The Central Highlands Restaurants

We’ve compiled the best of the best in The Central Highlands - browse our top choices for Restaurants during your stay.

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  • 1. Casa Grill

    $$ | Steakhouse

    Dining in this charmingly refitted family home is like dining at Grandpa's house—if Grandpa were an internationally trained grill expert who...

    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 are the best in Ayacucho, with delicious sauces to boot. Sit on the red-tile porch at night and look up at the cherimoya trees.

    Tres Mascaras 390, Ayacucho, Ayacucho, Peru
    966-137–090

    Known For

    • Best grilled meat in the Central Sierra
    • Warm hospitality

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Wed.
  • 2. Huancahuasi

    $$ | Peruvian

    A festival-hall atmosphere and mind-blowing updates of Peruvian classic dishes make this Huancayo institution one of the sierra's best restaurants...

    A festival-hall atmosphere and mind-blowing updates of Peruvian classic dishes make this Huancayo institution one of the sierra's best restaurants. The versions of papa a la huancaína and alpaca saltado (stir-fried alpaca with onions and tomatoes) are like nothing you've had before, and the brightly costumed waiters take joy in introducing the region's cuisine to visitors. The Lima (Javier Prado Este 1405) branch of this eatery is equally scrumptious.

    Mariscal Castilla 2222, El Tambo, Huancayo, Junín, Peru
    064-244–826

    Known For

    • Exquisite regional cooking
    • Vibrant fiesta-like atmosphere
  • 3. La Cabaña

    $ | Peruvian

    Over-the-top decorations and labyrinthine rooms give this restaurant charm, but the food has made it a favorite. Wash down wood-fired pizzas...

    Over-the-top decorations and labyrinthine rooms give this restaurant charm, but the food has made it a favorite. Wash down wood-fired pizzas and grilled meats with a pitcher of calientitos (hot spiced rum punch). The service can be slow, but sitting in the garden on balmy days or by the fire on cooler ones makes it worth it. The owner can arrange cooking classes, Spanish lessons, music instruction, and long-term local homestays.

    Giráldez 675, Huancayo, Junín, Peru
    064-223–303

    Known For

    • Awesome atmosphere
    • Artisanal pizzas

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch
  • 4. QuinuaQ

    $ | Peruvian

    This lovely hillside restaurant is a perfect lunchtime pit stop after seeing the battlefield and before heading back to Ayacucho. The owners...

    This lovely hillside restaurant is a perfect lunchtime pit stop after seeing the battlefield and before heading back to Ayacucho. The owners work with a Dutch nonprofit to provide training for disadvantaged local kids, and the food—including a heavenly asado negro con puré (beef roast over mashed potatoes)—rivals that of any (okay, almost any) top Lima chef.

    Rasuhuilca s/n, Quinua, Ayacucho, Peru
    946-393–258

    Known For

    • Stunning mountain views
    • Programs for disadvantaged youth
    • Best food in Ayacucho

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Tues. No dinner
  • 5. Antojitos

    $ | Peruvian

    Grilled meats, wood-smoked pizzas, and hearty sandwiches draw a diverse crowd of travelers and locals alike to this dimly lit, wood-paneled...

    Grilled meats, wood-smoked pizzas, and hearty sandwiches draw a diverse crowd of travelers and locals alike to this dimly lit, wood-paneled restaurant. The daily lunch special is filling and varied, and the locale is an excellent venue for lazy midday people-watching. At night, try the anticuchos (charcoal-grilled skewers of beef heart) and a glass of Peruvian wine while enjoying the live band, and stay for the nightclub atmosphere that prevails after midnight.

    Jr. Puno 599, Huancayo, Junín, Peru
    064-237–950

    Known For

    • Pizzas
    • Live music
    • Wood-fired pizzas
    • Bargain-priced lunches
  • Recommended Fodor’s Video

  • 6. Carbon y Vino

    $ | Peruvian

    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...

    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/10.

    Jr. Bellido 593, Ayacucho, Ayacucho, Peru
    999-443–318

    Known For

    • Grilled entrées
    • Great fixed-price lunches
    • Tasty plates with cuy

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner
  • 7. Detrás de la Catedral

    $ | Peruvian

    Rustic wood tables and soft candlelight set the mood for a meal of roasted lamb, grilled trout, pasta, and other platos típicos in this cozy...

    Rustic wood tables and soft candlelight set the mood for a meal of roasted lamb, grilled trout, pasta, and other platos típicos in this cozy restaurant, just steps from the cathedral. Service can be slow, so be prepared to linger or take advantage of the free Wi-Fi.

    Jr. Ancash 335, Huancayo, Junín, Peru
    064-212–969

    Known For

    • Regional Peruvian cooking
    • Intimate atmosphere
    • Yummy trout dishes
  • 8. El Encanto de la Selvaina

    $$ | Peruvian

    Located just off the main plaza, this bustling local favorite will have you feeling the jungle vibe in no time. Try the mojadito amazónico...

    Located just off the main plaza, this bustling local favorite will have you feeling the jungle vibe in no time. Try the mojadito amazónico—jungle fried rice with a sweet-and-sour sauce—with a pitcher of one of the exotic fruit juices to wash it down.

    Av. Alameda Perú 288, Tingo María, Huanuco, Peru
    062-562–848

    Known For

    • Heaping platters of jungle favorites
    • Good tacacho con cecina (mashed plantains with prok rind)
    • Lots of vegetarian options
  • 9. La Casona

    $ | Peruvian

    Dining in this Spanish-style home is like attending an intimate party in a fine hacienda. The sun bathes the leafy courtyard during lunch, while...

