Fodor's Expert Review Mercado Municipal Restaurant

Bursting with plant life, Mercado's colonial-era courtyard is filled with colorfully mismatched tables and a sunken cement oven where many of the meats---order the suckling pig or lamb---are slow cooked for hours. Chefs Laura Jaramillo and Mario Martinez serve superbly realized modern bistro dishes like crispy duck salad with peas, corn, and bok choy or suckling pig in a black Filipino marinade with wok-cooked vegetables. Just off the patio lie a small bakery that offers treats to go, and Bolívar Social Club, the restaurant's standalone bar that serves excellent cocktails in stylish interior that's worth a visit on its own. A smooth jazz soundtrack rounds out the experience. For a romantic evening meal, reserve one of the tables under the trees in the heart of the courtyard.