In Peru, Lima and Cusco are well-known destinations for excellent food. After I spent two weeks in Arequipa though, I would add Arequipa to that list. National Geographic seems to agree, as it called Arequipa “Peru’s next great food city” in 2024.
I found Arequipa to have a diverse culinary scene. Of course you’ll find Peruvian dishes, but you’ll also discover dishes that are specific to Arequipa, the history and tradition of picanterías, craft beer and cider, and good coffee. If you get tired of Peruvian food, you can also find international cuisine, including Japanese, Korean, American, and Italian.
Since the hostel that I stayed at in Arequipa didn’t have a kitchen, I ate out for every meal and got to experience the range of food that the city has to offer. With this list of some of the best restaurants in Arequipa, I hope you’re able to enjoy and appreciate it too.
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Peruvian food
Victoria Museo Picantería
Victoria Museo Picantería is a modern take on the picantería that originated in Arequipa. Its white stone walls and decor create a rustic yet upscale environment that reflects the picantería’s higher price point. It’s definitely a nicer restaurant compared to what you normally find in Arequipa.
The menu is interestingly organized based on when the dish was created. There are contemporary Peruvian dishes and ones that date back as far as 2000 BC. Service is excellent here, so don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations or help with navigating the menu.
Zig Zag
Zig Zag features local meat and seafood, such as trout, shrimp, and alpaca, prepared in a variety of ways. One of the things that stands out about Zig Zag is the volcanic rock that the restaurant uses to serve meat on. Many people go for the meat trio, which comes out sizzling hot on the volcanic rock and includes beef, alpaca, and either chicken or lamb. There’s even an option that comes with four meats.
Zig Zag is a great option for a nice lunch or dinner. It’s on the pricier end, but I think the quality of meat, hospitality, and ambience are worth it.
Cipriana
Aside from the picanterías, Cipriana is a great place to try some of the food that Arequipa is known for, like chupe de camarones (shrimp chowder), rocoto relleno (stuffed rocoto pepper), and chanchito crocante (crispy pork belly). It also has Peruvian classics like lomo saltado, ají de gallina, ceviche, and alpaca.
When I visited, it took a while to get my food since there was a large party and the restaurant seemed understaffed. But when I did get my lomo saltado, it came out piping hot and was very good.
You can choose between outdoor seating in the restaurant’s small courtyard or dining indoors.
Tanta
Tanta is a convenient spot for lunch or dinner after visiting Santa Catalina Monastery, since it’s directly across from the monastery. You’ll find a large and diverse menu with Peruvian and non-Peruvian food. This also makes Tanta a good choice if you’re traveling with others.
Due to its location near the monastery and Arequipa’s Plaza Mayor, Tanta is a popular place with tourists. The restaurant is located inside a courtyard, so there’s both indoor and outdoor seating.
San Camilo Market
San Camilo Market (Mercado San Camilo) is the best place to go for local food at a cheap price. There are two floors in the market, with food stalls scattered throughout both floors. Make sure to bring cash.
I had lunch at one of the stalls on the second floor. I split a “triple” with a friend, which was a large plate with three Arequipeño foods: rocoto relleno (stuffed rocoto pepper), pastel de papa (a casserole of potatoes and cheese), and chicharrón (fried pork). It was filling and a tasty sampler of the local food.
I only managed to have one meal at San Camilo Market during my time in Arequipa, but I wish I had more time to go back and eat at more vendor stalls. Many of them have similar offerings, but I noticed some dishes that I hadn’t seen before and would have loved to try them before I left.
Asian food
Barrio Chifa
Barrio Chifa has great lunch specials from Monday to Saturday between 12:30 PM and 3 PM that include a main dish and a drink. Even if you can’t make it for lunch to get a discount, Barrio Chifa is a tasty place any time of the day with large portions.
Espacio Lagom
I was in the mood for Asian food but didn’t want something as heavy as chifa. That’s how I found Espacio Lagom, which perfectly fit what I was looking for. The Japanese fusion restaurant serves gyoza, sushi, ramen, and poke bowls.
I visited Espacio Lagom twice during my two weeks in Arequipa. I had a poke bowl the first time and their ramen the second time. Both were good, although I enjoyed the poke bowl more. With their poke bowls, the fresh ingredients really shine and you can customize your bowl with two sauces. I was pleasantly surprised at how flavorful and spicy the ramen broth was, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as traditional Japanese ramen.
Unlike most other restaurants in Peru, the portions at Espacio Lagom are small and the prices are on the higher side. If you prefer lighter meals, this is perfect. But if you want to fill up on something hearty, I recommend checking out other restaurants on this list.
Restaurante Chifa Mandarin
Restaurante Chifa Mandarin is a popular spot among locals and I can see why. It’s a no-frills place that’s cheap, quick, delicious, and filling. I found service to be prompt but friendly.
The menu is large, with a varied selection of meat, seafood, and vegetarian dishes. There’s also fried rice, noodles, and soups. While you can order a la carte, I recommend choosing from the restaurant’s combo dishes that are numbered. Each combo is a large plate piled high with three to four items.
I had combo 16, which comes with fried noodles, pineapple and pork, chicken and vegetables in black bean sauce, and a fried spring roll. I enjoyed the opposing flavors that came from the sweet pineapple and pork and the savory, umami black bean sauce.
If you go on the weekend for lunch, expect a wait. This is when locals go, so the restaurant gets packed. To avoid a wait, go during the weekday instead or for dinner on the weekend. After seeing a line outside the restaurant for weekend lunch, I came back for dinner and the restaurant was only half full.
