Many people see Peruvian cuisine as the best in South America. They also see it as one of the world's top culinary treasures. Every region of Peru has its own food richness. So, Arequipa Peru cuisine offers a great chance to explore a wide range of flavors and excellent culinary culture.
The array of soils and natural ingredients in Arequipa bless the city with the foundation for its greatest recipes. Centuries of history have culminated in a cultural combination that lends an extremely unique taste to its cuisine.
Arequipa recipes often use potatoes and chuño (freeze-dried potato). They also include corn, chili peppers, rocoto peppers, zucchini, sweet potatoes, jerky, guinea pig, fish, shrimp, and cheese.
Some of the most popular dishes in Arequipa local cuisine are:
• Rocoto relleno (Baked stuffed rocoto peppers with ground meat, cheese, and olives)
• Arequipeño adobo is pork marinated with chili peppers and garlic. It also has lard, chicha (fermented corn drink), and rocoto peppers.)
• Chupe de Camarones (Shrimp soup made with potatoes, cheese, milk, lima beans, peas, corn, rice, and egg)
• Ocopa Arequipeña is a yellow chili pepper sauce. It contains cheese, milk, huacatay (Peruvian black mint), peanuts, crackers, oil, and salt.
• Pastel de papa (White potato pie with cheese, milk, flour, eggs, butter, oil, and anise)
• Chaque is a beef rib and tripe soup. It has wheat, maize, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, and freeze-dried potato.
• Chupe de Olluco has chopped olluco, a Peruvian Andes tuber. It also has cheese, squash, maize, lima beans, yellow potato, huacatay, milk, salt, and pepper.
• Locro de Pecho It's a stew with beef brisket, white potato, red chili pepper, onion, turnip, celery, salt, and mint.
• Escribano arequipeño (a salad with rocoto peppers, potato, tomato, vinegar, salt, and oil).
You're looking for a great gastronomic experience in Arequipa. We've got excellent news! This city has many restaurants and "picanterías" (traditional eateries). They serve the best Arequipa cuisine.
Arequipa offers a wide range of eating alternatives that will fit any budget. However, if you'd like to experience the top restaurants in Arequipa, prices will be somewhat higher. But, it's absolutely worth it!
It's also worth mentioning that having delicious food doesn't necessarily have to be expensive. Importantly, Arequipa's gastronomic culture covers the entire city. So, even at more modest places, you may taste the region's culinary delights.
Viagens Machu Picchu aims to offer you an authentic experience in our country. We want you to immerse yourself in our rich traditions fully. As a result, we offer a selection of restaurants where you may take in the delights of Arequipa's gastronomy:
Picantería La Nueva Palomino serves typical Arequipa cuisine. Each meal is unique and carefully made. The recipes were passed down through three generations. This picantería, popular amongst locals and visitors, serves various traditional dishes.
Sharing a meal at La Nueva Palomino, whether for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, is a gourmet experience that will excite your palate and leave you satisfied.
This picantería provides both à la carte and soup of the day menus. This enables customers to enjoy their delicious meals at an affordable and reasonable cost. Without a doubt, this restaurant's food represents the best of the White City.
Address: Leoncio Prado St, 122 Yanahuara, Arequipa.
It's in the heart of Arequipa's Historic Center. It faces the picturesque San Francisco Square. It offers a cozy atmosphere for great lunches and evenings. You can also discover new wines from its well-selected cellar. The two floors are joined by an iron spiral staircase designed by renowned architect Gustave Eiffel, providing a one-of-a-kind atmosphere. Be thrilled by an original gastronomic mix in which Andean and Alpine cooking traditions coexist perfectly in each dish.
Zig Zag restaurant, specializing in pleasures from the Peruvian highlands, offers a unique gourmet experience, featuring lamb, beetroot, and alpaca meat, with modern twists influenced by European techniques, and using only the freshest local goods.
Address: Zela St, 210 Arequipa.
