Masamama - Bakery & Mill — Restaurant in Arequipa

I've visited this restaurant every time I've been to Arequipa since late 2022, and each visit has left me disappointed. I’ve been there 5 or 6 times now, thinking it might live up to its high ranking, but honestly, it shouldn't be rated as highly as it is.

The first time I went, late in the afternoon, I waited for 15 minutes to be seated. The only available items were morning desserts that hadn’t sold, like a dry, hard scone. There wasn’t even a pizza slice or a sandwich to choose from.

The second time was in March 2024, around 10 AM for breakfast. Even though they advertise breakfast until 12 PM, they didn’t offer it. The waiter only told me after I’d placed my order and came back 15 minutes later, so I ended up waiting for 40 minutes with no food or drink, and the place wasn’t even crowded – just me and two French tourists. Ended up eating a scone and a pecan pie form the night before, as there were not fresh items yet, even though the restaurant had been opened since 9 am.

The third visit was with my mom last November, around 1 PM for lunch. Once again, I had a bad experience. I ordered lasagna, only to find out there was no cook during lunch hours or for breakfast. The waitress initially said they didn’t have any meals with avocado, but after taking my order, she told me they were out of lasagna and burgers. The only food available was pre-made items that just needed heating up. I ended up with a cheese sandwich served with a strange garlic sauce that caused an allergic rash reaction on my chest. I’ve never had an issue with mayo or garlic before. My mom and a nearby table also felt a slight burning or itching sensation on their tongues. My mom’s sandwich was so overloaded with mayo that each bite felt like she had to dislocate her jaw to get through it. It was a 5/10 compared to other sandwiches I’ve had in Arequipa, specially compared to the classic chicharron that you find on every corner.

The fourth visit was similar. I wasn’t warned about the lack of fresh food until after I placed my order, so no lasagna yet again. So, I had another artisanal burger, which was actually decent.

The last visit was by far the worst. It was around 3 PM. I asked about unavailable dishes and mentioned the food shortages from my previous visits because I didn’t want another bad experience. The waitress told me they had almost everything except dishes with nuts. I ordered lasagna, but after 25 minutes of waiting, the waitress told me they didn’t have lasagna at the moment. I ended up with another artisanal burger because it was the quickest option without an overwhelming amount of mayo. I spent 70 minutes at the restaurant without any food, which was frustrating. My mom's sandwich was good, though.

As for the pastries, they’re pretty decent overall, but the scones are consistently rock-hard, no matter when you order them. On a positive note, their sourdough bread is delicious, and I always buy it when I’m in town – especially the focaccia and pan niño. Their simple lemon and quinoa cake is also very good. Unfortunately, their kitchen just doesn’t seem to deliver the...

The BEST cafe and bakery in Arequipa, no, Peru. All bakery projects were simply sensational. I enjoyed a deliciously warm, soft and flaky almond croissant paired with a hot, rich and bitter cappuccino- proper grounded bean coffee. The setting was lovely also. You can sit in the shaded courtyard listening to the street activity, or inside the lovely stone walled cafe. The staff were incredibly attentive and friendly, taking time to explain how the food is prepared and make recommendations. I wish I could go to Masamamas every day and try their Danish, Pain au Chocolat and quite frankly all of their menu. Thank you for your services to...

Next level bread. Such a nice vibe, very friendly and accommodating staff. Delicious food but definitely the bread stands out and they have a great variety. We tried the brioche, the toast and a pain aux chocolate all truly delicious. Bare in mind when visiting the whole idea of this place is to serve you the healthy things the earth is providing, therefore everything is made with their special madremasa-starter doug and this gives everything a unique taste and texture. So don't expect the usual pain au chocolate for example as it is not. Beautiful plaza sitting specially on a warm day, great coffee as well all...