8 Best Restaurants in Santa Cruz, Central Bolivia

This is simply the best place to go for a taste of local Cruzeño cuisine. The cozy, traditional-feeling dining room is housed in a late-19th-century home with plenty of restored furniture, and the food is top notch—just like Grandma would have done it. The sopa de maní (peanut-and-potato soup) is rich and creamy, and the majadito con pato (a traditional dish of rice, duck, and fried plantain, topped with an egg) is a must. The menu changes daily and if you don't speak Spanish, it can be a little confusing, but soldier on through and eat whatever they bring you. You won't regret it.

Santa Cruz's sexiest dinner spot, and the place to be seen, Jardin de Asia isn't just a pretty face—it delivers with a constantly high level of service and a menu that is reminiscent of some of Lima's best Asian/fusion restaurants. The decor is stylish and the crowd dressy. This is no bargain, but it's worth splashing out to try some of the more interesting Amazonian/Andean-styled dishes. It's best at night, but they do offer a lunch menu for (Bs)70 if you want to try it out without breaking the bank.

Big and always busy, this restaurant is one of the best places to eat regional dishes. If variety is your spice, go straight for the buffet típico with a selection of 4 traditional dishes. Other popular selections include picante de gallina (spicy chicken) or chicharrón (boiled pork ribs seasoned with garlic, oregano, and lemon). Most plates are big enough for two. The kitchen and service are excellent. If you happen to stop by on a weekend, you'll be treated to live music. There are several branches, but the original is still the best.

Set in a centenarian, colonial-style building with a lovely interior patio, this German-style restaurant with local touches offers delicious food and a welcoming atmosphere. The menu is wide ranging, and besides the well-done German offerings, the fish is good (try the surubí) and the daily lunch specials are tasty, mostly international-style home cooking. For a treat, try the nudo de cerdo al horno (roasted pork knuckle, from the German dish Schweinshaxe).

Barbecue beef is the order of the day at Los Hierros, and it's all made of the finest cuts. Other mouthwatering options include pork loin, shrimp kebab, salmon with capers, or catfish filet. Add one of their delicious salads to your plate, and if you're brave, an antipasto first. The grilled provolone is a great way to start your meal, and the wine list is huge. Request a table on the second-floor terrace.

This great little bakery, complete with chalkboard specials and baguettes leaning against the walls, is the perfect place to cool your heels before a morning of sightseeing or to stock up for a picnic out of town. The coffee is excellent, and the croissants alone are worth a special stop. Don't miss the whole-wheat empanadas.

Even though the decor is a little off the mark, and the furniture isn't as comfortable as it should be, Vinotek is a haven for wine lovers. The offerings include an excellent list of local wines and a fair number of imports from France and Argentina. The food menu—listed daily on a chalkboard—consists mostly of appetizers such as cheese platters (the tabla del campo is a winner), bruschetta, and pâté (try the titikaka trout pâté). They also stock one of Bolivia's best craft beers, Saya. Open Thursday through Saturday only.

A new face on the Cruzeño dining scene, Zanella is hitting all the right notes with refined Spanish/Italian cuisine by a talented young chef. From the highbrow slow-cooked egg and tagliatelle with black truffle pâté, all the way to the most traditional Spanish omelet, the kitchen gets it right. Don't miss the black rice and shrimp paella, served for two. The interior is simple, though a touch brightly lighted, but the atmosphere is still good.