A Bit on CUSCO!

Food

Polleria Los Angeles- on Plaza San Francisco before the arch. Amazingly salty chicken with crispy skin. Large protions. Great French-fries and fabulous vinaigrette that I liken to pico de gallo. Put all over the mess of chicken and French fries is the best.

Justina- Pizza in San Blas. More than anything this place is very cute. The prices are very reasonable and the garlic bread they serve out is an awesome plus. Best Pizza around!

Paloma Imbis- In “Gringo Alley” right off the Plaza de Armas. Shwarma and Kabab hole in the wall. This place is always packed and for good reason. The rollo is fantastic. Rollo normal at 13soles isn’t the cheapest lunch you’ll find around but it may be the happiest. Damn good. There is a second location on Avenida de la Cultura just past the Mega Supermarket. It is tucked into a Quillabamba Polleria.

Sueno Azul- End of Gringo Alley right off the Plaza de Armas. This Israeli restaurant is very reasonably priced. Their baguette sandwiches are huge and only 10 soles. Get something with hummus.

La Chomba- Famous and very crowded chicharia/picanteria. Try the famous fruit infused Chicha called frutillo. Huge portions. Try the Lechon, fried trucha, cuy or other local specialities. Very fun atmosphere on the weekends with crowded long shred tables and a live ‘mariachi’ band. Very traditional Cusco!

Olas Bravas- Specializes in seafood and ceviche but all the food is great. Lomo Saltado, Ceviche mixta, arroz con mariscos, fried squid these are some of the best plates of food you can find in Cusco. Eat here! Two locations. The main restaurant is on a frontage road of Avenida Cultura with the second location just around the corner.

Don Lucho- Avendia Prado. This place is amazingly popular. It is extremely hard to get a table so prepare for take out. This is a non frills simple place with two options. Pollo y Salchipapas. The 1/4 chicken with Salchipapas is the thing to get. The chicken is great and sort of half way between broaster and a la brasas. The real reson everyone loves this place is their sauces (cremas).

Jacks- Always a favorite. Jacks is a great café and a great change of pace. Reasonably priced fantastic sandwiches and breakfast and other British/American food. Wonderful coffee as well.

Local Specialty Dishes Market- On Avenida de la Cultura behind the market that is just past the bridge after the roundabout. Fronts onto the Wanchaq Square. Great CHEAP local food, Trucha, Anticucho, Cuy, Lechon, etc.

Rodriguez- Avenida de la Cultura Salchipapas, pollipapas, broaster. This fry joint serves the purpose with every combination and large quantities of fried food.

Huancaro Mercado- This market is just a bit outside of town in the suburb of Huancaro। Come here for Trucha al horno। It is amazing and worth the trip। Also sold is lechon and other Andean specialties. The maket itself is enormous and extremely interesting selling anything from potatoes to various livestock.

Bendita Gula- Next to Canasta Market on Avenida de la Cultura. Fast food like Salchipapas, hamburgers, sandwiches, chicken. Amazing because of their huge selection of sauces. Their garlicy sauce makes anything taste good.

Anticucho Restaurant- Avenida de la Cultura past the bridge after the Supermercado Mega and next to an autobody shop. The anticuchos are amazing as is their stuffed peppers.

Lazy Town- near Cuesta Santa Ana- 24 hour delivery of pizzas and pizza empanadas. Order or try to find its ‘hidden’ location. Walk up the street on the right side and knock on the door with the most motos in front of it. That’s the place!

Juice Stands in Mercado San Pedro and Mercado Wanchaq- Awesome combinations of exotic fruit juices. Try fresh passion fruit juice

Bars

Garabatos- Peruvian club up on third floor through a restaurant. Between Plaza Armas and Plaza San Francisco

Don Diablo- Peruvian Club popular with the student population

Mithology- Normal run of the mill club on Plaza de Armas. Better music and atmosphere than Mama Africa or Inca Team

Paddys- On plaza de Armas. Paddy’s is overpriced but a very cool environment. Great for watching football or rugby matches

Cicciolina- above Plaza de Armas towards San Blas. Luxuriousbwine and tapas bar. Great for a date.

Loki Hostel Bar- If you feel like partying on a random night this is your best bet. This bar is crazy every night. Loki is like an island of British/American Home complete with Sheppards Pie and Beer Pong. So not very Peruvian and a bit sad. But yes a good party.

Drinking in Liquor stores is often permitted and there are plastic chairs and tables or you just sit on the crates. A popular alternative is having a ‘Callejon’, simply drinking in the street.

Markets

Baratillo- Saturday mornings. Black market buy anything from stolen ipods and phones to artisanal crafts and second hand clothing

Molino- This is the more streamlined ‘black market’ good for bootlegged DVDs and knock-off products. Lots of fake North Face and other outdoor brands sold here. Nearby is also an interesting foods market.