Restaurants in Quito
La Mariscal district buzzes with cafés, pancake breakfasts at Magic Bean and traditional Ecuadorian lunches of roast guinea pig or chicken soup at Mama Clorinda. Tuck into Argentine steaks at Los Troncos and feast on seafood at upmarket Mare Nostrum. The Old Town is home to stylish haunts like Mediterranean-Ecuadorian Café Mosaico. Most places close at 11pm. Tipping is welcome but optional.
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18 Results
- Argentinean
Alma Cocina
In a residential neighborhood high on a Quito hillside overlooking the city, Alma has gone through a series of changes since first opening. Its current incarnation is as a contemporary Argentinean restaurant headed by Buenos Aires-born chef Miguel de Arregui. Classic Argentinean…$$Bellavista - Ecuadorean
Café Kallari
Indigenous Kiwicha farmers' co-op "Kallari," from Ecuador’s Amazonian Napo province, is wildly successful, having landed their bean-to-bar chocolates in North American retailers like Whole Foods. This very simple one-room café and shop in the heart of La Mariscal, decorated with…$New Town - Ecuadorean
Cassave Pan de Yuca & Yogurt
This is the most successful of the commercial shops selling Amazonian fruit-flavored yogurts and bread made from yucca flour and cheese. There are several locations around Quito like this one, with just a few small tables and fast-food efficiency. This is as convenient and as…$New Town - Ecuadorian
El Esmeraldas
Specializing in the food of Ecuador's north coastal region of Esmeraldas, this casual lunch-only spot stands out from the American chains and hotel restaurants in La Floresta. The Afro-Ecuadorian cuisine served here is heavy on peanuts, coconuts, and shellfish. On the menu are…$La Floresta - Fusion
Haceinda Lumiroma
A self-proclaimed Ecuadorian-Irish pub and restaurant 10,000 ft. up the side of a volcano is one of Quito's least-likely destinations. Even more surprising is that it's actually quite good. Set in the lodge of the same name, just 10 minutes from town, Lumiroma's dining room features…$$The Foothills La Gloria
Though it has the same owner as Lima's Mediterranean fusion restaurant of the same name, the food at this La Gloria is rooted in Spain, with touches of Peru, France, and Italy. Choose between the modern dining room, with polished concrete floors and abstract artwork, or the brighter,…$$La Floresta/New Town- Ecuadorian
La Querencia
This rustic eatery is one of the better spots in Quito for typical food that isn't coming from a market stall or a sketchy dive. Recipes hail from every part of the country. Order the papas con cuero (pork skins with potatoes in a peanut sauce) or seco de chivo (lamb stew) for…$$North of Town - Fusion/Peruvian
Lua
The former executive chef of Zazu, a Peruvian of Chinese-Italian descent named Alexander Lau, is the owner of this trendy La Floresta restaurant. Since opening in early 2013, it quickly became a Quito hot spot, and reservations are a must on most nights. The dining areas are set…$$La Floresta - Ecuadorian
Mama Clorinda
While it is far from perfect, Mama Clorinda, open since 2004, is a convenient option. The strip mall setting and rather tacky faux tipica décor of tourist market textiles and handicrafts aren't major draws, but the generally good menu of regional specialties, mostly from the Andes,…$New Town - Seafood
Mare Nostrum
Translated from Latin as "our sea," Mare Nostrum is one of the city's most renowned seafood restaurants, serving Quito since 1985. Inside a brick, castle-like space, it feels like a conquistador decorated the three dining rooms, as medieval knights, mastheads, and leather-backed…$$New Town - Mediterranean
Mea Culpa
Mea Culpa is Quito's grandest classical restaurant. Overlooking Plaza Grande from the second floor of the Palacio Arzobispal, it has one of the most beautiful restaurant settings in the Old Town, with vaulted ceilings, hand-carved wooden chairs, and tall windows with heavy drapes.…$$Old Town - Italian/Pizza
Pizzeria Le Arcate
More than a decade old, this old-school pizzeria has survived an influx of fast food pizza chains in La Mariscal. The interior is a touch classy, with Romanesque columns and white tablecloths. There are a few meat and pasta dishes on the menu, though the bulk of the offerings are the…$New Town - Peruvian
Segundo Muelle
This buzzy satellite restaurant of a popular Lima cevicheria burst onto the scene a few years ago, with a second location in the Quicentro shopping mall sprouting soon after. The décor follows the current fashion of trendy Peruvian cevicherias, with white walls and blond woods.…$$La Floresta/New Town - Cafe/International
The Magic Bean
The Magic Bean feels like a quaint small-town café. It's located on the ground floor and patio of the hostel of the same name, and it serves as a home away from home for many expats and travelers in Quito. Breakfast is the meal of the day here, with a full menu of American comfort…$New Town - International
Theatrum Restaurant & Wine Bar
This is one of the most stylish restaurants in the country and your best option for a fine dining experience in the Old Town. A stunning dining room on the second floor of the Teatro Nacional Sucre features heavy red drapes, white tablecloths, and high ceilings. In tandem with the…$$La Florestra/Old Town - Thai/Vietnamese
Uncle Ho’s
Founded by an Irish-Vietnamese-American and his Irish friend in 2007, this simple one-room restaurant with a few sidewalk seats has become a fixture in La Mariscal's backpacker grub scene. The ingredients are fresh and Thai and Vietnamese dishes like phở and pad Thai are exactly what…$New Town - International
Z (inc) Gastrobar
This Ecuadorian version of a gastropub, complete with weekend brunches, is where the cool kids come to eat and drink until late. The semi-industrial atmosphere features brick walls and high ceilings, including a towering backlit bar that slings hip cocktails like passionfruit sours…$$New Town - Pan-Latin
Zazu
Fresh, local ingredients and elegant white and grey interiors are what's on hand at Zazu, which has consistently been ranked as one of Quito's top restaurants since its 2007 opening. Now headed by Peruvian chef Rafael Peréz, who arrived after a successful career in the United States,…$$$La Pradera, North of Town
