Good to know
Good to Know
- Arequipa has over 500 traditional dishes; picanterías (traditional women-run restaurants) are central to the city's culinary heritage with ~80 remaining.
- Mercado San Camilo (central market, designed by Gustave Eiffel) offers the most authentic local food experience—unpolished but lively; great for practicing Spanish and reducing grocery costs if you have kitchen access.
- Budget menu del día typically includes soup, main, dessert, and drink for 10–12 soles (~$3 USD); peak lunch ordering is 12–3 PM.
- Meat is dominant in traditional cuisine; vegan/vegetarian options are easier to find here than elsewhere in Peru, with affordable dedicated plant-based restaurants.
- International cuisine (Italian, Thai, Japanese) readily available at mid-range prices; pizza particularly popular.
- Arequipa beer and craft beer scene strong; local artisanal chocolate from La Ibérica famous throughout Peru.
- Traditional digestif: Anis Najar (anisette) served after meals, particularly after pork dishes, to settle digestion.
- Food delivery apps (Rappi, Arequipa Delivery, PedidosYa) now cover most neighborhoods within city centre and expanding areas.
Supermarkets
Mercado San Camilo
- Type
- Traditional market (Gustave Eiffel staircase design)
- Neighborhood
- Historic Centre, central location
- Note
- Oldest and largest market in Arequipa; authentic local experience with fresh produce, local restaurants, street food, and souvenirs; open daily.
Plaza Vea
- Type
- Modern supermarket chain
- Neighborhood
- Multiple locations in/near historic centre and shopping malls
- Note
- Large selection of local and imported products; standard hours 8 AM–10 PM; accepts cash (PEN/USD) and credit cards.
Tottus
- Type
- Hypermarket chain
- Neighborhood
- Porongoche, Cerro Colorado (outside immediate centre)
- Note
- Chilean retail chain with gigantic selection; wider variety available but further from city centre.
Metro
- Type
- Supermarket (Wong group)
- Neighborhood
- Multiple locations
- Note
- Similar to Wong; emphasis on local products and competitive prices; more popular option.
Doorganic Stores Perú
- Type
- Organic & health food store
- Neighborhood
- Avenida Ejército 706 A
- Note
- First chain of organic health stores in Arequipa (founded 2010); offers organic & natural products; delivery available.
Budget
La Recova
- Price Range
- PEN 25
- Neighborhood
- Santa Catalina area, Historic Centre
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Traditional Arequipeño & light international
Cipriana
- Price Range
- PEN 28
- Neighborhood
- Historic Centre
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Arequipeño classics (rocoto relleno, chupe de camarones, lomo saltado)
Nueva Palomino Picantería
- Price Range
- PEN 20
- Neighborhood
- Historic Centre
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Traditional Arequipeño picantería dishes
Kao Thai and Peruvian Cuisine
- Price Range
- PEN 45
- Neighborhood
- Historic Centre
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Thai-Peruvian fusion (trout red curry, pad thai, warm ceviche)
High End
CIRQA
- Price Range
- PEN 120
- Neighborhood
- Historic Centre (Calle Sucre 104)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Modern Arequipeño (rocotitos rellenos, adobo de cerdo, squid ink pasta, contemporary plating)
La Benita De Los Claustros
- Price Range
- PEN 110
- Neighborhood
- Historic Centre (Claustros de la Compañia)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Traditional Arequipeño heritage cuisine (estofado de res, celador de camarón)
Victoria Museo Picantería
- Price Range
- PEN 100
- Neighborhood
- Historic Centre
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Upscale picantería with Arequipeño heritage dishes
Salamanto
- Price Range
- PEN 115
- Neighborhood
- Cayma District
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Contemporary cuisine with Andean influences, spectacular valley views
Mid Range
Zig Zag
- Price Range
- PEN 60
- Neighborhood
- Historic Centre
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Local meats & seafood (alpaca, beef, trout, shrimp on volcanic stone)
MASH
- Price Range
- PEN 65
- Neighborhood
- Historic Centre
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Upscale Peruvian (lomo saltado, steak in huancaína sauce, alpaca)
Tanta
- Price Range
- PEN 50
- Neighborhood
- Santa Catalina (across monastery)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Diverse Peruvian & international, casual family-friendly
El Tío Darío
- Price Range
- PEN 55
- Neighborhood
- Yanahuara
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Traditional Peruvian (rocoto relleno, lomo saltado, menu del día lunch)
Brunch And Cafes
Eco Brunch
- Specialty
- International brunch (waffles, pancakes, yogurt bowls), generous portions; vegetarian/vegan/gluten-free friendly
- Neighborhood
- Near Santa Catalina Monastery
Masamama
- Specialty
- Divine bakery with excellent croissants, sourdough, smoked trout sandwich (must-try)
- Neighborhood
- Historic Centre
Kaffeehaus
- Specialty
- Good coffee, pretty location with outdoor seating area; light food and snacks
- Neighborhood
- Historic Centre
Delivery Services
Rappi
- Note
- Operates in Arequipa covering 1750+ restaurants; app delivers food, supermarket items, pharmacy products, and other goods within minutes.
