La Osteria Cusco — Restaurant in Distrito de Cusco

La Osteria in Cusco strikes a charming balance between Italian flair and Andean warmth. The atmosphere is cozy and quaint, with rustic wooden beams, soft lighting, and subtle touches of Cusco woven throughout—stone accents, handcrafted décor, and a sense of place that grounds the experience in the city’s rich heritage. The staff are attentive and welcoming, creating a relaxed environment that feels both intimate and familiar. For those who have been immersed in Peruvian flavors for days, the menu here offers a delightful change of pace: a well-curated selection of Italian classics prepared with authenticity and care.

The food itself is exceptional, with pasta and pizza dishes that rival what one might find in Rome or Florence. Sauces are rich and layered, the crusts blistered to perfection, and the balance of flavors suggests a kitchen committed to quality above all. Yet despite this high standard, prices remain refreshingly reasonable, making fine Italian dining accessible in the heart of Cusco. La Osteria proves that an Italian table set against the backdrop of the Andes is not a contradiction, but a welcome and memorable complement to the city’s...

I first went here in 2016 as a 19 year old broke backpacker. La Osteria is the only high-end restaurant I treated myself to on my shoestring budget, nine-month hitch-hiking and trekking adventure.

It was in this Italian restaurant in Cusco that my eyes were opened to the gastronomic possibilities of the world (I love you South America, but your continent has low standards in this regard). My mind truly registered for the first time what effect great food can have on the soul. I got the Ossobuco Al Vino Tinto with the Pappardelle A La Valantina on the side. I teared up and savored every atom of that meal.

Years later I brought my mother to Peru to show off my favorite country. We stopped here and I ordered the same dish. We were both extremely impressed (my mother knows what good food tastes like).

I have since traveled through Italy and lived in France. La Osteria retains its authenticity and should be proud of providing this food at such a great price.

If you are considering it and can afford it, don't waste another second. If you think you cannot afford it, trust me, you cannot afford not to go here.

I will be...

Nice cozy ambience, however food quality was disappointing (given 4.8 stars with over 1800 reviews).

We ordered one carbonara and one lasagna for s/90. the carbonara was a bit too salty and dry for our liking. spaghetti texture was not good too (and to me it seems more like spaghettini). but overall it’s edible and I finished it.

the lasagna was ok flavour-wise BUT it was very soupy. i only had 1/3 of the dish in the end. when we asked for the bill, the server asked if it’s done and i replied yeah coz it’s too watery and he just said ah yes ok.

Normally when servers ask if everything’s good i’ll just say yes to avoid embarrassment (and i understand i could be a bit picky and that might be my problem). but this lasagna sucks and i can’t force myself to finish that. The leftover is just an honest indication of the food quality.

P.S. I later checked the Google review after the meal, and saw that the owner claimed they care about customer’s reaction on the food and would provide a new dish or refund. Unfortunately that didn’t happen to us, guess we’re...