2 Best Restaurants in Samaipata, Central Bolivia

The Turkish couple behind La Cocina have earned accolades from all corners with the simplest of recipes: make everything from scratch and make it with love. Their burgers are meaty and juicy, and the shawarma (sliced rotisserie lamb in pita bread), kofte (minced lamb meatball kebabs with a mint sauce), and gozleme (a hand-rolled and folded Turkish flatbread stuffed with ground beef or vegetables) hit the mark perfectly. There are some tasty vegetarian options, including falafel, and a few ventures into tasty Tex-Mex territory. The prices are reasonable, so grab a stool on the street at the window, order with abandon, and watch the Samaipata evening go by.

Set in a beautiful garden near the town square, this eatery offers excellent Bolivian and International food. The tapas-like Tablitas are great for sampling a variety of flavors. Vegetarian dishes are prepared with organic, locally grown ingredients and the lemonade is squeezed just before it reaches the table. Live music is occasionally featured on weekends.