Western food
Isidro Comedor
Isidro Comedor is run by a lovely couple who clearly take pride and care in the food they serve. It seems like most things, if not everything, is made in-house. This includes their sodas, bread, and smoked meats. The menu focuses on breakfast and lunch foods like eggs, bagels, and sandwiches.
The high quality of everything here is reflected in the prices, which are a little bit higher compared to most cafés in Arequipa’s historical center. I didn’t mind though, as I was happy to support a small business. The owner was also incredibly friendly, striking up a conversation with me and giving me recommendations of where and what to eat in Arequipa.
Chancho Cojo Tap Room
If you like cider or craft beer, you’ll love Chancho Cojo Tap Room. The fun, rock music-themed bar and restaurant has one of the largest selection of ciders that I’ve ever seen. You can even get a cider flight, which I highly recommend doing. There are also cocktails for non-beer or cider drinkers.
In addition to drinks, Chancho Cojo Tap Room has a robust food menu made up of burgers, hot dogs, fries, and chicken wings. I got a hot dog, which comes with fries, and was blown away by the enormous amount of food. You could easily split one between two people.
The tap room is popular with locals, and there’s often live music.
Pasta Canteen
When traveling, I rarely return to the same restaurant since I prefer to try something new than go back to a place that I like. Pasta Canteen was one of the few exceptions that I made when I was in Arequipa though. The small restaurant manages to squeeze two floors of seating inside and a tiny kitchen where you can see the chef cook your pasta. For that reason, it’s best to either go solo or with two other people max.
Pasta Canteen serves fresh pasta in many different ways. You can either choose your pasta, sauce, and ingredients, or order a complete pasta dish. There are also special pasta dishes that come with bread and salad, which is what I got both times I went.
The menu caters to both pasta traditionalists and more adventurous eaters. There are simple tomato, pesto, and carbonara sauces, as well as fusion dishes that combine pasta with Peruvian food like lomo saltado and chupe de camarones (shrimp chowder).
Because of its small size and staff, service at Pasta Canteen can be a bit slow. If you visit, make sure you’re not in a rush.
La Tasca
La Tasca is only open for lunch and has a menú del día (menu of the day) for 25 soles (~$7 USD). It’s an incredible deal for high-quality food and includes a drink, appetizer, and entree. On some days, there’s also dessert.
The menu is different every day, but it’s usually written on a chalkboard outside the restaurant if you want to take a look before deciding whether to go in. La Tasca’s owner is from Spain, and that influence is reflected in the food. Expect light, bright flavors that show off the fresh vegetables, meat, and seafood used.
Red Pig
While Peru isn’t known for its burgers, they’re easy to find anywhere you go and there are some specialty burger restaurants with creative takes. Red Pig is one of them. If you only have one burger while in Arequipa, it should be here.
Red Pig has an extensive menu of burgers, sandwiches, and hot dogs, along with fries and milkshakes. They also have an array of sauces that they bring out for your fries. Their spicy sauce and garlic aioli are excellent and far more interesting than the standard ketchup and mustard.
Shook
Although Shook offers local Arequipeño dishes like rocoto relleno (stuffed rocoto pepper), its focus is on burgers and wraps. If you dine here, I recommend going with one of those options and enjoying their selection of craft beers and cocktails.
Shook seems to be a more under-the-radar place, as it was completely empty when I went for lunch. There’s both outdoor and indoor seating, as well as friendly service.
Oso Café Arequipa
Oso Café is one of my favorite places to get a substantial breakfast in Arequipa if you want more than just a coffee and pastry or avocado toast. I loved it so much that it’s actually where I chose to have my last meal before I left the city.
The café is located inside a beautiful, sunny courtyard and has both indoor and outdoor seating. The menu here spans breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They even have some interesting coffee-based cocktails outside of your typical espresso martini.
Masamama Bakery
Masamama has both a spacious restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating and a small store selling drinks, bread, and pastries to grab and go. There’s breakfast staples like french toast, yogurt parfait, and avocado toast, as well as sandwiches, burgers, plates, desserts, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
Kafi Wasi Café Tostaduría
I was impressed at how much care Kafi Wasi Café Tostaduría puts into the presentation of its food and drinks. Everything comes out garnished with pretty edible flowers or microgreens.
The café is also a top-notch place for coffee. When I walked in, I noticed the professional coffee bar setup that included a coffee roaster. They roast their coffee beans in-house, and you can buy beans directly from them.
Casona Salen
Casona Salen is a popular breakfast place that feels like it could belong in southeast Asia. Most people go for their smoothie or acai bowls, but there’s also toasts, sandwiches, and breakfast deals that come with coffee and juice. Even if you don’t order a smoothie or acai bowl, I recommend trying one of their refreshing juices.
Chelawasi Public House
I only went to Chelawasi Public House for a quick drink and snack before dinner but appreciated the large tap list and enjoyed the crispy croquettes there. The place is much larger than how it appears from the outside. There are multiple rooms spread out across three levels, with the biggest area being the covered rooftop.
More resources for traveling Peru
- How Many Days in Arequipa: All the Info You Need to Decide
- Is Colca Canyon Worth It? Pros and Cons to Help You Decide
- Colca Canyon 2-Day Trek: Tour Review & Recap
- 18 Best Restaurants in Cusco: Where and What to Eat
