The 10 Best Restaurants in the Sacred Valley

Check out our list of the best restaurants in the Sacred Valley before you visit this beautiful region located between Cusco and the famous Inca ruins of Machu Picchu.
Inside Alma Restaurant overlooking the Andean scenery through floor-to-ceiling windows.
Dining with a view in the Sacred Valley. Photo by Casa Andina.

Peruvian cuisine has gained international recognition and it’s not only in the city of Lima that one can eat like a king. Throughout the country, chefs have been getting very creative, and this is also true for the Sacred Valley restaurants. International dishes are blended with their local products such as alpaca or llama, different types of beans, corn, and potatoes, as well as native herbs such as muña (a plant with a eucalyptus-mint aroma).

Dining options in the Sacred Valley have grown, and so has our list of the region’s must-try restaurants in Ollantaytambo, Urubamba, and Pisac. An award-winning restaurant, a brewery, and a perfect cafe for hungry travelers en route to Machu Picchu are among the new additions! Britt Fracolli updated this article in November of 2019. Check out our complete list of recommended dining options below.  

Ollantaytambo Restaurants
Urubamba Restaurants
Pisac Restaurants

Cafe Mayu (Coffee + Bakery + Snacks)

Mayu is a coffee shop located on the train station platform in Ollantaytambo. It’s a convenient spot to grab a drink and sandwich, salad, or baked goodie to-go for travelers coming and going to Machu Picchu.

Premium coffee is purchased from local producers in the Cusco region and used to prepare Mayu’s caffeinated drinks. The baristas will even explain how their coffee beans are selected and roasted in-house.

Address: Ollantaytambo Train Station
Hours: Open every day from 5 am to 9 pm.
Website Here
Special Note: If time permits, check your luggage at the Peru Rail office and order a hot meal from El Albergue Restaurant, which connects to Cafe Mayu.

Chuncho (Typical Cusine)

In the Quechua language, “chuncho” means “wild” and “native.” The restaurant’s name alludes to the fresh, native ingredients used to prepare its menu of typical cuisine from Ollantaytambo and the Sacred Valley region.

A regional tuber stew called kapchi prepared with kallampa mushrooms; roasted cuy, or guinea pig, is a local specialty; and a vegetarian-friendly appetizer called Meriendita are among the tasty dishes. Save room for dessert too and try the quinoa pudding or chocolate truffle!

Chuncho is a sitdown venue, and make reservations online for lunch and dinner.

Address: Ollantaytambo Plaza (on the corner of Chaupi Calle)
Hours: Open every day from 12 noon to 3 pm for lunch and 6 pm to 9 pm for dinner.
Website Here
Special Note: Chuncho proudly identifies as a Picantería Ollantina, a place where local food from Ollantaytambo is served. The restaurant is an extension of the hotel El Albergue.


Cerveceria del Valle Sagrado (Brewery + Bar & Grill)

Beer is a food group, right? Cerveceria del Valle Sagrado is not a restaurant but rather a brewery where you can complement your cold pint of craft beer with a bite to eat. Several beers are on tap or order the housemade soda.  Roja con Ayrampo and Dali and Chocolate Factory (made with cocoa paste) are just some of the brewery’s ever-changing beer flavors.

Address: Pachar (About 4 miles or 6 kilometers from Ollantaytambo.)
Hours: Open five days a week, Wednesday to Sunday, from 12 noon to 8 pm.
Website Here
Special Note: The tasting room overlooks the Urubamba River, and 20-minute tours are available upon request.

Hearts Cafe (Coffee + Lite Meal)

This quaint cafe was originally established by a British woman named Sonia Newhouse, who also created an NGO to assist women and children who work in the Peruvian highlands. Hearts Cafe is now under new management, but a portion of the profits generated by the business still goes directly to support local nonprofits, so you can spend a few soles and feel good that it is going towards a good cause.

The menu ranges from breakfast plates to sandwiches to small bites.

Address: Avendina Ventiderio, Ollantaytambo
Hours: Every day from 7 am to 9 pm.

Alma Bar Restaurante (Peruvian + International + Fusion)

Alma is located directly in the Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel near Urubamba. The restaurant blends modern with Andean styles and is spacious. The floor to ceiling glass windows allows you to enjoy the views of the mountains and gardens during the day while sipping a pisco sour or chilcano. At night, enjoy the folk sounds of Andean music: flute players, a blind harp player, or singers bring a happy atmosphere.

The dining room and some dishes from Alma Restaurant in the Sacred Valley.

The food includes many Peruvian classic dishes such as lomo saltado and aji de gallina as well as international cuisine. The trout is recommended, as are the ravioli and salads. The smoked trout and cheese tequeños appetizer is a must to share with friends.

Address: 5to Paradero (5th stop) Yanahuara, Urubamba
Hours: Open every day from 5 am to 10 pm.
Website Here

Mil Centro (Andean + Peruvian)

Mil is chef Virgilio Martinez’s most bold gastronomic concept to date. Far from the bustling streets of Lima, where his other recognized restaurants Central and Kjolle are located, Mil embraces the Andean flavors, high altitudes, and peaceful ambiance of the Sacred Valley.

