There are two main dining options at Machu Picchu: the cafe just outside the entrance and the sit-down buffet at the Sanctuary Lodge ($40 USD). Both require exiting Machu Picchu and then returning (if you have time left on your entrance ticket) and get quite busy at lunchtime. Consider eating earlier or later.
Another option is to finish your visit to Machu Picchu, take the bus down the mountain, and eat in Aguas Calientes before returning to the train station. Aguas Calientes offers a wide range of restaurants, primarily serving pizza and tourist foods. Our favorites are Indio Feliz and Tree House, though they are on the pricier side (and Tree House can be hard to find up winding streets). These are recommended if you’re staying in Aguas Calientes overnight.
In general, restaurants in Aguas Calientes, and even more so at Machu Picchu, are expensive relative to their quality, as all food arrives by train. Another option is to bring a boxed lunch (many hotels offer this), or for a gourmet meal with wine, consider one of the high-end trains, which might be the highlight of your trip.
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