Cusco: Where to Eat and What to Do
Between visiting Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu we didn’t leave much time to explore Cusco, but we did find a few favourites. Cusco offers a lot in a small area. Walking around the desirable area of Cusco will take a half-day to a full-day depending on your level of enthusiasm to explore every nook and cranny of every market and street. We enjoyed the cobblestone streets and old buildings that were vastly different from busy downtown Lima. Follow along below for tips on our favorite restaurants, cafes, and shopping areas.
Restaurants
Kion - A dining experience that provides excellent Peruvian Chinese food. We recommend the fried noodles, spring rolls and wanton soup. We loved it so much we went twice!
La Bodega 138 - An Italian eatery that is very popular, and rightly so because the menu provides great traditional dishes.
Jacks Cafe - Great place if you are just craving eggs and pancakes. It opens early if you need a spot to fuel up for a long day.
Restaurants we didn’t go to but come highly recommended:
Chicha by Gaston Acurio
Cicciolina
Marcela Batata
cafes
L’Aterlier Cafe Concept - Great for coffee, fresh juice, and vegan pastries. It is also a vintage clothing store with leather bags, men and women’s apparel and home decor. We sat on the balcony and overlooked the streets below while working. P.S. There is WiFi. (Pictured above)
Cocoliso - A hidden back-alley spot to enjoy loose-leaf tea and cake. The cafe has WiFi, an outdoor patio, and a connected shop with handmade sweaters, scarves and hats.
Panaderie Cusco Maki / Cafetieria - Small bakery for fresh pastries and baguettes. We stopped here to pick up pastries before our journey to the Sacred Valley.
shops
San Pedro Market - Bustling covered outdoor market with food, textiles, souvenirs, apparel, and much more. Don’t be afraid to barter for prices.
San Blas Square - More boutique-y shops. Walk through the square and side streets. Here you will find more trendy decor and apparel but at a more expensive cost.
Bonus: Always get street churros when you can :)
