Green Point

Green Point is a fully vegan restaurant that sets out to show that Peruvian food does not need meat to be satisfying. It stands at Carmen Bajo 235 in San Blas, about half a block from the Plazuela de San Blas, and in 2022 Tripadvisor ranked it first worldwide in its Mejor Gema Oculta category, ahead of restaurants in Mexico, Spain, Turkey and Italy.

The restaurant was founded by chef Fabricio Durand, who became vegan while working as a cook in South Africa. He started in a smaller space that belonged to his parents, and the restaurant marked its tenth anniversary in May 2023. Cat Atherton, who came to Cusco as a traveller from England, joined about a year after it opened and now co-owns and manages it with Durand, her husband.

Everything on the menu is plant-based, with no animal products. There are dishes inspired by traditional Peruvian cooking, a brunch that is served on any day of the week, and a Cusco-style grill. The daily set menu, with a starter, main course, drink and dessert, is a straightforward way to eat here. Desserts mix Peruvian and European influences, and are worth leaving room for. The building also houses Jacob's Brewery, a craft beer bar with two floors of seating, so you can pair a meal with a locally brewed beer; guides mention a tasting flight that has included a double IPA and a Belgian-style tripel, and live music on weekends.

Most customers are visitors, according to the owners, and the restaurant is a natural choice for vegans, vegetarians and anyone who wants a lighter meal after several days of heavy Andean dishes. Prices have been described as accessible and varied. Opening hours have been reported as daily from 08:00 to 22:00, but check before you go.

San Blas is a short but steep walk uphill from the Plaza de Armas, so Green Point is easy to combine with a wander through the quarter's lanes, the Twelve-Angled Stone on Hatun Rumiyoc and the carved pulpit of the San Blas church. Its long hours also make it handy for breakfast before a day trip or a late meal after one.