Quito Nightlife
There are restaurants to suit all pockets in Quito. Chicken is the staple dish in Ecuador and cheap eateries offering basic chicken and rice dishes can be found everywhere. Local specialities to look out for include tallarin, which is a noodle dish coupled with chicken or beef, and churrasco, which is a selection of grilled meats, often served with potatoes and salad. Cebiche, which is marinated clams or shrimp, is another local speciality, although it is not for everyone.
For authentic home lunchtime cooking head to Meson Curopco on Vicente Ramón Roca. Those having problems deciphering menus will be in wonderland here as there is nothing to read. Just ask for the almuerzo, which is a cheap, multi-course meal that includes salad, soup, meat with rice beans and plantains, and a small desert.
El Pobre Diablo on Av Isabela Católica y Francisco Galavis is renowned throughout the city for its great local cooking and decent prices. Both the fried pork and the goat stew are especially good and there is live music on most weekends.
The city also does a fine line in Asian cuisine, with Chinese restaurants, known as chifas, seemingly on every corner. Indian food is also popular and one of the top places to try is Chandani Tandoori on Juan Leon Mero, which has a good array of decently priced dishes.
One of the finest and most expensive places to eat in the city is the Theatrum Quito Fine Restaurant & Wine Bar, which is where the city's moneyed residents like to go.
Local liquors and wines to try include Mistelas, Canelazos and Vino Caliente and there are many good local beers to have a go at as well, although Brazilian beers are also in abundance.
Those after a night on the town have a number of options available to them although it is advisable to take taxis between bars and clubs, even if they are just a few hundred yards apart.
The Guapulo district of town has a bohemian feel to it and contains numerous cafes and bars in which to unwind after a long day of seeing the sights.
La Mariscal is another top area to try. It is here you will find Varadero on Reina Victoria, which is a great spot for live music lovers. This cosy if sweaty bar, which also houses a restaurant, has a great live act playing top class Cuban music on most nights of the week. The crowd loves it and after a few reasonably priced drinks the whole joint is heaving.
La Bunga, which a popular spot for both locals and tourists, is a great place to go if your musical tastes are varied. The DJs here play anything from ska and rock through to numbers by local bands and traditional Latin American rhythms, such as salsa and meringue. Not averse to playing a spot of hip hop or trance either.
One of the swankiest joints to try is Blues on Republica y Eloy Alfaro. This bar come club is open until at least 04:00 on weekends and is home to some of the most expensive spirits in town. There is also a small dance floor on which you can rub shoulders with the rich and famous of Quito.
|
Nightlife and Food & Drink
