The Museo del Pisco burst onto the Cusco bar scene with a bang in August 2012 and has quickly established itself as one of Cusco’s hippest night-time hangouts. The Museo boasts a refreshing, modern space which despite appearances is actually located in a restored colonial house or ‘casona’ that sits on the walls of ‘Hatun Cancha’ the palace of the fifth Inca Capac Yupanqui. A fitting location given that one of the main goals of owners Berner Caballero and Adam Weintraub is to share the history and culture of Pisco in Peru with each person that walks through the doors.
The walls are covered with information about the history of pisco and the different pisco varieties and pisco-making equipment adorn the bar. Staff are super friendly and very knowledgeable and are always available to answer any questions you might have. The dapper pisco ‘sommelier’ is a nice addition to the Museo and he can suggest the ideal pisco drink for your palette so you are sure to leave with more knowledge about Pisco than when you arrived.
The drinks menu itself as you would expect focuses mainly on pisco and boasts 8 grape varieties and 50 brands of pisco. An interesting selection of house-made pisco infusions or ‘macerados de pisco’ include local flavours like coca leaf and purple corn while the pisco cocktail menu offers a nice selection of pisco inspired choices. They also have a full international bar and cocktail menu selection available too.
We were very pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food in what is a tapas-style menu offering a nice mix of dishes which are perfect for sharing such as the vegetarian antipasto plate or the Peruvian Cheese selection. For those with a bigger appetite the mushroom and shrimp dish sauteed with pisco is delicious and the beef tenderloin is also a nice, filling choice.
The Museo del Pisco Cusco is definitely one of our top picks for bars in Cusco and is the perfect place to combine a cultural lesson in Pisco along with a taste of some of Peru’s finest pisco. Do be warned however, this bar fills up fast particularly on weekends so book a table in advance.
Best of Peru Travel Recommends:
- Opt for the ‘Pisco Flights’ tasting menu if you want to try a few different varieties of top-class pisco and get a real feel for this grape brandy while in Cusco.
- We also loved the ‘Marticha’ cocktail and of course the unmissable ‘Pisco Sour’. Be warned however, as these drinks pack a punch particularly at high altitude!
- There’s live music every night from 9pm so be prepared to get your dance on! If you are looking for a quieter more restaurant-style atmosphere head downstairs for your meal.
