El Albergue Restaurante

Top choice in Ollantaytambo


This whistle-stop cafe serves elegant and well-priced Peruvian fare. It’s inviting, with an open kitchen bordered by heaping fruit bowls and candles adorning linen-topped tables. Start with the causas (potato dish) or organic greens from the garden. Lamb medallions with chimichurri (herb sauce) is a standout, as is as the molle-pepper steak spiced from the tree outside. Access via the train platform.

It also serves local artisan beer. Those less hungry can order homemade pasta in half-portions. For train passengers, it may be worth stopping by the patio option Café Mayu (open at 5am for train passengers) for an espresso or homemade aguantamayo cheesecake.

For a twist on a Peruvian barbecue, sign up for its wonderful pachamanca, an outdoor feast held at lunchtime on its adjacent organic farm. A variety of meats and potatoes are baked on hot stones in the earth.