Why go
A slow bar with the origins explained
The bar here is a slow one, and that is the point. Guests choose between coffees while the staff talk through where each came from and how it will be brewed, which makes the counter useful for anyone who wants more than a standard espresso handed over. Kafi Wasi roasts as well as serves, so the explanation goes back a step further than most cafés can manage.
The coffee is Peruvian throughout. Villa Rica and Cajamarca are the origins to compare, and the roastery has been working with them since it opened in 2017. Chemex covers the filter side, cappuccino the everyday milk drink, and the more expressive end of the list runs to an iced caramel latte, a flower coffee and a mixed berry matcha latte. Tea is available, but coffee is the reason to sit down.
A sillar mansion with a garden
The setting does real work. The café occupies a white sillar mansion, built from the white volcanic ashlar stone Arequipa itself is built from, near the historic centre, so the architecture is part of the visit rather than a backdrop to it.
Outside there is a terrace and garden area planted with flowers and fruit, which turns a quick cup into a longer sit. Service is attentive and personal, and the room suits people who ask questions at the bar, compare two origins side by side, or use an hour here as a short introduction to Peru’s growing regions. It was placed at number 17 on The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops for 2026, and named the second best coffee shop in South America.
Brunch alongside the cup
Food leans brunch. The savoury side starts with a sandwich of local sausage and scrambled eggs, and continues through a ham and cheese triple sandwich and a caprese sandwich, with meat lasagna as the heaviest plate on the list.
The sweet end is where the café is easiest to pair. Red fruit cheesecake matches the fruit-forward coffees best, especially after a Chemex or a cappuccino; the brownie is the chocolate answer; a yogurt parfait and a dessert board fill in around them. Order the coffee first and let the food follow it, rather than the other way around, because the bar is where the staff are most useful.
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Frequently asked questions
What should I order at Kafi Wasi?
Start at the slow bar and ask for a Chemex of one of the Peruvian coffees, from Villa Rica or Cajamarca. Cappuccino is the everyday milk option, while the iced caramel latte, flower coffee and mixed berry matcha latte are the more expressive choices. Red fruit cheesecake is the best pairing.
Does Kafi Wasi roast its own coffee?
Yes. It is a café and roastery in one, working since 2017 with Peruvian coffees from regions including Villa Rica and Cajamarca. That is why the slow bar matters: staff walk through each coffee’s origin and brewing method before it is made, which makes comparing two cups straightforward.
Compare nearby places
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