Where to Enjoy a Delicious Breakfast in Cusco: Three Local Hotspots You Must Try
Waking up early in Cusco City and wandering around is always an excellent plan. So when you seek the perfect breakfast spot to start your day in Cusco, Look no further! This historic city offers a fantastic breakfast scene. From cozy bakeries to trendy cafes and innovative restaurants, Cusco has something for everyone. So whether you’re a coffee lover, a pastry enthusiast, or simply looking for a delicious and nutritious meal to fuel your day, we’ve got you covered; grab a cup of coffee and join us on a culinary adventure through the heart of Cusco!
Three Monkeys Coffee Company
Located in the historical center, these three monkeys hear, speak and see no evil yet enjoy great coffee from their farms deep inside the Cusco mountains. Here you can enjoy coffee on their espresso machines or in a pour-over. Also, you can buy roasted beans from everyday products to nano-lots.
Pastry chef Silvana Quintero created their sweet and savory menu to pair with their coffee; you can enjoy the mushroom toast with ricotta from the sacred valley and thyme, local staples like the cheese sandwich done with local cheese, or their sweets like the black sesame Swiss roll with passionfruit crème or their 70% chocolate cookie, which uses a 70% chocolate made by La Continental, a century-old chocolate factory in the city.
IN THE KNOW: The Three Monkeys are open for service Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 8 pm, located at the Calle Cabracancha 444, Cusco historic center. No Reservations are needed.
Aulita Restaurant
A few blocks from the main square, Aulita is in a two-storied house, part restaurant and part lifestyle store; you can enjoy everything from great local coffee to well-balanced cocktails; each preparation uses locally sourced food products. So grab a coffee and pair it with a Venezuelan Arepa stuffed with fried egg, bacon, and local cheese, a warm empanada, creamy eggs benedict with caramelized onions, and homemade brioche.
As mentioned, they also offer aula artesana, a collective that promotes products from the local communities.
IN THE KNOW: Aulita Restaurant works daily from 8 am to 10 pm; find them at Calle Teatro 394, in the Cusco historic center. There’s always a place for walk-ins, but you can make a reservation.
Cercanía Pan y Café 
Behind a little wooden door wandering around the Cusco historic center, we found Cercanía, a little family-owned bakery; it’s been open since April 2022; Franz Lopez with, his brother, and their mom run the operation; you can find freshly baked bread using locally sourced wheat, coffee from different producers and their top of the line pastries. Franz selected cercanía (proximity) because they work with their farm neighbors and use most of their products.
Their flaky galettes, full of seasonal fruits like local pears, cruffins, and croissants, show an outstanding technique for making viennoiserie, and their local heroes stuffed with oyster mushrooms are a great vegetarian option.
IN THE KNOW: Cercanía Pan y café operates Monday to Saturday from 9:30 am to 8:30 pm. You can find them at the Plazoleta Santa Catalina 219. No reservations are needed.
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