6 Best Restaurants in Ayacucho, The Central Highlands

Dining in this charmingly refitted family home is like dining at Grandpa's house—if Grandpa were an internationally trained grill expert who served only the most exquisite cuts of meat. That's because the steaks, fire-cooked pork, and whole salmon at the sumptuous parrilla (grill) are the best in Ayacucho, with delicious sauces to boot. Sit on the red-tile porch after finishing and gaze up at the chirimoya trees.

This two-story establishment housed in a colonial casona takes Ayacucho dining to another level. As the name indicates, the program here is contemporary Peruvian cooking with plenty of international accents, but in reality, chef Pepe Gamarra uses the fusion angle as a pretext to flaunt his virtuosity with all manner of meats, from Argentine sausage to pork and top sirloin. Traditional favorites such as tallarines a la huancaína con lomo (spaghetti with Huancayo cheese sauce and steak) get a fresh update, but even better are plates like the osso buco with puréed yucca. Gamarra's rosemary potatoes alone are worth the price of admission.

Grilled meats and local fare like puca picante are the stars at this popular lunchtime spot, housed in a pretty, old mansion with both front and back patios. During the week, the three-course fixed-price lunch is a steal at S/12.

On cold Andean nights, this wood-oven pizzeria will have you hugging yourself in the glow of its crackling fires. There's no decor to speak of, just delicious, belly-warming pizzas and pastas in a cheerful communal setting of wooden benches and stone walls.

The focus of this establishment facing the Plaza de Armas is regional cuisine with a fusion edge. Ayacucho classics like trucha chactada de maíz o de quinua (cornmeal- or quinoa-crusted trout pressed under hot stones) are top sellers, but you can also get soups, salads, pastas, grilled meats, and even chicken cordon bleu. Service can be a bit leisurely, but the second-floor balcony views are so grand, you won't even notice. An added plus is that the menús (fixed-priced lunches) here are a cut above the local competition.

Perched above the Plaza de Armas, this wood-paneled restaurant offers an ample menu that includes both highlands specialties and backpacker favorites. Enjoy a relaxed breakfast in the morning or an artisanal ice cream in the afternoon while taking in the view of the cathedral from the expansive terrace. At night, the bar serves up classic cocktails as well as pricier Belgian Trappist brews.