Cusco restaurants

This item appears on page 66 of the August 2008 issue.

While vacationing in Cusco, Peru, April 23-May 17, 2008, and going to school there for Spanish lessons, I had opportunities to try many good restaurants. I am pretty convinced that it would be hard not to find a good meal in Cusco.

Look for the “Meñu del dia” outside a restaurant or ask if they have one. It usually includes a soup, entrée, dessert and coffee or tea and generally runs from 11 to 18 soles ($4-$6) — a good deal.

Here are some good places.

Kusikuy (Calle Suecia 339, www.kusikuy.com) — off the Plaza de Armas and through the archway to the left of the cathedral. Offers wonderful vegetarian plates and delicious alpaca skewers — about $10 but well worth it.

Plus Restaurant (Portal de Panes #151) — at the Plaza de Armas and to the left of the cathedral. It’s on the second floor and has a great view of the square. Wonderful trout dishes plus great skewers for about $10-$12.

Café Trotamundos (Portal de Comercio #177) — on the second floor and facing the cathedral. It has the best soups in town, especially the squash soup. Lunch runs about $6-$8. Service is good. This place is casual, with lot of students, and there is Internet in the next room.

Greens (Santa Carolina Angosta #135) — to the right of the cathedral and on the second floor (a new location for it). Wonderful vegetarian and other meals. A bit pricey at $15-$20 but well worth it. Lovely atmosphere. Good service. The owner also runs a lovely restaurant downstairs.

Granja Heidi (Cuesta San Blas 525). You can take a taxi up to San Blas and down to the restaurant, but most people walk up from the square taking Calle Trifuno, the street to the immediate right of the cathedral. This place serves all natural foods and diary products from the farm. It has a wonderful meñu del dia for $6. Be sure to try the chicha morada (it is nonalcoholic).

Pucara, on Plateros Street, is just off the Plaza de Armas. Everything is good, but their sopa de crillio is wonderful, about $5.

If you have the urge for Chinese food, there is a pretty good place to the right of the cathedral, on the second floor. A good meñu de dia for about $6.

For Italian pizza, there is a restaurant to the right of the cathedral. The pizza is pretty good, but the service is glacial. Don’t go unless you have all day or night to wait.

In URUBAMBA, Inka’s House has a good buffet for about $10. It’s pretty much the only place in town. This is the address on the receipt I have, but I’m sure most of the guides know it: Prolong. Av. Ferrocarril, Pte. Urubamba (Plazaleta El Trbol); phone 210358.

CAROLYN TAYLOR

Memphis, TN