Judging from the title, 
I’ll let you guess where I am right now, writing this blog post…
It’s my last full day in Peru and as promised I’m going to share some of my favourite cafés with you. For those of you who might want to come to Cusco one day, I can only recommend you checking out one or more of these caffeine-relaxation hot spots, have some delicious food, some great coffee or just enjoy the atmosphere. The past weeks, besides exploring Peru and working at the Hostel, I put myself to the task of finding the cutest, friendliest & most-delicious-coffee-serving cafés in this city. It’s been a tough job, but you gotta do what you gotta do, right ;) Luckily, I’ve been a more or less serious café tester for years and have gathered experiences in various countries and cities. Therefore, I hope you’ll enjoy my little collection of Cusco’s most lovely cafés as much as I did. Sometimes I went with friends for a brunch, sometimes just for a quick coffee to recharge my energy levels, and sometimes for entire afternoons, reading, writing and enjoying the calm, relaxing & lazy atmosphere that these places can offer you. Because sometimes, when you’re worn out from hiking, going on trips or working at the bar, all you need is a good coffee and maybe a little sweet sin to get you back on track and make your heart happy. Indulge in those moments & treat yourself.
“Adventure in life is good, consistency in coffee even better.”
– makes for a perfect combination, in my opinion.
Cafe Loco
Right by Plaza San Blas, Café Loco will serve you the biggest & most delicious brownie you’ve ever had! Perfect to be accompanied by a simple, sugar-free Frappuccino. Offering seats for only a handful of people makes for a quite and relaxing atmosphere – perfect for some alone time.
Cocoliso
Hidden in the back, away from the street and right next to a little clothes shop, ‘Cocoliso’ will surprise you with its comfy atmosphere, the quiet location (though pretty much located in the center) and some heavenly fruit smoothies!
Green Point
Everybody in Cusco knows the Green Point: 100% vegan restaurant – a little pricier, but the presentation and taste of the food will make up for it. Plus, you feel so healthy and good when eating or drinking here ;) They also offer cooking & baking classes, which must be amazing!
“Why go vegan? For the animals, for your health, for the environment, for people.”
Jack’s
The girls and I enjoyed an amazing brunch here: yoghurt, muesli & fruit, eggs, smoothies and coffee – everything was super delicious! Unfortunately, this place is always really busy and you can’t help but feel like you should leave right the second you finish the last bite of your food. Prices are okay, dishes are great, but atmosphere leaves room for improvement. Nonetheless, it’s worth stopping by for a little Sunday brunch!
Kuntu Cafe
Right across from Green Point, this little place offers some pretty good cappuccino, fresh croissants & homemade organic peanut butter.
La Boheme
Another gem located in the narrow streets of San Blas: the best Crepería of Cusco! From every possible sweet combination to various savoury options, everyone will find their favourite crêpe here. The atmosphere is really chill and you’re good to spend an hour or two in one of the little window seats, chatting over god and the world & enjoying some sweet temptations!
La Rabona
Only a couple of minutes away from Plaza de Armas, ‘La Rabona’ is not necessarily a place to hang out at. But cookies, banana bread and organic products are perfect to take away as well.
L’atelier
Most definitely one of the cutest places you will find in Cusco. Tiny café on the second floor with gorgeous balconies from which you’ll overlook the beautiful little streets of San Blas. Vegan options for coffee, cakes & breakfasts.
La Valeriana
French inspired bakery-café at Plaza San Francisco. Once inside, you don’t feel like being in Cusco anymore but rather like you just entered a little café in the middle of Paris – perfect, if you’re craving some European vibes in all this south American craziness. And the cappuccino was the best I’ve had here!
The Meeting Place
Gorgeous courtyard and more tables upstairs on the balcony. Relaxing atmosphere, breakfast, milkshake and lunch options and AMAZING waffles with fresh fruit! The place is fully operated by volunteers and also offers accommodation – maybe my future workplace for when I come back to Cusco.
Qiwa
Amazing coffee and a selection of vegan cakes and desserts. The location feels a bit empty and cold, so you should definitely bring it to live by coming here with a group of friends!
Chez Meggy Pizzeria
Alessandra, Tamara & I came here to share a pizza and – have to admit it – to warm up by the wood-fired oven that puts the whole place into a nice and comfy atmosphere. The garlic bread with different home made sauces was also amazing and this place can be found right by Plaza de Armas.
El Encuentro Restaurante
Besides all the great cafés, there are also some nice restaurants that I can recommend. One of them is ‘El Encuentro’, a vegetarian restaurant between Plaza de Armas and San Blas. Had some really good tofu-vegetable-stir-fry here, but there are also many different typical Peruvian options, as well as burgers and sandwiches.
Besides being one of the nicest, most beautiful cities I’ve ever been to, Cusco offers a variety of cute little cafés that make the heart of every coffee and sweets lover beat faster. At first, I was surprised to find that many vegan and healthy food places, but I soon found out that those cafés and restaurants belong to Cusco like the many stairs in San Blas or the ladies on the streets asking you to get a massage. And I have to say, that fact makes me love this city even more. Plus, prices are of course on a Peruvian level, which makes treating yourself so much cheaper than at Starbucks in Europe or any other western place. So, if I may give you some advise: just come here and see for yourself. You won’t be disappointed and I’m sure you’ll fall in love, just as I did.
lenacatherine 