A new genus, Optimandes Marin, Nakahara & Willmott, n. gen., is described to contain the type species Neonympha eugenia C. Felder & R. Felder, 1867, its junior subjective synonym Euptychia phineus Butler, 1867, and its subspecies Euptychia transversa Weymer, 1911, which are transferred from the genus Euptychoides Forster, 1964. The sister species to Optimandes eugenia n. comb. is a distinctive new species which is here described and named as Optimandes mocha Willmott, Hall & Lamas, n. sp.. Figures of wings, genitalia and distribution maps are provided for both species and the immature stages of Optimandes eugenia are described for the first time. Both species are uncommon to rare inhabitants of Andean cloud forest, with O. eugenia widespread throughout the tropical Andes, and O. mocha occurring from southern Ecuador to Bolivia.