Best Restaurants in Cusco: Where to Eat (2026 Guide)
Cusco punches well above its weight for food. As the gateway to Machu Picchu, it draws talented chefs, and you’ll find everything from world-class Andean tasting menus to bustling markets and cozy spots serving cuy and alpaca. This guide is about how to eat well in Cusco — by budget and neighborhood — rather than a list that goes out of date.
Here’s how to choose.
Quick Answer
- For a special dinner: Cusco’s upscale Andean/Novoandino restaurants (tasting menus built on native ingredients) around the historic center.
- For authentic and affordable: the San Pedro Market and *menú* lunch spots.
- For Andean specialties: restaurants serving cuy, alpaca and quinoa in San Blas and around the Plaza de Armas.
- Book ahead for the best dinner tables, especially in high season (June–August).
By Budget
Fine dining / special occasion. Cusco has excellent upscale restaurants focused on *Novoandino* cuisine — modern cooking built on Andean ingredients like native potatoes, quinoa, alpaca and Amazonian fruits, often as tasting menus. Reserve ahead; these are among the most sought-after tables in the city.
Mid-range. Around the Plaza de Armas and San Blas you’ll find comfortable restaurants doing well-executed Peruvian classics — lomo saltado, ají de gallina, trout, alpaca steak — at fair prices. Look a block or two off the main square for better value.
Budget & authentic. The San Pedro Market is the move: fresh juices, soups and a set *menú* lunch for a few soles, surrounded by locals. Simple *menú* restaurants across the center offer a starter, main and drink at lunchtime for very little.
By Neighborhood
- Plaza de Armas: convenient and scenic, with balcony views — but you pay for location. Great for a drink; look nearby for better-value meals.
- San Blas: the artsy hillside quarter, full of characterful cafés, bakeries and small restaurants — a lovely area for dinner.
- San Pedro Market area: the best cheap, authentic eating in the city.
What to Order
Use Cusco to eat Andean food you can’t get elsewhere: cuy (guinea pig), alpaca steak, quinoa soup, choclo con queso, and trout from highland lakes. For the full rundown of dishes, see our guide to what to eat in Peru. Don’t miss a pisco sour and a cup of coca tea while you acclimatize.
Practical Tips
- Altitude & appetite: you may eat lightly your first day or two — that’s normal. Soups and simple dishes go down easily; see our altitude sickness in Cusco guide.
- Reservations: book dinner ahead in high season (June–August), especially for the top tables.
- Water: stick to bottled or purified water.
- Timing: the set *menú* lunch is the best-value meal of the day.
How It Fits Your Trip
Great meals are the perfect counterpoint to big days out at Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley. Plan a relaxed food evening into your stay — see how many days to spend in Cusco and the top things to do in Cusco.
How to Book
At Viajes Peru Tour we can arrange dinner reservations, market tours and cooking classes as part of your Cusco itinerary, matched to your budget and tastes. Tell us your dates.
[Add Cusco food experiences to your trip →]
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best restaurants in Cusco?
Cusco’s best range from upscale Novoandino tasting-menu restaurants near the historic center, to characterful spots in San Blas, to the authentic and affordable San Pedro Market. The right choice depends on your budget and the experience you want.
Where do locals eat in Cusco?
At the San Pedro Market and neighborhood *menú* restaurants, where a set lunch of soup, a main and a drink costs just a few soles.
What should I eat in Cusco?
Andean specialties: cuy (guinea pig), alpaca steak, quinoa soup, choclo con queso and highland trout, plus Peruvian classics like lomo saltado — with a pisco sour to finish.
Do I need reservations in Cusco?
For the top dinner restaurants in high season (June–August), yes — book ahead. Casual spots and markets are walk-in.
Is the food in Cusco safe?
Generally yes at busy, reputable places. Drink bottled or purified water, ease into rich food at altitude, and favor freshly cooked dishes on your first day.
*Last updated: September 2026 | Written by the Viajes Peru Tour team*
