Hearts Cafe - Ollantaytambo, Peru

Hearts Cafe is a quaint cafe located on Avenida Ventiderio in Ollantaytambo, Peru. The restaurant is located at the crossroads to the train station and the road that leads from Plaza del Armas to the Ollantaytambo Temple Hill. Hearts Cafe is more than just a local coffee shop, it is also an NGO whose mission is to support the local community, primarily through nutrition.

My wife and I popped in to Hearts Cafe for a light meal. We weren't in the mood for a full meal, so we opted for coffee and scones. I ordered the mocha, which came in a tall clear glass. The thick chocolate was visibly clinging to the interior of the glass. After a quick stir, I tasted what may have been the best cup of coffee during my entire stay in Peru. The cappuccino from El Albergue was very close. My wife had the hot chocolate, which was equally rich. The scones were somewhat plain, which is to be expected. They had a nice, light texture. The scones were served with jam and cream, which added all the flavor that the scones themselves lacked (I prefer cinnamon scones).

The food and drink at Hearts Cafe was excellent, with surprisingly affordable prices. All of the profits from Hearts Cafe go to the NGO Living Hearts. The restaurant has a website at Hearts Cafe. When I compared the cost of drinks at Hearts Cafe to nearby shops, the prices were modestly cheaper. This surprised me, since the cafe is in the business of raising money for charitable causes. So you get a double-bonus here. Inexpensive prices, with the profits helping the local community.

The menu at Hearts Cafe listed a wide range of selections that included a blend of different cooking styles. While we opted for a light snack, the menu had some attractive options that included salads, soups, hamburgers and some international flavors. The menu catered to a variety of palates to include vegetarian dishes. The drink menu offered several types of coffee and fresh lemonade that was very tempting. I would have tried the lemonade if I hadn't chosen the mocha. The list of English tea and herbal infusions was also appealing. The menu includes a variety of breakfast items and includes box lunches for tourists heading to Machu Picchu. It is a good idea to pack a meal if you are heading to Machu Picchu. The options once you arrive are very limited and prohibitively expensive.

The atmosphere inside Hearts Cafe is cozy. The restaurant has tables outside the front entrance. It was windy during our visit, so we opted for a table upstairs. There are few tables on the first floor and two rooms on the second floor overlooking the street below. The restaurant seemed to be the spot for young people from the nearby hostal. That may have been a combination of pricing and free wi-fi. I used the wi-fi to check email on my iPhone and found that it was adequate for my light purposes. The people on laptops did not appear frustrated at the speeds, so it must have been a decent connection.

Hearts Cafe is open every day from 7:00 AM until 9:30 PM except Christmas Eve and Christmas. The restaurant also takes a two-week break during February (which corresponds with the time that Machu Picchu is closed). They can be contacted at 00 51 084 436730 (International) or 51 96 0472708 (cell). They also accept donations at the restaurant or through the living hearts website.

The only thing better than a good meal is a sense that you have done something good for the local community. Hearts Cafe does both. Rated purely as a restaurant, the pleasant atmosphere, great service and excellent food made this my third favorite dining experience in Ollantaytambo. That is saying a lot alongside El Albergue and Puka Rumi. In fact, my rating between Hearts Cafe and Puka Rumi are very close. I might even say they are tied for second. If I were to weight my rating by the charitable work of Hearts Cafe, it would push them into second. But my rating is purely on the dining experience. There are plenty of restaurants in Ollantaytambo, but if you want exceptional coffee and a sense of community service, visiting Hearts Cafe is a must.

Some of my photos from Peru were inadvertently deleted. My visit to Hearts Cafe was among them. The photos in this post are taken from the Hearts Cafe website and accurately represent my recollection of my visit.