Arequipa Delivery
- Note
- 100% local Arequipa delivery app (founded on local platform); offers promotions on burgers, pizzas, chicken, salads, sushi; direct app delivery from restaurants.
PedidosYa
- Note
- Operates in Arequipa alongside other major Peruvian cities; delivers restaurant food, supermarket groceries, and various other items.
International Cuisine
Italian
- Venues
- Il Caffè Della Nonna (best-reviewed pasta, pizza, calzones in historic centre); Pizzeria POMA; Claustro; Las Gringas (Peruvian-inspired pizzas with Andean cheeses).
Asian (Japanese, Thai, Korean)
- Venues
- Kao Thai and Peruvian Cuisine (Thai-Peruvian fusion); vegan sushi venues in historic centre; ramen and sushi available at various restaurants.
Contemporary Fusion
- Venues
- Red Pig (specialty burgers with house sauces); Shook (burgers, wraps with local Arequipeño dishes alongside craft beers).
Local Must Try Dishes
Rocoto Relleno
- Description
- Rocoto (spicy Peru pepper) stuffed with meat, cheese, eggs, olives, topped with melted cheese; iconic Arequipa dish representing bold local flavors.
Chupe De Camarones
- Description
- Creamy shrimp chowder with freshwater river shrimp, yellow potatoes, squash, rice, beans, corn, milk, eggs, and huacatay herb; thick traditional soup served in large bowls.
Adobo Arequipeño
- Description
- Traditional pork stew made with pork chops marinated in chicha de jora (fermented corn beer), garlic, and spices; slow-cooked Sunday morning comfort dish.
Ocopa
- Description
- Appetizer of sliced boiled potatoes with creamy sauce made from ají mirasol (dried yellow chili), huacatay, peanuts, served with olives, boiled egg.
Solterito De Queso
- Description
- Refreshing vegetarian salad combining fava beans, giant corn (choclo), fresh crumbly cheese, tomatoes, onions, olives with tangy herbal dressing; Arequipa agricultural heritage.
Cuy Chactado (Fried Guinea Pig)
- Description
- Guinea pig flattened and fried until crispy, served with boiled potatoes and sauces; traditional Andean protein since Incan times.
Queso Helado
- Description
- Arequipa's signature frozen dessert (not ice cream) made with evaporated milk, condensed milk, cinnamon, cloves, coconut, served in bowls with cinnamon dust; created at Santa Catalina convent.
Vegan And Vegetarian Dining
- Overview
- Arequipa has a thriving vegan & vegetarian scene unusual for a meat-heavy Peruvian city, with dedicated plant-based restaurants offering creative takes on traditional Peruvian dishes alongside international options.
Venues
Omphalos Restaurant Vegetariano-Vegano
- Specialty
- Fully vegan 4-course meals, vegan cakes, affordable menu del día (13 soles = ~$3.50 USD); near Plaza de Armas; ramen, spring rolls, traditional dishes veganized
- Price Range
- PEN 13
- Neighborhood
- Historic Centre (Calle Pte. Bolognesi 116)
Vida Sana
- Specialty
- Vegetarian & vegan menu with 10-soles lunch special; carta with full range of options; local clientele at lunchtime
- Price Range
- PEN 10
- Neighborhood
- Historic Centre (Calle Bolívar 409)
Café Verde
- Specialty
- Vegetarian & gluten-free shakes (mango plant milk chia, banana oats algarrobina), plant-based cakes
- Price Range
- PEN 18
- Neighborhood
- Historic Centre (Calle Bolívar 425)
Prana Vegan Club
- Specialty
- Fresh plant-based lunches, vegan desserts daily, craft beer selection; veganized Peruvian cuisine
- Price Range
- PEN 20
- Neighborhood
- Historic Centre (Calle Ugarte 109)
Hatunpa
- Specialty
- Vegan 15-soles lunch special (starter, main, drink, dessert); second-floor terrace with old town views; creative plant-based dishes
- Price Range
- PEN 15
- Neighborhood
- Historic Centre
Arturo
- Specialty
- Fully vegan restaurant; tacos, burritos, burgers, lunch of day, juices, smoothies, bowls, desserts
- Price Range
- PEN 25
- Neighborhood
- Historic Centre
Dining Notes
Traditional picanterías best visited during lunch hours (12 PM–5 PM) for authentic Arequipeño experience. Reservations recommended for popular restaurants during peak times. Tipping ~10% standard. Menu del día (set lunch: appetizer, main, dessert, drink) widely available at budget-friendly prices 10–15 PEN. Say 'buen provecho' to fellow diners. Arequipa recognized as UNESCO Creative City for Gastronomy (2019) and National Geographic as 'Peru's next great food city' (2024).
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this food & dining research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Arequipa
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.