The restaurant’s stunning locale and delectable eight-course tasting menu are equal partners in creating an impressive dining experience. Announced October 2019, Mil ranks #36 of Latin America’s Top 50 Restaurants.

Mil overlooks the archaeological site of Moray. The circular terraces of Moray, dug into a high altitude plateau, were likely used by the Inca as a crop research center – each terrace supporting a unique microclimate suitable for growing different types of crops. Similarly, the variety of native ingredients incorporated into each plate of Mil’s tasting menu is a reflection of crop diversity that can grow in high altitude ecosystems.

The featured video by Dezeen Magazine below emphasizes the stunning natural beauty and peacefulness that surrounds Mil. Check out the impressive drone shot (starting at 1:35) that zooms out from the restaurant’s courtyard and slowly reveals the neighboring circular terraces of Moray.

 

Preparation and culinary presentations are the main focus within the grass-thatched roof and thick adobe walls of Mil. A vegetarian variation of the tasting menu is available, pick a pairing with alcohol or fresh juices and teas, and the kid’s menu comes with dessert and a drink.

Address: Moray Archaeological Site (About 12 miles or 23 kilometers from Urubamba, and a 90-minute drive from Cusco.)
Hours: Open six days a week, Tuesday to Sunday, from 12 noon to 2 pm.
Website Here

Paca Paca (Peruvian + Italian)

Paca Paca is one of the few restaurants in Urubamba that is open on Sunday evening. (Many options close after lunch.) Overall, Paca Paca has excellent quality food, a pleasant atmosphere, and friendly staff, all at a great value.

As you walk up to the second floor of an old house, you enter a cozy, artsy, and original ambiance. The decor includes handicrafts by local artisans that can be purchased directly from the restaurant. Paca Paca is a small, intimate restaurant that finds its warmth from the friendly staff, as well as the traditional adobe pizza oven: a perfect escape from the cold nights in Urubamba.

The dining room at Paca Paca restaurant and a couple of their signature dishes.

The menu is varied, including traditional Peruvian dishes, pizzas, and portions of pasta. Pizzas are made with thin crust and topped with fresh ingredients. Appetizers include soups, salads, and the spring rolls are all great. One of the recommended dishes is the ravioli stuffed with habas (similar to lima beans) with blue cheese: a creative Italian-Peruvian fusion dish.

Address: Av. Mariscal Castilla 640, Urubamba
Hours: Open six days a week, Tuesday to Sunday, from 1 pm to 9 pm.
Website Here

Q’anela (Peruvian + Steakhouse + Fusion)

Q’anela is pronounced “kah-ne-la.” Since the restaurant’s beginnings in 2012, the chefs use fresh ingredients that come from local markets or their herb garden.

Located two blocks from the central plaza of Urubamba, Q’anela Restaurant is a small place owned and managed by women that one must discover in the Sacred Valley. As you walk into the back of the restaurant, you find a cozy atmosphere with a lush green courtyard and garden. Handmade textiles are for sale, and proceeds support the local Quechua communities in the Sacred Valley who make them.

The dining room and a couple dishes at Q'anela restaurant in Urubamba.

Make sure you come to Q’anela with an appetite as portions are generous, and everything is tasty. Enjoy the complimentary starter of fava beans with Maras salt, which are local and delicious. Other star dishes include the aji de gallina lasagna, lomo saltado made with alpaca, the alpaca steak as well as the trout tiradito appetizer.

Address: Jr. Grau 654, Urubamba
Hours: Open every day from 12 noon to 11 pm.
Website Here

Antica Osteria Pisac (Pizza + Italian + Desserts)

Freshly baked pizza, handmade kinds of pasta, and Instagram worthy chocolate desserts are the specialties of Antica Osteria. Open for dinner only, you can fit all three into a nice evening meal in Pisac.

Address: Avenida Federico Zamallosa (no number), Pisac
Hours: Open six days a week, Tuesday to Sunday from 5 pm to 10 pm.
Website Here

Cuchara de Palo (Peruvian)

Cuchara de Palo (The Wooden Spoon) is on the first floor of the Pisac Inn, right in front of the central plaza. When you enter the restaurant, it seems a little small, but as you walk further towards the back, you discover a whole new world: a large terrace with high plants, cacti, and flowers everywhere.

Cuchara de Palo restaurant in Pisac, a town in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

Everything on the menu is made with organic, locally grown products, and the dishes are presented beautifully. The cheese tequeños with a spicy avocado sauce are a perfect starter. All plates are generous, and the alpaca and trout are a must! (in any sauce or with any side dishes). There are also vegetarian-friendly dishes such as quinoa stir fry, warming soups, and colorful salads.

Address: Pisac Plaza
Hours: Open every day from 7 am to 9 pm. Last order is at 8:30 pm.
Website Here

Enhance your newfound knowledge about the region’s restaurants with our Sacred Valley Destination Guide; it’s packed with details about town highlights, various Inca ruins, and information about seasonal weather.