima's best ceviche in lively atmosphere. Fresh seafood prepared daily with creative variations on classic dishes. The restaurant fills quickly for lunch with locals and tourists. Excellent cocktails and casual but quality service.
Av. Mariscal La Mar 770, Miraflores, Lima
El Chinito
Local favorite chifa serves generous portions of Chinese-Peruvian fusion at low prices. The menu includes fried rice, noodles, and sweet and sour dishes with Peruvian twist. Busy, no-frills atmosphere. Great value for quick satisfying meal.
Av. José Larco 1295, Miraflores, Lima
Anticuchos Doña Pochita
Famous street cart serves Lima's best anticuchos (grilled beef heart skewers) marinated in spicy sauce. Operating for decades, Doña Pochita attracts long lines of locals and tourists. Arrive early as they sell out. Cash only, outdoor eating.
Av. Brasil 860, Pueblo Libre, Lima
Café del Museo
Beautiful cafe in courtyard of Museo Larco in Lima serves excellent coffee, teas, and light meals. Surrounded by gardens and museum collections. Perfect for afternoon break. Quality pastries and sandwiches.
Av. Bolívar 1515, Pueblo Libre, Lima
Maido
Chef Mitsuharu Tsumura's flagship restaurant consistently ranks among Latin America's best, blending Japanese technique with Peruvian ingredients. The Nikkei experience tasting menu showcases this unique fusion through creative dishes like sea urchin causas and tiraditos. Reserve well in advance.
Calle San Martín 399, Miraflores, Lima
Morena Peruvian Kitchen
Popular Miraflores restaurant offers creative Peruvian dishes with international influences at reasonable prices. The menu features excellent ceviches, causas, and mains. Modern casual atmosphere with good cocktails. Consistently good quality and service.
Av. Gral Parra 184, Miraflores, Lima
Jack's Café
Beloved Cusco breakfast spot serves huge portions of pancakes, sandwiches, and all-day breakfast. Popular with travelers for hearty meals and good coffee. Expect waits during peak morning hours. The portions are enormous and shareable.
Choquechaka 509, Cusco
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Cafe
La Bodega 138
Charming Barranco cafe and wine bar serves excellent coffee during day, wine and small plates at night. Cozy bohemian atmosphere with art on walls. Good pastries and sandwiches. Popular with locals and expats.
Av. Grau 138, Barranco, Lima
Café Café
Popular Cusco cafe serves quality coffee, extensive tea selection, and good breakfast and lunch options. Comfortable seating, WiFi, and relaxed atmosphere. Multiple locations in Cusco. Good spot for working or reading.
Espaderos 136, Cusco
The Meeting Place Cafe
Ollantaytambo cafe serves excellent coffee, breakfast, and light meals. Popular with trekkers before Inca Trail. Good WiFi, comfortable seating, book exchange. Friendly owner provides local information.
Ventiderio 462, Ollantaytambo
Juanita Cafe
Small Arequipa cafe serves excellent coffee roasted on-site and homemade cakes. Cozy atmosphere, friendly service, quality espresso drinks. Popular with locals. Good spot for afternoon coffee break.
Jerusalem 304-B, Arequipa
Coco Banana Cafe
Aguas Calientes cafe near train station serves good breakfast, sandwiches, and fresh juices. Reliable quality for tourist town, reasonable prices. Good spot before or after Machu Picchu visit.
Av. Imperio de los Incas, Aguas Calientes
Peruvian
Café Morena
Cozy Cusco cafe serves good coffee, fresh juices, and tasty Peruvian dishes at reasonable prices. The menu includes breakfast, sandwiches, and local specialties. Friendly staff and comfortable atmosphere. Good spot for lunch or coffee break.
Plateros 348, Cusco
Limo Cocina Peruana + Cevichería
Cusco restaurant with Plaza de Armas views offers excellent ceviche, Nikkei dishes, and pisco cocktails. Modern stylish interior, attentive service, and creative presentations. Good value for quality. Book window table for plaza views.
