3 Best Restaurants in Quito, Ecuador

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.

Dulceria Colonial

$
Diagonally across Plaza Grande from Hotel Plaza Grande and below the Catedral, this pint-size café deals in delicious baked goods, sandwiches, and more than a dozen types of coffee, among them cold brew and Vietnamese. The higos (figs) and cheese sandwich, a traditional Ecuadorian dessert, is served on two fluffy buns that taste much like brioche. It's not too sweet, but for an even more savory sandwich, try the pernil (roast pork shoulder) or the vegetarian, with cheese, lettuce, tomato, and avocado. Of the desserts, you can't go wrong with a thick slice of the housemade cakes, particularly the apple and banana. Free Wi-Fi and outdoor seating make this sweet spot particularly popular.

The Magic Bean

$$ | La Mariscal

High-quality food and a relaxed vibe draw travelers, expatriates, and locals to "the Bean" to socialize over crisp salads and do business over cappuccinos. Blackberry pancakes and bagels are served for breakfast, while the lunch and dinner menu emphasizes soups, sandwiches, pastas, and shish kebab. The atmosphere is casual and the service friendly; if you're solo, you'll feel very comfortable here. Check out the back wall with a selection of giant Far Side cartoons. The Magic Bean also has live music some nights.

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