The concept store café was created based around the theme of ‘upcycling’ with the structure made of wood and glass and designed by Elise who is also an architect. All furnishings are recycled including the bar built with fruit crates from the local market. The design is simple and restful and they also have a delightful small patio where you can sit outside.

The fare here is ‘light refreshment’ with some of the best croissants and pain au chocolat in Cusco. They do a delicious, creamy  hot chocolate and a range of coffee made with organic coffee from the Quillabamba Valley but the highlight is their delicious range of herbal teas. Ladies, this is the perfect place to park your man (we assure you he will happily spend some time sipping great coffee or tea) while you browse the Cocoliso store and pick up some of their fabulous designs.

Best of Peru Travel Recommends:

• Cocoliso stocks some of the finest French croissants and pastries in Cusco hand-delivered each morning by their friend Wilber who also happens to be an award-winning French pastry chef!

• They also stock what we think are some of the best alpaca clothing with modern, functional designs that we have found in Cusco all hand knitted by local women’s cooperatives from the region.

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The word ‘Ayllu’ means family or community in the local Quechua language and this is what the family have tried to preserve – a sense of family, community and tradition. Pericles tells me that most of the waiters have worked there for years and love it so much they don’t want to retire! The decor is simple and the menu consists of the famous house pastries (Try the delicious lengua de suegra and apple strudel pastries!), their famous pork sandwich and of course their coffee. The still use the same recipe developed over the years by Zeila to roast their coffee which involves orange peel, raw onion and sugar to get their particular house blend.

This cafe is a favourite with locals and at peak times (10 – 12 am and 4 – 6 pm) you will find the three locales packed with local Cusco residents in for a coffee and a chat. Don’t expect to find Italian espresso machines and fancy coffee menus here as this is old school, traditional Cusco at its best and is definitely worth a visit if you want a glimpse into local culture and a great coffee or snack to boot.

Best of Peru Travel Recommends:

• To kick-start your morning try the traditional ‘Cusqueño’ breakfast – which includes a delicious (but heavy!) bread served with cream and hot chocolate.

• House pastry favourites are the  famous ‘lengua de suegra’ pastries – a delicate pastry filled with ‘dulce de leche’ or caramel… Delicious!

• Visit mid-morning or late afternoon to get a real feel for the local Cusco coffee culture.

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Our favourite is the premium coffee, which is grown at an altitude of between 1800 and 2000 metres, resulting in a more acidic, full-bodied blend that we can’t get enough of. This is what we buy for our own morning brew and as it comes in vacuum sealed packs it’s easy to take back home with you.

This is a great place to stop for a quick coffee any time of day. It’s a real hole-in-the-wall kind of place with one table and a small bar so if there are more than 2 people in the shop be prepared to get cozy with your neighbours. This is a family affair run mainly by Carlos but you might also bump into his brother Victor or his god-daughter Esther and you can of course meet the rest of the Jordán family and pay a quick visit to the farm itself by having a quick look at the photos hung around the walls.

Best of Peru Travel Recommends:

• Try the Ricchary Premium blend coffee and their delicious organic honey.
• They also have a delicious 100% cacao chocolate bar which is perfect for hot chocolate.

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It can be quite an adventure to get to the ancient city of Cusco and after many hours of travel, flavourless airplane food and sleepless flights, we suggest you begin your Cusco journey with a good hearty meal from Jacks Cafe Cusco – especially their breakfast! Each day from around 9am the infamous Jacks line-up will begin, testament to the quality of their hearty, western style menu and popularity among visitors to Cusco.

This is one of our favourite cafes in Cusco but don’t expect the traditional Peruvian dippings at Jacks, most of their food is western and catered towards expats and travellers who have a hunger for American-styled home comforts, or just want to cure a bad hangover!  Dishes at jack’s will cost you between $3 and $8 (US), they cater for vegetarians and most plates arrive piled high with filling food that will keep you energized for many hours.

Popular choices include the ‘el Gordo’ breakfast complete with home-made beans, eggs, fried potatoes and bacon and Pancakes which are served heaped high with a variety of toppings, our favourite is the sinfully sweet caramelized banana….

