Arequipa Restaurant Guide – Peruvian, Brunch & Coffee

I recently spent a sublime nine days in Arequipa, Peru, most of it eating at the many fantastic restaurants, cafes and markets in town.

After a busy six weeks solo travelling in Peru including 12 days hiking, two food poisonings, high altitudes, freezing temperatures and early starts (including 2.30am for the Colca Canyon hike!), I was so pleased to relax in the beautiful city of Arequipa.

Nine days is more than most people spend in Arequipa but after seven months on the road in Central and South America, I needed it.

Luckily, I had some fantastic restaurants in Arequipa to fuel my relaxation session!

Visiting Cusco? Read my guide to the best restaurants in Cusco

For brunch and baked goods, run don’t walk to Masamama! This is a divine bakery with excellent croissants and sourdough.

The smoked trout sandwich is a MUST. There are plenty of other fillings including bacon, eggs, avocado, hummus and more. Order the sourdough rather than a brioche bun.

The coffee is great, best accompanied by one of their many desserts. On my first visit, I tried the coconut alfajor with a dulce de leche filling, and on my second visit I took an almond croissant for the bus to Bolivia. I’m still dreaming about them.

Although I didn’t get around to trying the pizza, I have no doubt they’re good given Masamama’s other doughy delicacies.

Eco Brunch is easily one of the best brunch restaurants in Arequipa. The portions are enormous; just what I needed the morning after the 3-day Colka Canyon hike.

I ordered the pancakes with Nutella, blueberries and strawberries after perusing the photos online. They didn’t disappoint! For a savoury vibe, opt for bacon, fried eggs and maple syrup.

The avocado mushroom toast with a side of eggs looks great if you’re going for something a bit healthier.

I also liked the pretty rooftop setting with seats in the shade.

At Kao Thai and Peruvian Cuisine, I had some of the best food of my Peru trip. The concept is Peruvian cuisine with an Asian twist.

A special mention goes to the trout in red curry. It was phenomenal!

I also ordered the pad Thai on another occasion. Sadly, they had snuck in tons of cilantro (my nemesis) even though it wasn’t mentioned on the ingredients list, but the staff were nice about replacing it.

Also worth a mention are the desserts. The chocolate mouse in a cacao pod was delicious, but they all look amazing! It’s so hard to choose.

The first cafe I visited in Arequipa remains one of the cutest. With shaded seating in a historic courtyard, tiled floors and green plants, it reminded me of the many cute cafes and restaurants in Antigua, Guatemala.

It’s a great place for brunch and coffee. Drinks include V60 and other pour-over methods, lattes, matcha and teas.

Brunch-wise, expect topped toasts, smoothie bowls, waffles and sandwiches. Later in the day, they serve pizzas, pastas and salads.

Fans of wood-fired pizza will appreciate the ‘leopard spot’ finish and luxe toppings like Italian cheese. Enjoy your food in the cosy courtyard settings.

Want more Italian? I didn’t get around to visiting but both Pizzeria POMA and Claustro get 4.6 stars on Google (the latter for pasta and meat dishes)

Cipriana

For the first time in ages, I forgot to take a photo of my food here (usually a built-in blogger habit now) but it was delicious. My friend and I both ordered the aji de gallina AKA chicken in chili, a creamy dish similar to a curry. Other typical Peruvian dishes on the menu include lomo saltado, alpaca and guinea pig.

Cipriana restaurant is very atmospheric with local art featuring Peruvian ingredients and food products. It wasn’t busy when we visited on a weekday making it a nice hidden gem if you don’t want to wait for a table at one of the well-known places in town.

This was one of my favourite markets from my Latin America travels! It’s authentic (not at all geared to tourists) but doesn’t feel too overwhelming. Filled with brightly coloured fruit, many of which you’ll have never seen before, it’s a great place to browse, buy and practise your Spanish.

You can pay a lot for the nice restaurants in Arequipa so, if your accommodation has a kitchen, shopping here will certainly reduce your daily travel budget.

As well as fresh produce, there are a few places to eat ready-made food like papas rellanas (stuffed potatoes) at a bustling stand outside. There was a line so I instantly got to the back, guessing it would be good. For around 30 cents, I had a deep-fried potato stuffed with meat and onions. It was tasty!

Lienzo is a gorgeous cafe in a quiet courtyard. In addition to all your usual drinks, I particularly enjoyed the unusual blends, such as passionfruit cold brew. I’m not usually a fan of flavoured coffees when sugary syrups are involved, but I loved this tangy flavour.

Like many of the cafes in Arequipa, they also do incredible latte art. How good is this bear below?

Other typical Peruvian dishes to try

Here’s what to order at restaurants in Arequipa.

• Ceviche: raw fish and other types of seafood are marinated in citrus juice, often with chili, garlic and cilantro.
• Lomo saltado: a famous Peruvian dish featuring beef cooked with tomatoes and onions. It’s usually served with white rice and French fries – carb heaven!
• Aji de gallina: this dish meaning ‘chicken in chilli’ features a creamy, slightly spicy sauce. It’s my favourite Peruvian dish overall.
• Cuy and alpaca – guinea pig and alpaca are two of the most famous meats to try. I wasn’t blown away by guinea pig as there’s not much meat but it’s something to say you’ve tried in Peru.