The Best Restaurant in Quito, Ecuador

Background Illustration for Restaurants

Quito's better restaurants are found in the New City. Even at the most glittering establishments, formal attire is never a requirement, but you'll feel out of place in shorts, T-shirts, and jeans, except at places (such as The Magic Bean) that consummate foreigners' hangout. Many restaurants close for a break between 3 and 7, and on Sunday some remain shuttered or close early. Some useful phrases are: a la brasa (grilled), al vapor (steamed), apanada(batter-fried/breaded), brosterizada (deep fried), encocado (cooked in coconut oil), hornado (roasted), reventado (skillet fried), and seco (stewed meat).

Cafe Plaza Grande

$

One of the popular historic hotel's three dining options, this Ecuadorian cafe is a nice choice between the upscale French option and the more relaxed wine cellar. Snag a window table for the best views of the Grand Plaza. The wood-paneled dining room, decorated in botanical prints and drawings of Quito's churches, ais a bit dim, though live music several evenings a week brightens it up. For dessert and a show, order the helados de paila, ice cream prepared tableside in a big copper bowl.