4 Best Restaurants in Iquitos, The Amazon Basin

Al Frío y al Fuego

$$$ Fodor's choice
Step through the unassuming doorway on Avenida La Marina, descend the long stairway to the dock, and a boat will ferry you to this floating, thatch-roofed restaurant on the Itaya River. The setting is gorgeous, and they prepare excellent versions of traditional dishes such as patarashca (a fish fillet topped with herbs and garlic and roasted in a bijao leaf) and doncella (Amazon catfish) fillet à la loretana (in a mild chili sauce), as well as ample other intriguing favorites.
Peruvian Lunch Dinner $$$ Fodor's Choice
Av. La Marina 134-B, Iquitos, Loreto, Peru
965-607–474
alfrioyalfuego.com
Known For
  • views of Itaya River traffic
  • excellent Amazonian dishes
  • swimming pool
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun., Credit cards accepted

Dawn on the Amazon Café

$
A great place for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, the menu here is so vast that even the pickiest eaters will find something to tempt their tummies. Selections include lighter fare such as soups and salads, as well as heartier mains that include Peruvian favorites, American-style comfort food, international dishes, and plenty of vegetarian/vegan options. Coffee, smoothies, and desserts round out the menu so no matter what time of day you go to people-watch along the malecón, you will leave satisfied.

Fitzcarraldo

$$

Conveniently located on the Malecón Maldonado, this restaurant specializes in traditional regional specialties such as cecina con tacacho (a smoked pork steak with fried plantain balls) and pescado a la loretana (fish fillet in a mild chili sauce). The restaurant occupies a historic building and has an air-conditioned room, an airy front dining room with ceiling fans, and sidewalk tables on the malecón.

Recommended Fodor's Video

Le Bateau Ivre

$$
This tastefully restored rubber-boom-era mansion is well worth a visit—if not for a meal, at least for a drink or much-needed espresso—with sidewalk tables on the malecón and plenty more inside. The French-inspired menu features both basic bistro fare (think escargots, fish sautéed in butter, or chicken cordon bleu) and international favorites like hamburgers and pastas, as well as lighter salads and sandwiches. Try the doncella al ajillo (Amazon catfish fillet sautéed with garlic) or the tenderloin Chateaubriand.