$5 Lunch: Jack’s Café

Location, location, location. Perched right at the base of the steep hill leading up to Plaza San Blas, Jack’s Café is a hip oasis of creative comfort food, English-language magazines and ambient music. It’s also a prime spot to mingle, relax and re-fuel before ascending any more of Cusco’s famous cobblestoned hills.

The main draw here is simple: fresh, innovative food, easy-going service and a welcoming atmosphere. On weekend mornings and most evenings the line of people waiting to be seated is often wrapped outside the door. Jack’s has a well-earned reputation for generous portions, fluffy pancakes with caramelized bananas and perfect coffee drinks. If you want to skip the crowd, lunchtime is much tamer and offers a good opportunity to try the ginger-lime tea in peace.

photo courtesy of TripAdvisor

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself wanting to order five or six different things the first time you visit Jack’s. The sheer variety of delicious-sounding items on the menu provokes many a return visit and seldom disappoints. Mains run from $3-7.50 and arrive looking too pretty to eat. On my first visit, it was a toss-up between the bean and cheese tortillas or the veggie burger. I decided to go with the tortilla dish and immediately patted myself on the back when it arrived- pinto beans and gooey cheese pressed between a crisp tortilla and served with a spicy pico de gallo salsa and creamy guacamole, yum! The second time around, I contemplated the grilled chicken and avocado sandwich before ultimately going with the pumpkin soup and hummus with ciabatta bread. Another score and full stomach all for around $5.

photo courtesy of TripAdvisor

On a side note, the ridiculously generous English breakfast is served all day and the fresh fruit smoothies are dangerously good. Be sure to arrive with a healthy appetite, you’re going to need it.

Location: Choquechaka 509, Cusco, Peru