21 Best Restaurants in Cusco and the Sacred Valley, Peru

Pouring some of the best coffee in the city from a special house blend, this café is a Cusco icon; Martin Chambi photos help anchor it in Peru, but the jazz and bohemian atmosphere make it feel more cosmopolitan. It's great for a quick bite, as well as for picking up fliers on current cultural offerings. Try the passion-fruit cheesecake or tiramisu with your cappuccino, and head next door to the Cusco School of Fine Arts to see what's on display.

It's best to hunker down for a day or two in Ollantaytambo, but if you've only got time for a pit stop, Café Mayu is conveniently located at the train station. This tiny spot serves big-city-style coffee, quick bites like empanadas, and to-go sandwiches that are perfect for your ride to Machu Picchu. The chocolate-chip cookies are as good as they smell, but you can't go wrong with any of the baked goods here.

Although there are plenty of vegetarian options elsewhere, here vegetarians and vegans can order anything with a clear, animal-loving conscience. You can even have your coffee with nut milk. The menu of the day (S/22), which includes salad, soup, main course, dessert, and a drink, is one of the best deals in town and one many nonvegans flock to as well. You can also pick up some of that nondairy goodness to go, as well as a variety of fresh breads.

The empanadas are fantastic, but that's not the only reason to stop by at this classic empanada place. The real hook is a "cuy castle," a sort of Barbie mansion for guinea pigs. But rest assured, there are no cuy empanadas on the menu.

This little café is the place to go for pizza, lasagna, breads, desserts, and, of course, coffee. There are some vegetarian and gluten-free options, and they also feature a small selection of organic products.

Scrumptious breakfasts can be had all day at this bright, busy, American-style café with Aussie roots, where you can order granola and yogurt, large fluffy pancakes, or a grand "brekkie" with bacon and eggs. Also on the menu are gourmet sandwiches, fresh salads, and a variety of other satisfying dishes. Everything is prepared in-house, including the delicious breads, and the coffee and hot chocolate are excellent. If you come during high season, you may have to line up to get a table; this jumping spot stays open well into the night.

Pizza is the only thing on the menu here, and drinks are limited, but if it's pizza and wine you're craving, this is one of the best places to get them. The atmosphere is relaxed—starting from the moment you enter the courtyard—but the colonial building is cozy, with only a few tables, so get here early.

If you're looking for something healthy, with plenty of choices for vegetarians, Kaia is the best bet in Urubamba for lunch or an early dinner (it closes at 6). With fresh salads, soups, sandwiches, wraps, and all sorts of snacks to choose from, you'll easily satisfy your post-hike hunger. There is often live music here on the weekends, and the playground will entertain kids while parents linger.

Given the popularity of curries in England, it should come as no surprise that the best Indian food in town is served by a native Brit. You'll find a good assortment of spiciness here, from mild to mouth-on-fire; you'll also find vegetarian options.

For a quick bite, it's hard to go wrong with real French crepes; with both savory and sweet to choose from, they're the perfect meal or pick-me-up any time of day. The prix-fixe lunch is a delicious deal and there's a great tea selection for an afternoon break.

This is a great spot to regroup, caffeinate, and make use of the Wi-Fi after a hard morning's sightseeing. The coffee is quality, there's a huge range of mouthwatering cakes, and you can also grab breakfast, sandwiches, and slices.

Spacious and airy, furnished with large wooden tables and chairs, this restaurant has the unmistakable air of a tourist-friendly Andean establishment. The menu ranges from traditional Peruvian grilled meats and fish to slightly edgier dishes like Andean ravioli (filled with alpaca). You'll also find foreigner-friendly staples like wood-oven pizza and Asian-fusion plates.

The unnamed bakery just off the Plaza Constitución is a Pisac institution. Empanadas (some vegetarian) and homemade breads are delivered from the clay oven and into your hands. The lines are long on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday market days, but it's worth the wait.

Where it lacks the polish and charm of other places in town, Puka Rumi gains ground with its colossal burritos and chicken fajitas—served with a tabletop's worth of sides, including a heaping bowl of homemade guacamole. The menu isn't strictly Mexican, despite what they claim; as with the patrons, you'll find an international mix, and the owner is known for only choosing the best-quality meats at the market.

German transplant Ulrike Simic and company dish up food all day long, making this the perfect refueling stop during a day of market shopping and sightseeing. Breakfast gets under way before the market does, at 8 am.

Stop by for the S/30 prix-fixe lunch, with a lot of vegetarian options on the menu, a real rarity in this part of Peru.

They've got good à la carte soups and pizzas, too, and yummy brownies, muffins, cheesecake, and chocolate-chip cookies for dessert.