3 Best Restaurants in Side Trips from La Paz, Bolivia

Started as a coffee cooperative in 2006, Munaipata now offers some of the best food in the area, in a beautiful, isolated setting a few miles out of town. If you go, it's advisable to begin with their informative tour of the coffee production facilities and the grounds. Both the restaurant and the tours need to be confirmed in advance and are cheaper if combined. Be sure to try the llama filet or the quinoa tabbouleh, or come for breakfast, assured you're getting the best coffee in town. It's about a 30-minute walk from town, along the road to Carmen Pampa. Taxis charge (Bs)20 and minibuses (Bs)5. Sometimes there is accommodation available in a large, beautiful house on-site; call to inquire.

This German-inspired garden pub is Coroico's best, with great views, decent food, and most important, a comfortable, welcoming ambience, largely thanks to owner Carla. She is nearly always around, chatting with and charming guests, and is always willing to share her impressive knowledge of the area. Try the filet a la pimienta (steak filet in a pepper sauce), or go with any of the well-replicated German dishes; a particular favorite is the käsespätzle (a cheese noodle casserole topped with caramelized onions). Make sure you stay for sunset.

Just a few minutes' stroll out of town (on the road to Carmen Pampa), El Cafetal is tacked onto the hillside and adds great views to arguably the best menu in town. Service is lackluster, and the rather worn-out French owner can be off-putting, but if you can take it in your stride, it's worth it. The food is a French/Bolivian mix; try the trout-and-Roquefort lasagna and the quinoa with curry, or the classic crepes.