5 Best Restaurants in Iquitos, The Amazon Basin

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, thatched-roof 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. Bring a bathing suit to lounge in the floating pool after your meal.

A great place for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, the menu here is so vast that even the pickiest eaters will find something to enjoy. Selections include lighter fare such as soups, salads, and grain bowls, 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.

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 à la loretana (fish fillet in a mild chili sauce). The restaurant occupies a historic building and has one air-conditioned room, an airy front dining room with ceiling fans, and sidewalk tables on the malecón.

Away from the touristy scene of the Malecón Maldonado, this stylish air-conditioned bar and restaurant pairs international wines and cocktails with Peruvian staples from Lima to the jungle. There are also a few global options like pizza and burgers, plus soccer on the flat-screen TVs and salsa music blasting from the speakers. Visit at lunchtime for the well-priced three-course "executive menu."

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 basic bistro fare (think crepes, 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.