A Guide to Eating and Drinking in Asuncion
- Asuncion Information
- Eating & drinking in Asuncion
- Things to do in Asuncion
- Where to stay in Asuncion
- Asuncion street map
The lively nightlife and varied cuisine that can be found in Asuncion reflect the city’s diverse culture. Backpackers will find everything from trendy clubs and international restaurants to tiny cafés with sophisticated local dishes in this cosmopolitan city.
Paraguayan menus are inspired by the prolific supply of cheap, excellent quality beef which is available across the country. Traditional dishes include the 'parrillada' – a selection of grilled beef, sausage and organs that typically comes priced by weight.
There’s no shortage of affordable places to eat in Asuncion and, with the city ranking as one of the cheapest capitals in the world, it’s a great place for budget travelers to treat themselves. The best restaurants can be found around the central Plaza de los Heroes and Plaza Uraguaya.
Although Asuncion is, like the rest of the country, dominated by steak houses, recent multicultural influences have seen European and Asian eateries spring up in the modern Downtown area and in the new luxury shopping malls such as Shopping Excelsior and Shopping del Sol.
Despite the sleepy, laidback atmosphere which is prevalent during the day, the city turns into a vibrant party destination after dark. It tends to come alive around midnight and keeps buzzing well into the early hours of the morning, especially on weekends.
Asuncion is packed with great nightlife, from British-style pubs, which are actually more popular with local residents than travelers, to more authentic café-bars. There’s a host of popular hotspots to the east of Plaza Uraguaya and several trendy late-night clubs on Av. Brasilia.
Despite their penchant for partying, the most popular tipple amongst locals here is 'terere'; a cold tea which is drunk on the street as a social ritual. Visitors will find it offered to them eagerly and, as with much of this quirky city, it’s impossible not to appreciate the uniqueness of the gesture, if not necessarily the taste!