You've probably heard of Chef Gastón Acurio if you know the biggest names in Peruvian cuisine. He runs restaurants throughout the world. One of them, Chicha, is located in the historic Center, with views of the famed Santa Catalina Monastery, and offers a modern and European take on traditional Peruvian food. Its atmosphere combines Hispano-Peruvian design with a hint of informal elegance. If you haven't already had the most iconic flavors of Peruvian food, this is the place to do so.
Address: Santa Catalina St, 210 Arequipa.
Zingaro is housed in a historical colonial residence with illuminated vaulted ceilings. Zingaro has a great setting for a romantic dinner. It also has a huge range of wines, with over 250 kinds. The restaurant offers creative cuisine with specialties such as alpaca ribs, ceviche, and even guinea pig.
Treat yourself to the real flavors at Zingaro, a restaurant that mixes traditional Arequipa cuisine with novoandina and Mediterranean influences. If you want to have a gourmet experience, this is the place to go.
Address: San Francisco 309, Cercado de Arequipa.
The Sol de Mayo Restaurant stands out in Arequipa for its distinctive traditional cuisine and a strong reputation among tourists as well as locals. The facilities are very appealing, including both outdoor areas and warm inside lounges.
They offer many delicious Arequipa meals at low prices. The prices reflect the large portions and high quality of the food. Best of all, the level of service is excellent. You must taste their famous chupe de Camarones, a true delight!
Address: Jerusalén 207, Yanahuara, Arequipa.
If you're looking for an international gastronomic experience in Arequipa, El Buda Profano is the ideal choice. This lovely restaurant offers a huge variety of 100% vegan sushi, which is rare in the city. You can find it in the heart of the Historic Center.
The castle-style structure takes you to a unique world, filled with bright local art and wooden details. El Buda profano is a true culinary treasure, bringing a new dimension to the city's eating scene, particularly for those looking for vegan options and new flavors.
Address: Bolívar 425, Cercado de Arequipa.
The well-known Plaza Bar & Grill restaurant is ideally situated close to Arequipa's Plaza de Armas, especially within the Casa Andina Hotel. This renowned local restaurant provides breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week.
Plaza Bar & Grill, which specializes in modern and traditional Peruvian cuisine as well as a variety of foreign cuisines, offers an ideal environment for an evening out with friends, with delicious food that will delight your taste buds.
Address: Portal de Flores St, 116 Arequipa.
Tradición Arequipeña, a family restaurant with almost four decades of experience, focuses on regional culinary traditions. The restaurant, which specializes in dishes that have been passed down through generations, has become an attraction for people wishing to enjoy the best of Arequipa.
This iconic picantería serves classic and substantial meals, offering a genuine gourmet experience that reflects the character of the region. Its traditions preserve tastes that are centuries old. They are an alluring invitation to discover Arequipa's rich food.
Dolores Ave, 111 Arequipa.
Casta Fior has been satisfying Arequipa's taste for a year. It offers an exclusive culinary experience with a variety of exotic foods. You may taste French pastry and chocolate here, as well as a restaurant, bar, and store with unique goods. The pastry is a piece of art. Made with quality ingredients like French butter and Belgian chocolate, the result is an outstanding taste and smell. The food is inventive and original from the start, combining tastes worldwide to create a one-of-a-kind gourmet experience.
Address: Francisco Bolognesi 106, Yanahuara District
Discover Dimas, an exceptional restaurant, on one of Santa Catalina's beautiful patios. His focus on Peruvian and international cuisine offers genuine traditional mixtures as well as vegetarian options. Dimas is an amazing dining experience, with excellent design and a friendly casual setting.
Santa Catalina St, 302 Arequipa.
If you're looking to enjoy an excellent gourmet experience in Arequipa, we encourage you to visit the restaurants mentioned above and be astonished. Viagens Machu Picchu also offers special bargains. They include unique culinary experiences, like cooking workshops and access to Peru's best restaurants. Get in touch with us to have this experience.
Check out our trip packages to immerse yourself in Peruvian food, culture, and adventure. We will be glad to serve you!
