You can have two completely different experiences in Casa del Corregidor depending on the time of day you visit. The sun dappled courtyard is a great spot to enjoy a mid-morning coffee as you plan your exploration of Puno. Grab a cup of Tunki coffee (locals proudly explain this is Puno coffee named best speciality coffee in the world in 2010) and relax to the sound of classical music.

Night time sees the café move indoors and become more of a restaurant-bar. This is probably one of the more decent places to have a bite to eat and drink in a warm, lively atmosphere in Puno. Reggae and rock music plays in the background and a Peruvian craft beer or glass of wine goes well with one of their tapas-style share dishes. Try the tasty quinoa cheese fingers served with sweet cape gooseberry and pisco honey or the tapas mix, a selection of toasts with trout gravalax, chimichurri beef, caramelised tomato and pesto and a tasty alpaca stew topping.

If you’re feeling hungry, try the grilled trout with an Andean mint chimichurri sauce and salad or the alpaca steak medallions with a greek yoghurt dressing and a creamy pesque (like a creamy risotto made of quinoa, milk and cheese.) They also do a selection of soups and sandwiches throughout the day.

Food is not gourmet but is decent, filling and reasonable in price for the quality of this casual setting. Casa del Corregidor is a great spot for locals and tourists alike to enjoy a beer or a cocktail in the evening or a coffee, one of the best in town, at any time of day!

Best of Peru Travel Recommends:

• The café has good wifi and a section with board games if you’re looking for some additional entertainment.

• Check out the reggae themed inner room in the café. All the discs decorating the walls are from the owners dads’ vinyl collection!

• If you’re looking for a sweet treat try the ‘torta de galletas’ a delicious, gooey mix of biscuits, pudding, chocolate and coconut. Mmmm…

Try some of our other favourite places to eat in Puno

Lake Titicaca Travel FAQ – where is Lake Titicaca? how to get from Cusco to Puno?

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Mojsa is now run by the rest of the Nuñez clan. Son Enrique is a trained cordon bleu chef and designed the menu while his sister Ursula and her mum Rosa manage front of house along with Laura, Enrique’s  Minnesota-born wife.

This is a casual, relaxed restaurant without pretensions. The décor is simple and the focus is on using regional produce to create local dishes that give tourists and locals alike a flavour of the Puno region. While pizzas do feature on the menu, Mojsa is much more than a pizzeria and we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of their dishes and the ingredients used in what is mainly a disappointing Puno culinary scene.

For starters try the ‘torrejitas’ inspired by their grandmother Asunción. The gentle creamy flavour of quinoa, cheese and vegetables is given a kick by the tangy fresh mint and onion. We loved the trout kebabs and this was the only place we saw this dish in all our travels in Peru. Moist, tender trout cubes are served with crunchy chunks of onion in a slightly spicy sauce that gives the whole dish a nice kick.

The mains however, are where this restaurant really comes into its own, offering innovative, tasty options. The tender alpaca steak was served with an elderberry and coffee sauce that didn’t overpower the dish. The alpaca cooked medium allowed us to really appreciate all the flavours of this meat. This dish was served with zingy caramelised spring onion, a creamy mushroom wheat risotto and garnished with crunchy sweet potato chips served on a wooden board. Both visually stunning and delicious!

We also loved the ‘Kancacho’. This is a more rustic dish that gives you a lovely taste of the local bounty. Big chunks of melt in the mouth lamb are marinated in a sweet yellow pepper sauce and served on corn leaves. The lamb is accompanied with local ‘paria’ cheese, corn, fava beans and occa potatoes with a traditional creamy  huacatay and rocoto chilli sauce all served on a cast iron plate to keep the dish sizzling hot.

Our server Berta, was a smiling presence throughout our meal, helpfully explaining the menu and there was a nice mix of locals and visitors making it feel more like a genuine place to eat than some of the other tourist  haunts in Puno.

Mojsa is a simple restaurant with a sincere menu offering excellent quality dishes made from local produce. A nice choice for an evening meal or a hearty lunch in the centre of Puno.

Best of Peru Travel Recommends:

• Book ahead to reserve a table on the balcony for the best views in Puno. If the balcony isn’t available, head up the bar for a twilight drink with a great view of the Main Square before your meal.

• Mojsa is also a nice spot to come and have a coffee and sweet treat in the afternoon. They use the local award-winning ‘Tunki’ brand of coffee which goes well with their coconut pudding…

Click here for more great restaurants in Puno

Things to see and do in Puno

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