Laggart Café

Laggart is one of the most characterful cafés in San Blas, a combined café and art gallery that fits naturally into Cusco's artists' quarter. Travel writers have called it funky, and with good reason. Its walls are covered in colourful paintings and murals, and much of the furniture is made from recycled materials, so the space feels more like a studio than a conventional coffee shop.

The menu is simple and homely. Expect specialty coffee drinks and an extensive selection of teas, along with homemade cakes and desserts, empanadas and sandwiches made with farm-to-table ingredients. It is a good place for a mid-morning break or a light lunch rather than a full meal, and the tea list makes it a useful option for anyone who wants a change from coffee.

Part of the appeal is the art. Laggart works as a gallery as well as a café, so it is worth taking a look around before or after you order, and it is easy to spend longer than planned browsing the walls. The relaxed, creative atmosphere suits solo travellers with a book, couples taking a break from sightseeing and anyone who enjoys independent places with a personality of their own.

Opening hours have been reported as 09:00 to 17:00, so plan a daytime visit; it is not an evening stop, so arrive well before the reported 17:00 closing. As a small independent business, its hours can change, so check before making a special trip.

San Blas is a short but steep walk uphill from the Plaza de Armas, and the climb is part of the experience: the quarter is known for its artists' studios and artisans' workshops, and many of its lanes are pedestrian-only. Combine a stop at Laggart with the Twelve-Angled Stone on Hatun Rumiyoc, the San Blas church, said to be the oldest parish church in Cusco, with its famous carved cedar pulpit, and the viewpoints at the top of the quarter, which look out over the roofs of the city. If you want more coffee afterwards, Jack's Café and the San Blas cafés around the little plaza are close by.