Portal de Carnes 236, Plaza de Armas, Cusco
Los Backus
Casual Miraflores restaurant offers mix of Peruvian dishes and wood-fired pizzas. Good portions, reasonable prices, and lively atmosphere. Popular with locals and families. Outdoor seating available.
Av. Larco 301, Miraflores, Lima
Inti Raymi Restaurant
Aguas Calientes restaurant near Machu Picchu offers decent Peruvian food at reasonable prices for the tourist town. The set menu provides good value, and service is friendly. Nothing spectacular but reliable option after visiting ruins.
Av. Pachacutec 112, Aguas Calientes
Contemporary Peruvian
Astrid y Gastón Casa Moreyra
Gastón Acurio's flagship restaurant in a beautiful colonial mansion offers refined Peruvian cuisine that helped launch Lima's culinary revolution. The tasting menus feature seasonal ingredients and sophisticated presentations. Beautiful hacienda setting with multiple dining rooms and bar.
Av. Paz Soldán 290, San Isidro, Lima
Rafael
Chef Rafael Osterling's refined restaurant offers exceptional coastal cuisine with Mediterranean influences. The elegant space features an open kitchen and sophisticated atmosphere. Known for excellent seafood preparations and wine list. One of Lima's most consistent fine dining experiences.
Calle San Martín 300, Miraflores, Lima
MAP Café
Located inside Cusco's Museum of Pre-Columbian Art courtyard, MAP Café offers innovative cuisine in stunning glass-walled space. Chef combines Andean ingredients with international techniques. Beautiful setting, excellent service, and creative presentations. Perfect for special dinner in Cusco.
Plaza Nazarenas 231, Cusco
Pisco Bar
Museo del Pisco Bar
Educational pisco bar in Cusco offers tastings, cocktails, and light food. Learn about Peru's national spirit while sampling various piscos and cocktails. Knowledgeable bartenders, good atmosphere. Popular happy hour spot.
Santa Catalina Ancha 398, Cusco
Republica del Pisco
Barranco pisco bar specializes in creative pisco cocktails and small plates. Extensive menu of classic and innovative pisco drinks. Lively atmosphere, knowledgeable bartenders. Great spot for evening drinks.
Av. Bolognesi 307, Barranco, Lima
Traditional Peruvian
San Pedro Market Food Stalls
Cusco's central market features numerous stalls serving authentic local breakfast and lunch. Try fresh juices, tamales, and set menu lunches for under $2. Busy, authentic atmosphere. Great for experiencing real Cusco food culture.
Calle Santa Clara, Cusco
Chicha por Gastón Acurio
Gastón Acurio's Cusco restaurant celebrates traditional Andean cuisine in refined setting. The menu features regional specialties like alpaca, cuy, and quinoa prepared with modern techniques. Colonial building with cozy fireplace and extensive pisco bar. Excellent introduction to highland Peruvian flavors.
Plaza Regocijo 261, Cusco
Arequipeño
La Picantería
Authentic Arequipa picantería serves traditional spicy regional dishes in casual local atmosphere. The menu features rocoto relleno, chupe de camarones, and adobo. No-frills setting with excellent home-style cooking. Popular with locals for lunch.
Calle Leoncio Prado 122, Arequipa
Bakery
El Pan de la Chola
Artisanal bakery in Miraflores serves outstanding bread, pastries, and coffee using organic ingredients. The sourdough bread is considered Lima's best. Excellent breakfast and brunch options. Often crowded on weekends.
Av. La Mar 918, Miraflores, Lima
Breakfast
Tamale Vendors (Morning)
Early morning street vendors throughout Peru sell fresh tamales wrapped in banana leaves. Filled with chicken, pork, or cheese with Andean spices. Pair with fresh bread and hot coffee or tea. Traditional breakfast on-the-go.
Throughout Cusco and Lima
Burgers
Burger Marvels
Miraflores burger joint serves creative gourmet burgers including alpaca and quinoa options. Quality ingredients, good fries, and craft beers. Modern casual setting. Perfect for satisfying burger craving in Lima.
Diez Canseco 339, Miraflores, Lima
Casual Peruvian
Tanta
Gastón Acurio's casual chain serves accessible Peruvian classics in modern comfortable setting. The menu includes ceviche, lomo saltado, and sandwiches at mid-range prices. Consistent quality across multiple Lima locations. Good for reliable meal.