If you want a good lunch option their sandwiches are tasty and filling. We also recently tried the bean and cheese tortillas with guacamole which were delicious and served with a crisp, fresh salad.  Before you leave, follow your eyes and nose right to the end of the bar where you will find the most delicious chocolate brownies this side of the world. Team a gooey brownie with one of the best coffees in Cusco for a delicious mid-afternoon treat.

Jacks is a great place to get a large serving of hearty, western style food and I mean let’s face it, we all have those moments of weakness where we crave a good burger or a giant portion of fluffy pancakes piled with cream…

Best of Peru Travel Recommends:

• This is definitely the spot for people who love a great coffee. Flat whites and cappuccino are the house specialties!

Click here to see more cafes in Cusco

How to get to Cusco

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Owned by Hotel Monasterio, you can expect the same high quality as the hotel. This is a small little cafe with just enough room for three people to sit at the counter. They also have a small lounge area in the back where you can watch sport on the big screen and three small tables in the couryard if you want somewhere a bit quieter to tak a rest after all that sight-seeing!

Deli Monasterio is an ideal stop for take-away snacks or for putting together a picnic. They have some items you don’t find in many places around Cusco such as grilled vegetarian and chicken wraps or cheese and olive bread rolls but by far the highlight is their excellent baguette and bread selection. They also do juices, Cafe Britt coffee and herbal teas by Fidelia and delightful pastries including lemon meringue pie and strawberry tarts made by their in-house French pastry chef.

The Deli Monasterio vibe is ‘laid-back sport’ and will make you feel like you are in a sports bar back home with two big television screens and sports memorabilia decorating the walls. If you are looking for something a little stronger they also serve 25 different Peruvian craft and international beers if you feel like trying one of the local beers that have sprung up in recent years while you watch the game.

Best of Peru Travel Recommends:

• It’s a great place to pick up a few things for a picnic or light snack including sandwiches, cakes and pastries.

Click here to see more cafes in Cusco

How to buy the tourist ticket for Cusco

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Finding the right accompaniment to your coffee is an art. In Cusco, the hostel will offer some bread and jam, while the deluxe hotels will stun you with the selection on offer in their elaborate buffets. Neither of these can compete with the pleasure of biting into a Qosqo Maki freshly baked croissant, pain aux raisins or pain au chocolat – by far the best and closest thing we have found to a genuine French bakery in Cusco.

The Qosqo Maki Cafe Cusco is part of the Qosqo Maki NGO set up and driven by the passionate French Woman Isabel, that aims to help the children and adolescents of Cusco get off the streets by providing them with an income and a skill. Genuine French bakers visit regularly to train the Cusco youth to make these delicious bread and pastries so close your eyes for a moment and savour the first bite… a taste of France high in the Andes!

Best of Peru Travel Recommends:

• Try the croissants and pain au chocolat (known as pan con chocolate in Spanish).

• This is also a great place to stock up on picnic supplies or box lunches as they also sell good baguettes and pizza.

• Qosqo Maki have also just opened a second store in Marcavalle  A-8 on Avenida de la Cultura between the Tayta Fe Restaurant and the Giros polleria. Opening hours 8am – 8pm Monday to Saturday. Closed Sundays.

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Inside, choose a comfy sofa in one of the little alcoves and spend a few hours writing postcards home or catching up on e-mails with their decent Wi-Fi connection.

Starbucks is a new addition to Cusco’s café scene having opened in early January 2012, amidst local controversy. We were pleased to see that in keeping with Cusco aesthetics,  there are no giant Starbuck’s logos or signs and the façade of the colonial building which was once the ‘Ajllawasi ‘ or incan palace housing the sacred women who brewed chicha for rituals remains in keeping with the surrounding buildings.

Best of Peru Travel Recommends:

• It’s quite a challenge to find decaffeinated coffee in Cusco so Starbucks is definitely a good place to get that coffee hit without the jitters!

• Don’t expect American speed of service, things move a little more slowly here in Cusco.

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