Illariy Restaurant

There is no more romantic setting for a meal in Cusco than the flower-filled courtyard of the Hotel Monasterio or beneath its arches in the Illariy restaurant. As clouds drift over the terracotta-tiled roof and you hear the adjacent church’s bells chime, don’t be surprised if a hint of celestial calm moves you to a state of higher serenity familiar to the monks who once inhabited these halls.

In the tradition of the best hotel dining rooms (like those at its sister properties the Cipriani, in Venice, and the Copacabana, in Rio), the Illariy delivers old-world, formal service that includes uniformed waiters carrying silver trays and leather-bound menus. Everything from the basket of fresh-baked breads to the homemade sorbets is first-rate. Though you will find such familiar standbys as steak and delicious pastas, you can also sample Peruvian dishes, like cuy, or guinea pig (roasted or deep-fried), and lomo saltado, stir-fried beef with onions, ginger, chilies, tomatoes, potatoes and rice.