Eating in Arequipa is a real pleasure! The “White City” is considered the “second gastronomic capital” of the country (after Lima) and one of the best destinations in Latin America for foodie travelers and there is competition.
Its history of miscegenation and its increasingly cosmopolitan present have made the White City the mecca of restaurants and chefs essential in modern Peruvian gastronomy.
Find here a list of “The Best Restaurants to Eat in Arequipa on 2024”, among the most popular dishes in Arequipa, you will find: Chupe de Camarones, the menestrón, the ocopa arequipeña or, as a dessert, the famous queso helado.
Despite this great culinary tradition and the taste for homemade recipes and local ingredients, in Peru’s second city they love to try, innovate and fusion cuisine.
Capriccio
They are specialists in cakes and hot drinks, pastry type, but we went straight to the restaurant part. The menu is very extensive, with traditional Peruvian dishes, soups, salads, sandwiches.
The place is in one of the typical mansions in the center of Arequipa, and it is quite spacious. Despite being very central, it is quite quiet and excellent value for money.
Santa Catalina Street, 120
Chicha
Located also on Santa Catalina Street is the most famous of Arequipa’s restaurants.
It owes such an honor both to its rich menu and to the fact that it belongs to the most famous chef in Peru and abroad: Gastón Acurio, owner of dozens of establishments both in the country and abroad, and awarded several Michelin Stars.
Chicha restaurant was opened in 2009 in Arequipa, but there are also other cities such as Lima or Cusco. It offers typical recipes from the White City made with seasonal and local products.Needless to say, the place is up to par.
It is elegant and calm, and with that colonial flavor that gives the typical architecture of Arequipa.
Open from 12 to 22 hours; Sundays, until 5 p.m.Santa Catalina, 210
Tanta
Tanta is one of the restaurants most recommended for eating in Arequipa.
It also belongs to Gastón Acurio, and there are several establishments in the country. We could say that, while Chicha is more traditional, Tanta is its more informal version, a kind of quality fast food.
If you take a look at the Tanta website, you will see that the menu is very extensive. They serve salads, pastas, sandwiches, main courses and a wide variety of juices and cocktails.
Omphalos, The Best Vegetarian Restaurant to Eat in Arequipa
Looking for a vegetarian restaurant to eat in Arequipa? Well, here you have Omphalos, the most valued by travelers.
Everything is veggie, and it also has quite vegan and gluten-free options. It is ideal not only for vegetarians, but also for eating a little healthier and lighter.
If you are going to arrive to Arequipa from Puno or Cuzco and you have been affected by altitude sickness in Peru, your body is probably asking for it and you feel great.
The quinoa burger is perhaps the most popular dish for international tourists. The most representative of traditional Peruvian food would be the rocoto relleno.
They also serve breakfast, various cakes, soups, rice and pasta. Take advantage! Omphalos is less than 5 minutes from the Plaza de Armas, on a much quieter secondary street.
It also has its patio, to eat in the shade.
Open from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, until 5:30 p.m.Bolívar Street, 107
La Trattoria del Monasterio
One of the most beautiful and emblematic restaurants could not be missing from this list of restaurants to eat in Arequipa. Just as you might be imagining from its name, although the entrance is independent, it is part of the Monastery of Santa Catalina itself, one of the essential places to see in Arequipa.Called “la Trattoria” you will surely not be surprised to know that its menu (created, again, by Gastón Acurio) mixes traditional Peruvian flavors with the most typical Italian dishes: risottos, ravioli, lasagna, pizzas, all kinds of pasta.
La Trattoria del Monasterio. Santa Catalina Street, 309 Open from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.7.
San Camilo Market
El Mercado San Camilo is an authentic and affordable place to eat in ArequipaIf what you want is to try the most “local” food possible, the San Camilo Market cannot be missing from your list of places to visit in Arequipa!
Also known as Mercado Central, it is located outside the tourist area, about 10 minutes walk from the Plaza de Armas.It is one of the largest and oldest in the city, with more than 100 years behind it.
With hindsight, we have read both that it was designed by Eiffel himself (yes, the one from the Paris Tower) and that it is an urban legend.
Although, obviously, it is very reminiscent of the San Pedro Market in Cusco, the idea is also very similar to that of the typical Central Markets where you can eat in Florence or where you can eat in Budapest.
On the ground floor, food is sold, as well as clothing and everyday utensils, and on the second floor is where you will find stalls with already prepared food and tables to eat at.
In this type of food court you will find both main dishes and sandwiches, snacks. You will see that natural juices and frozen cheese are quite famous.
13 Monjas
13 Monjas restaurant, a cozy place with ashlar walls, wrought iron lamps, vaulted ceilings, niches and a central internal cobbled patio that receives the shade of century-old fig trees.
Now its stars are the chicken tikki, the pizzas cooked in a wood oven, the pastas, the naan breads, the artisanal ham that is offered in snacks and the wide variety of craft beers.
It is said that there were thirteen nuns who initially inhabited the Monastery of Santa Catalina, founded on September 10, 1579 by Doña María Guzmán, widow of Don Diego Hernández de Mendoza.
Contradicting the hypothesis, it is also said that there were rather thirteen nuns who currently survive in cloister after the monastery opened its doors to the public in 1980.Real or not, the truth is that the greatest architectural jewel of the White City is full of mysteries and outside its walls, Arequipa’s nightlife is lavish in cultural and culinary events, taking advantage of the fact that good municipal judgment has made this street pedestrian and its sidewalks for public use with tables, chairs and umbrellas for the enjoyment of tourists and local customers.
They have vegan options, varied cocktails, wines from small wineries and interesting Arequipa fermented products (the “Caravelí orange” is a real discovery).
Thanks to the advice of La Gastrónoma and the guys from Book Vivant, they organize tastings, readings and book presentations.
Mumis
The Mumis restaurant is located on Calle Sucre 202, in Arequipa, Peru, just 0.4 km from the Monastery of Santa Catalina. It is a charming restaurant that combines Italian and Arequipa cuisine, in a cozy and family atmosphere.
The restaurant stands out for offering artisan pasta, paying tribute to the simplicity and flavor of Italian cuisine. In addition, they use local ingredients and artisanal producers, which guarantees the freshness and quality of their dishes.
The restaurant has different spaces to enjoy food. You can choose between the terrace and outdoor spaces, perfect for enjoying a meal outdoors on sunny days, or the dining room, bar and lounge, which offer a more intimate atmosphere.
One of the standout features of Mumis is its El Cardenal bar, where you can find classic and signature cocktails. It is the ideal place to enjoy a refreshing drink before or after dinner.
In addition to the combination of Italian and Arequipa cuisine, the restaurant also offers fusion and Latin food options, which expands the variety of dishes available.
Special diets are also taken into account, as the restaurant has vegetarian and vegan options on its menu.The service at the Mumis restaurant is highly valued by customers.
Customer reviews highlight the exceptional and friendly attention of the staff, mentioning several members by name. In addition, the speed of service and quality of food is mentioned, with dishes such as ravioli and tiramisu particularly praised.