7 Best Restaurants in The Amazon Basin, Peru

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We've compiled the best of the best in The Amazon Basin - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.

Al Frío y al Fuego

$$$ Fodor's choice
Step through the unassuming doorway on Avenida La Marina, descend the long stairway to the dock, and a boat will ferry you to this floating, thatch-roofed restaurant on the Itaya River. The setting is gorgeous, and they prepare excellent versions of traditional dishes such as patarashca (a fish fillet topped with herbs and garlic and roasted in a bijao leaf) and doncella (Amazon catfish) fillet à la loretana (in a mild chili sauce), as well as ample other intriguing favorites.

Burgos's Restaurant

$

This funky, thatch-roofed restaurant with river views in the back has one of Puerto Maldonado's best kitchens, offering up a wide variety of local favorites such as pollo con salsa de castañas (chicken in a Brazil-nut sauce), pescado en hoja (fish fillet cooked in a leaf), or lomo (grilled tenderloin) with tacacho (fried plantain balls) and ensalada de palmito (heart of palm salad). The environment is appropriately Amazonian, with indigenous art on the walls.

Dawn on the Amazon Café

$
A great place for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, the menu here is so vast that even the pickiest eaters will find something to tempt their tummies. Selections include lighter fare such as soups and salads, as well as heartier mains that include Peruvian favorites, American-style comfort food, international dishes, and plenty of vegetarian/vegan options. Coffee, smoothies, and desserts round out the menu so no matter what time of day you go to people-watch along the malecón, you will leave satisfied.

Recommended Fodor's Video

Fitzcarraldo

$$

Conveniently located on the Malecón Maldonado, this restaurant specializes in traditional regional specialties such as cecina con tacacho (a smoked pork steak with fried plantain balls) and pescado a la loretana (fish fillet in a mild chili sauce). The restaurant occupies a historic building and has an air-conditioned room, an airy front dining room with ceiling fans, and sidewalk tables on the malecón.

Gustitos del Cura

$

Conveniently located on the Plaza de Armas, this popular restaurant is a good spot for a light meal, dessert, or a fresh fruit drink. The menu includes a selection of sandwiches and salads, tamales, and entrees like chicken cordon bleu, but most people come for the homemade pastries and ice creamflavored with castañas (Brazil nuts) and local rainforest fruits such as aguaje and camu camu. Wooden tables fill the front room, next to the display cases, and there is a large patio in back. A Swiss priest known as Padre Xavier opened it, and the profits go to a home for at-risk children in Puerto Maldonado.

Jr. Loreto 258, Puerto Maldonado, Peru
082-572–175
Known For
  • Homemade ice cream
  • Light meals
  • Tropical fruit juices
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed., No credit cards, Reservations not accepted

Le Bateau Ivre

$$
This tastefully restored rubber-boom-era mansion is well worth a visit—if not for a meal, at least for a drink or much-needed espresso—with sidewalk tables on the malecón and plenty more inside. The French-inspired menu features both basic bistro fare (think escargots, fish sautéed in butter, or chicken cordon bleu) and international favorites like hamburgers and pastas, as well as lighter salads and sandwiches. Try the doncella al ajillo (Amazon catfish fillet sautéed with garlic) or the tenderloin Chateaubriand.

Maracuyeah

$
It doesn't look like much, but this bamboo-and-wood building on the bank of the Madre de Dios River is a popular spot with locals, especially at sunset. The menu is limited, and people tend to share dishes like lomo fino (tenderloin strips sautéed with onions, garlic, and a splash of pisco) served with cassava fries. Wash it down with cold beer, a tropical fruit drink, or a caipirinha (Brazilian cachaça rum and lime juice).
142 26 de Diciembre, Puerto Maldonado, Peru
993-358–757
Known For
  • Sunset viewing
  • Typical Peruvian food
  • Loud music

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