    Dining in this Spanish-style home is like attending an intimate party in a fine hacienda. The sun bathes the leafy courtyard during lunch, while the clientele tucks into the best of ayacuchano cooking, including heaping plates of puca picante and fried trout. The daily lunch special is a bargain, and includes an appetizer, entrée, dessert, and drink.

    Bellido 463, Ayacucho, Ayacucho, Peru
    066-312–733

    Known For

    • Bargain lunch special
    • Hearty local stews
  • 10. Lalo's Café

    $ | Café

    This modern, Parisian-style café attracts the city's well-to-do and NGO workers in the mornings and evenings. It has coffees, teas, pastries...

    This modern, Parisian-style café attracts the city's well-to-do and NGO workers in the mornings and evenings. It has coffees, teas, pastries, and light meals. Another branch in Avenida Mariscal Cáceres offers decadent cakes that rival Peru's best.

    Jr. 28 de Julio 178, Ayacucho, Ayacucho, Peru
    066-312–891

    Known For

    • Decadent cakes
    • Cheap menu lunches

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
  • 11. Nesul Coffee

    $ | Peruvian

    With its simple platos típicos and selection of warm beverages, this café-restaurant is one of the most consistent options in Huancavelica....

    With its simple platos típicos and selection of warm beverages, this café-restaurant is one of the most consistent options in Huancavelica. Don't expect gourmet cooking: just solid versions of old standbys like pastas and lomo saltado, plus good dessert coffees.

    Jr. Virrey Toledo 210, Huancavelica, Huancavelica, Peru
    965-076–018

    Known For

    • Belly-warming drinks
    • Good, simple food
    • Tasty desserts and quick bites
  • 12. Pizzería Italiana

    $ | Italian

    On cold Andean nights, this wood-oven pizzeria will have you hugging yourself in the glow of its crackling fires. There's no décor to speak...

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

    Jr. Bellido 492, Ayacucho, Ayacucho, Peru
    066-317–574

    Known For

    • Friendly owners
    • Best pizzas in town
    • Surprisingly good pastas
  • 13. Recreo El Falcón

    $ | Peruvian

    Perched on the banks of the Huallaga River, this family-style restaurant offers the best of Huánuco cooking, including specialties like gallina...

    Perched on the banks of the Huallaga River, this family-style restaurant offers the best of Huánuco cooking, including specialties like gallina con locro (chicken soup), pachamanca, and fresh river trout. Come at lunch, and lounge on the open-air terrace while you enjoy the view and live music. Make sure you check out their batánes, stone mortars used to grind herbs and peppers. Dishes are huge, so be prepared to share.

    2 de Mayo 190, Huánuco, Huanuco, Peru
    062-516–214

    Known For

    • Regional home cooking
    • Generous portions
    • Pleasant riverside setting

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner
  • 14. Restaurant Chavín de Grima

    $ | Peruvian

    This popular, country-style restaurant has simple local décor and lively lunchtime crowds. It serves tamales and sweet coffee for breakfast...

    This popular, country-style restaurant has simple local décor and lively lunchtime crowds. It serves tamales and sweet coffee for breakfast and comida típica, including hearty stews, rice dishes, grilled meat, and fish for lunch and dinner.

    Jr. José Galvez 1197, Tarma, Junín, Peru
    064-321–341

    Known For

    • Convival atmosphere
    • Hearty fare
    • Convivial atmosphere
    • Belly-filling portions
  • 15. Restaurant Olímpico

    $ | Peruvian

    This throwback restaurant, open for more than 60 years, still serves cheap, hearty Andean specials to a downtown crowd. It's the kind of place...

    This throwback restaurant, open for more than 60 years, still serves cheap, hearty Andean specials to a downtown crowd. It's the kind of place you come to with your grandparents for a leisurely Sunday lunch; tables are consistently packed, but the food is worth the wait. Try the lomo saltado (stir-fried beef) or papa a la huancaína for a taste of the Andes.

    Av. Giráldez 199, Huancayo, Junín, Peru
    064-219–515

    Known For

    • Classic Peruvian cooking
    • Social atmosphere
    • Hearty soups
  • 16. Restaurant Señorial

    $ | Peruvian

    Tarma's most upscale restaurant is still quite casual, and locals don't bother with pomp and circumstance before digging into hearty home cooking...

    Tarma's most upscale restaurant is still quite casual, and locals don't bother with pomp and circumstance before digging into hearty home cooking. The chefs show off their Andean flavors in sancochado (meat and potato soup) and picante de cuy (spicy guinea pig). You can also order pastas and sauces, grilled meats, and fresh fish from the varied menu.

    Huánuco 138, Tarma, Junín, Peru
    064-323–130

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner Sun., Closed Sun.
  • 17. ViaVia Café

    $ | Peruvian

    Perched above the Plaza de Armas, this wood-paneled restaurant offers an ample menu that includes both highlands specialties and backpacker...

    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.

    Portal Constitución 4, Plaza de Armas, Ayacucho, Ayacucho, Peru
    066-312–834

    Known For

    • Great views
    • Dessert
    • International flair
  • 18. Nino's

    $$$ | Contemporary
    Closed Permanently

    The building is old Spanish style, but the food is modern, ranging in flavors from the meaty Andean parrillada to pizza, pasta, and sandwiches...

    The building is old Spanish style, but the food is modern, ranging in flavors from the meaty Andean parrillada to pizza, pasta, and sandwiches. Sit in the massive outdoor terrace and stay warm by the fire, a calientito in hand, while the well-lit Iglesia Santo Domingo stands guard across the street. Come on weekends to catch bands that rock the crowd.

    9 de Diciembre 205, Ayacucho, Ayacucho, Peru
    066-314–537

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