6 Best Restaurants in Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail, Peru

An engaging French-Peruvian couple manage one of the town's best restaurants, whose eclectic decor—think maritime kitsch—is worth a visit on its own. Quiche Lorraine, ginger chicken, and spicy trucha a la macho (trout in hot pepper and wine sauce) are favorites on the Peruvian-French fusion à la carte menu, but the reasonably priced (S/80), prix-fixe, three-course menu is the way to go, offering all the same options plus heavenly homemade bread. It's as good a place for dining with friends as for an intimate dinner for two.

This fully organic restaurant pairs a green menu with an even greener concept—dining is at wooden tables on an open terrace filled with potted plants and garlands of flowers hanging from the ceiling. Tasty options from the healthy menu include cebiche of trout or seasonal mushrooms, vegetarian quinoa burgers, marinated alpaca loin over quinoa risotto, and garden vegetable pizzas.

With an owner-chef who hails directly from Italy, you can be sure to find authentic Mediterranean fare here, as well as house-made pasta and Peruvian cuisine. The large, open space has comfortable seating with a cozy fireplace, and the fair prices, especially on the Italian wines, make this a great value. For those who want something a bit simpler, delicious pizzas are also available. With luck, the dessert offerings will include the chef's fabulous tiramisu.

This well-established tourist favorite has long tables set up in the center of its cavernous dining room to accommodate the tour groups that come for the huge buffet lunch. In the evening, grilled dishes like trucha andina (Andean trout), beef, or alpaca—served amid the entertainment of a folkloric music show—are better bets than the buffet items. Grab one of the smaller tables by the window for a river view or out on the shaded front patio for some good people-watching.

Perched high above the streets of Aguas Calientes, this small, wood-paneled restaurant serves some of the best international cuisine in town. Fresh, local ingredients are the backbone for such dishes like quinoa salad with goat cheese, gnocchi with lamb ragout, and Thai brochettes. The intimate candlelit dining room is small, so you may want to make dinner reservations.

This is the best choice for a romantic dinner.