Av. 28 de Julio 888, Miraflores, Lima
Dessert
Picarones Cart
Street vendors throughout Lima serve picarones, sweet potato and squash doughnuts drizzled with chancaca syrup. Look for vendors with long lines in evenings. Best found in historic center and Miraflores. Warm, freshly fried, delicious.
Various locations, Lima
Empanadas
Empanada Stands
Bakeries and street vendors sell empanadas filled with beef, chicken, cheese, or aji de gallina. Freshly baked throughout the day, perfect for quick snack. Look for busy panaderías (bakeries) for freshest options.
Bakeries throughout Peru
Fusion
Zig Zag Restaurant
Arequipa restaurant specializes in alpaca and meat grilled on hot volcanic stones at your table. The menu offers various alpaca cuts, Swiss-Peruvian fusion, and fondue. Unique dining experience in colonial building with mountain views.
Zela 210, Arequipa
High Altitude Peruvian
Mil Centro
Sister restaurant to Central located at 3,600 meters near Moray archaeological site offers unique high-altitude dining experience. Chef Virgilio Martínez showcases Andean ingredients and indigenous cooking techniques. The building serves as research center and restaurant. Stunning Sacred Valley setting.
Moray, Maras, Sacred Valley
Mediterranean
Cicciolina
Cozy Cusco restaurant blends Mediterranean and Peruvian flavors in intimate setting. The menu offers tapas-style sharing plates, excellent wine list, and warm service. Popular with expats and travelers. Reservations essential for dinner.
Triunfo 393, 2nd Floor, Cusco
Mussels
Choritos Kennedy Park Vendors
Evening vendors around Kennedy Park in Miraflores serve chorito (steamed mussels) with lime and onions. Cheap, tasty, and popular with locals after dark. Each vendor has slightly different preparation. Choose busy stalls for freshness.
Parque Kennedy, Miraflores, Lima
Peruvian Comfort Food
Marcelo Batata
Casual local eatery in Cusco serves authentic Peruvian home cooking at very low prices. The set lunch menu offers soup, main, and drink for bargain price. No English menu but friendly staff help translate. Great for budget eating.
Palacio 121, Cusco
Sacred Valley
El Bodegón
Charming Ollantaytambo restaurant serves traditional Andean cuisine with ingredients from own farm. The menu features wood-fired pizzas, trout, quinoa dishes, and vegetarian options. Cozy atmosphere with fireplace. Good value and friendly service.
Calle Ventiderio, Ollantaytambo
Sandwiches
El Enano - Jugo y Sandwich
Iconic Lima juice and sandwich stand serves massive sandwiches and fresh fruit juices at bargain prices. The pavo (turkey) sandwich is legendary. Stand-up eating only, always crowded, incredibly cheap. Lima institution since 1960s.
Av. Arequipa 298, Miraflores, Lima
Seafood
Punto Azul
No-frills Lima cevichería serves some of the city's best and most affordable ceviche. Always fresh, generous portions, and authentic flavors. Multiple locations but San Isidro original is best. Expect waits during lunch rush.
Calle San Martin 595, Miraflores, Lima
Traditional Andean
Pachapapa
Charming restaurant in San Blas neighborhood serves traditional Cusco dishes in colonial courtyard with wood-fired oven. The menu includes cuy, alpaca, and local specialties. Authentic atmosphere with occasional live music. Good for experiencing traditional highland cuisine.
Plazoleta San Blas 120, Cusco
Traditional Criollo
Isolina Taberna
This beloved Barranco restaurant serves authentic Lima home cooking in rustic tavern setting. Generous portions of traditional criollo dishes like tacu tacu and seco de res draw crowds. No reservations and frequent waits, but worth it for authentic flavors. Cash only.
Av. San Martín 101, Barranco, Lima
Vegetarian
Green Point
Popular Cusco vegan restaurant offers creative plant-based versions of Peruvian classics plus international dishes. Generous portions, good flavors, and excellent value. The set lunch menu is particularly popular. Cozy atmosphere with attentive service.
