New travel blog every Monday!

icon MaVa

Vanessa & Matheo

Exploring Arequipa's Culinary Scene

Reviews of Local Restaurants

Peru

SEPTEMBER 06, 2023

reading time: 3 min

parasols

Farren'S Express

Pje. de la Catedral 102
Cercado De Arequipa

Farren'S Express in Arequipa offers a picturesque location in the historic city center. The restaurant's ambiance, nestled in a charming alley in the heart of Arequipa, undeniably adds to its appeal. 

rreataurant alley

Having lunch in the Farren’s express, in the restaurant alley.

However, the elevated prices, while seemingly justified by the location, might leave diners expecting more in terms of culinary creativity and value.

menu card

Farren’s Express’ high prices

plate with food

A tourist trap - our most expensive lunch in the city.

beer Pilsen

The very first beer in Peru - Pilsen! There was no other option in mind.

Prices:

Rice with pork meat and fries 32 pen
Empanada - 14 pen
0.3dl Cusqueña beer - 11 pen
Espresso - 8 pen

Vanessa in restaurant

Matheo sent an akward photo of me, Thank you muff

Piccola Pizzeria

Calle Pte. Bolognesi 116
Arequipa

Inside this pizzeria, the stylistic interior with a wall of grunge pictures adds a slice of edgy flair to the dining experience. It's like having dinner in a gallery for pizza rebels – where every bite feels like a rebellious work of art!

pizzeria interior

The wall of grunge pictures adds an edgy twist to the dining experience

Our waiter was very nice. Before ordering, we asked him ,,Do you speak English?" ,,Yes, a moment." and in two minutes he returned with the translator open on the phone. But the whole order went through without complications. We went here after the first restaurant when we promised us to don't waste money and we confirmed the promise with a 1+1 pizza offer.

pizza detail

Looking at this detailed picture of cheese pizza is like a virtual game of 'Find the Cheese,' and spoiler alert: cheese wins every time!

For pizza lovers be prepared, they use cheese instead of tomato sauce. Heh. But the coffee was great, we got coffee extract separately from the hot water and we could decide about the intensity ourself.

table with pizzas

Two pizzas on the table? It's not a dilemma; it's dinner-lemma – which one to attack first! Let the great pizza showdown begin!

Prices:

2 medium pizzas - 35 pen
coffee - 5 pen

Ima Sumac Grill

Portal de San Agustin 137 Plaza de Armas
Arequipa

Coffee was terrible. One would thing that South American coffee should be amazing thing. But not here. At least not in Ima Sumac. There are for sure better coffee with a beautiful view in square Plaza de Armas.

Vanessa on the balcony

The view from this spot was a delightful frame for our drink

Mirador Misti Restaurant

Pje. de la Catedral 111
Arequipa

At Mirador Misti in Arequipa, the "Machu Picchu" drink, while visually striking with its three distinct layers, may surprise you with a shot of hard alcohol.

Mix it!

Because instead of a sweet drink, it may happen that you have a shot of hard alcohol. This unique drink offers a sweet treat when blended, adding an unexpected twist to your beverage adventure.

Matej drinking

You will prefer "Shaken, or stirred" Machu Picchu drink

Prices:

Machu Picchu cocktail
Price for two: 20 pen (happy hour)

Recipe for Machu Picchu cocktail:

INGREDIENTS
- 1 oz of grenadine syrup
- 6 ice cubes
- 1 oz of spearmint cream
- 11/2 ounce ofpisco
- Juice of 1 orange
- 1 grated lemon peel

DIRECTIONS
1. Pour six ice cubes, an ounce of grenadine syrup and
the juice of one orange into a long glass.
2. On the other hand, mix an ounce of spearmint cream
with the pisco and with the bar spoon carefully add
to lhe previous preparation.
3. ow, you can decorate with a grated lemon peel and
a cherry on the edge of the glass.
4. Enjoy this incredible cocktai!

Machu Picchu drink

Want to receive emails?

Sign up to get an email every time a new blog is published.