13 Best Restaurants in Arequipa, The Southern Andes and Lake Titicaca

With a covered courtyard that evokes images of a traditional yet upscale outdoor picantería, the offerings at celeb-chef Gastón Acurio's stylish bistro provide delicious gourmet twists on typical regional fare. Unlike many restaurants offering fusion menus, the plate sizes here are ample. Be sure to begin your dining experience with one of the their unique pisco cocktails. Reservations are a good idea.

Ask any arequipeño to name their favorite fish joint, and Fory Fay tops the list. For more than two decades, the laid-back, rustic lunch spot has served some of the freshest cebiche (fresh raw fish cured in fresh citrus juices) around, including of erizo (sea urchin). Personable owner Alex Aller grew up in the coastal port of Mollendo and travels there often to check on the catch. Fishing bric-a-brac and photos of New York, where Aller once lived, line the walls.

Chef Mònica Huertas is one of the great promoters of arequipeña cuisine, and, to many, this is the most authentic restaurant in town. She uses many of the same classic recipes—some more than a century old—that her mother and grandmother used, and her preparations of regional standards such as rocoto relleno, adobo, lechón al horno (oven-roasted pork), chupe de camarones, and queso helado (ice cream) have become the definitive recipes. This sprawling picantería with a maze of pleasant patios and dining rooms is a great place to come on the weekend and spend the entire day eating, drinking, and listening to live music.

Everything here—from its grand iron spiral staircase and sillar stone walls to its Novo Andino cuisine, extensive wine list, and decadent desserts—is done with exquisite detail and attention.

See that spiral staircase? It was built by Gustave Eiffel.

The menu, using a fusion of gourmet techniques from the Alps and Andes, is a harmonious mix of fresh local foods. Try the quinoa potato gnocchi (served with your own choice of mushroom or meat sauce), the meat fondue, or the notable Trios, a prime cut of three meats: alpaca, ostrich, and beef, slow-cooked and served on a hot stone with three dipping sauces. You'll want to make reservations, especially for dinner and, if you book ahead of time, you can reserve one of the romantic balcony nooks.

With an extensive variety of sweet and savory crepes, as well as quality espresso, pisco sours, and craft beers, you could easily spend the day in this artistic, Euro-styled restaurant, little sister to the Zig Zag restaurant on Calle Zela. Check out the terrace for great views of the Monasterio de Santa Catalina and volcanoes. Crepisimo also offers prix-fixe menus for 30 or 35 soles and happy hour specials from 4 to 6 pm and 9 to 11 pm.

Rivaling La Nueva Palomino for Arequipa's favorite picantería, La Lucila has been in operation for more than 70 years. Although its beloved namesake owner passed away in 2012, her recipes—iconic regional dishes that have been passed down through generations—live on, as does the simple, rustic atmosphere. Come here for classic rocoto relleno, cuy chactado, or chupe de camarones (spicy shrimp chowder). It's outside of town, and though you'll spend about S/10–S/15 on a taxi, the prices here make up for it. Daytime only.

This intimate restaurant serves some of the best Italian food in southern Peru, and if you're not sure you want Italian food in Peru, its special location in the Monasterio de Santa Catalina (the entrance is outside the compound, though windows look in) is enough to merit a visit and a meal. A fusion menu featuring homemade pastas (try the delicious cannelloni with lomo saltado), gnocchi, and risottos—paired with seafood, meats, and creative, savory sauces—is offered, and although there are Novo Andino options, you can find them elsewhere, so stick with the excellent Italian fare here. There's also an extensive wine list. It usually gets pretty packed at lunchtime, so book ahead, or come for dinner instead.

Rubbing walls with each other, these two restaurants are part of the same franchise and are a good choice for a fine parrilla (Lazos) or fusion Peruvian-European dishes and wines (Zingaro). Lazos is one of Arequipa's best steak houses, so meat is what you come for—and there is plenty of it, including delicious cuts of beef, alpaca, and sausage; Zingaro, on the other hand, adds a local twist to international plates like pastas and has an extensive fish menu. The beautiful, narrow, arched dining rooms with white sillar walls makes you question whether you should be paying more for the environment.

The wine list is quite global, though you'll find better values if you stick with Argentina and Chile.

Specializing in both classic Andean meat and fish dishes, as well as international fare, this restaurant is in the quiet residential neighborhood of Vallecito, a 10-minute walk from the Plaza de Armas. Try the chef's favorite, a tender, juicy lomo al vino tinto (beef tenderloin in red wine), but if you're craving something more familiar, wood-oven pizza is another specialty of the house. Buffet specials are offered throughout the week.