Carmen Bajo 235, Cusco
Food tours & tastings in Peru
Eat your way through Peru with a guide.
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Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Anticuchos
Marinated beef heart skewers grilled over charcoal on street carts. The most iconic Peruvian street food served with choclo, potato, and ají sauce from evening vendors across Lima and Cusco.
Find it at: Street carts from 6PM onwards in any Peruvian city; Anticuchería Grimanesa near Surquillo Market Lima
Picarones
Deep-fried sweet potato and squash doughnuts served with chancaca syrup (raw cane sugar), a classic Lima street dessert. Sold from open-air frying stations in markets and near churches.
Find it at: Near Lima's Convento San Francisco, Parque de la Exposición, and major markets
Tamales
Corn masa stuffed with pork, chicken, or olives wrapped in banana leaves and steam-cooked. Eaten for breakfast with a chicha morada drink — classic Lima morning street food sold from baskets.
Find it at: Lima street vendors in the morning, especially in La Victoria and Callao districts
Choclo con Queso
Oversized Andean corn (choclo) boiled and served with a slice of fresh local white cheese. Simple and satisfying highland snack found everywhere from Cusco markets to roadside stalls in the Sacred Valley.
Find it at: Pisac Market, San Pedro Market Cusco, any Andean market
Salchipapas
Sliced hot dog sausage fried with French fries, served with ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise. Peru's ultimate fast food found at ubiquitous street stalls — beloved comfort food especially popular with students.
Find it at: Street stalls and small eateries throughout Peru, especially near universities and markets
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Mercado Surquillo No. 1 (Lima)
Lima's best market for food lovers where professional chefs shop daily. Fresh Peruvian produce, exotic jungle fruits, dried herbs, fresh fish, and excellent prepared food stalls serving authentic lunch.
Hours: 6AM-3PM Mon-Sat
Mercado 28 (Miraflores, Lima)
Upscale food market in Lima's tourist district with the best street food options in a clean setting. Multiple stalls serving ceviche, lomo saltado, anticuchos, and juices from quality vendors.
Hours: 11AM-9PM daily
Mercado San Pedro (Cusco)
Cusco's main covered market where local Quechua vendors sell produce, dried herbs, traditional textiles, and prepared foods. Cheap chicha, fresh fruit juices, and alpaca meat available daily.
Hours: 6AM-6PM daily
Mercado San Camilo (Arequipa)
Arequipa's central market covering two blocks with excellent produce section, fresh river shrimp from the Colca River, and food stalls serving the city's unique chupe de camarones and ocopa.
Hours: 6AM-6PM daily
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Lunch (12-3PM) is the main meal in Peru — best value menu del día sets and peak quality at seafood restaurants
Reserve Lima's top restaurants (Central, Maido, Astrid y Gastón) 4-8 weeks ahead or they'll be fully booked
Tip 10% in mid-range and upscale restaurants in Lima; service charge sometimes included (check bill for 'servicio')
Menu del día (set lunch) is the best value: S/12-25 ($3-7) for soup, main course, and drink at local restaurants
Street food from busy carts with high turnover is generally safe; avoid food that's been sitting out
- Vegetarian
- Lima has good vegetarian options especially in Miraflores; Cusco improving; rural areas challenging with mostly meat-based menus
- Vegan
- Vegan options growing in Lima's Barranco and Miraflores; traditional Peruvian cuisine uses lots of butter, cream, and lard so always ask
- Gluten free
- Many traditional Peruvian dishes are naturally gluten-free (ceviche, grilled meats); Chifa dishes often use soy sauce with gluten; ask specifically
- Halal
- Limited halal options; some Middle Eastern restaurants in Lima offer halal; outside Lima very limited
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | S/20-40/meal ($5-11) | Menu del día at local restaurant or market stall; includes soup, main, drink |
| Mid-range | S/50-150/meal ($14-41) | Sit-down restaurant with waiter service, pisco sour, and dessert |
| Upscale | S/200-600+/meal ($55-165+) | Lima fine dining at internationally ranked restaurants with wine pairing |