Planning Your Trip to Uruguay

Meals in Uruguay are more leisurely and on a later schedule than in the United States. Uruguayans eat 4-5 meals per day.

Breakfast is simple, and lunch begins around 1:00 p.m., and can last a few hours. During this time, many businesses will be closed. Dinner times in Uruguay are much later than in most of the United States, and many restaurants will not open until after 7:00 p.m. On weeknights, dinner for most Uruguayans begins after 9:00 p.m., and on weekends even later. Meals are meant to be enjoyed and expected to be unrushed. You will have to ask for the check, as it is considered rude to provide a check without the patron having requested it. If you would like Knowmad to assist you with making restaurant reservations, please note that we must be notified at least 2 weeks prior to your dates of travel, especially if traveling during December or early January.

Price guide for the approximate cost of a main dish at each restaurant (please note that prices and restaurant hours are subject to change without notice): $ = Under 10 $$ = 10-20 $$$ = 20-40 $$$$ = Over 40

Covid-19 has affected restaurants’ hours of operation in South America as in the United States. Please refer to their websites For additional information and to make a reservation, as doing so may require you to enter payment information to confirm the reservation. We recommend making reservations at least 2 months in advance for the Christmas, New Year’s, and Easter holiday dates; and further in advance if looking to dine at a particular restaurant. If calling or making reservations from outside of Uruguay dial +598 before the complete phone number.

 

COLONIA

• LAS LIEBRES – Price: $$$ Just outside of Colonia, this hotel and restaurant offers a simple menu determined by what is in season in their certified organic garden along with meats roasted over the wood fire and loaves of freshly baked bread.
• CHARCO BISTRÓ – Price: $$$ Near the historic center of the city, enjoy your meal of traditional Uruguayan food, including seafood, with views out over the water.
• CASA VIERA – Price: $$-$$$ This restaurant offers a limited menu of Uruguayan cuisine, and is known for its delicious food, great cocktails and attentive service. A reservation is recommended.
• LA BODEGUITA – Price: $$ A relaxed restaurant overlooking the water, great for enjoying a variety of pizzas, pastas, sandwiches and drinks.

CARMELO

• NARBONA WINERY – Price: $$$ Excellent quality restaurant overlooking the vineyards with Uruguayan classics made with homegrown and homemade products. In the store you can buy products such as cheeses, dulce de leche, oils, spices, and jams.
• BASTA PEDRO – Price: $$ Located in Puerto Camacho, this is a great place to sit on the patio and take in the views, surrounded by nature. Enjoy milanesas, chivitos, pizzas and hamburgers along with craft beer and wine. A reservation is recommended.

JOSE IGNACIO

• PARADOR LA HUELLA – Price: $$$$ La Huella, one of Jose Ignacio’s most famous restaurants, offers simple and sophisticated dishes that highlight the authentic flavors of local ingredients. A reservation is recommended.
• MARISMO – Price: $$$$ Enjoy daily menu dishes made with a focus on finding the best raw materials from local farms. You may choose to dine outside in the sand surrounded by trees.
• LA OLADA – Price: $$$ Delicious food served in an intimate setting and made with fresh ingredients such as vegetables from the garden, lamb from local farms and fresh fish from the Atlantic.
• LA SUSANA – Price: $$$$ Located on the shore of Playa Mansa, a great place to watch the sunset, La Susana brings together seasonal Uruguayan cuisine, delicious cocktails and Vik wines.
• MOSTRADOR SANTA TERESITA – Price $$$ A casual restaurant where you can choose a large (3 sides) or small plate (2 sides) and select your ready-made sides and choice of protein at the mostrador.
• SOLERA – Price: $$$ Discover a large selection of wines from Uruguay and South America, paired with delicious homemade tapas and desserts.
• IL FARO – Price: $$$$ In front of El Faro Lighthouse, Chef Alessandro brings the taste and flavors of Napoli to your plate. You may choose to try the Napolitano Style pizza from the wood fired oven.
• CHIRINGUITO FRANCIS MALLMANN – Price: $$$$ Mallman returns with a beach bar inspired by the French coast, ideal for lunch accompanied by Bodega Garzón wines.

MONTEVIDEO

• EL TÍO BISTRÓ – Price: $$$ A closed door bistro where the owners are hands-on to create a magical dining experience. Despite not having an extensive menu, there are homemade options to suit every taste. A reservation is needed for entry.
• EL PALENQUE – Price: $$-$$$ A benchmark of service and quality for more than 60 years, this family run restaurant is known for its quality beef and Spanish dishes such as grilled octopus, fish, and shellfish.
• CABAÑA VERÓNICA – Price: $$-$$$ Located in the port market, this traditional Uruguayan grill is known for its variety of grilled meats along with its Mediterranean dishes such as paella and seafood.
• MANZANAR – Price: $$-$$$ This family friendly yet modern restaurant offers a variety of food such as traditional Uruguayan grilled meats, pizzas from the clay oven and sushi.
• EL ESTRECHO – Price: $$$$ Watch the cooks at work along the bar as you enjoy the daily menu of modern cuisine. This is a small restaurant with seating only along the bar so it’s recommended to arrive early.
• ES MERCAT – Price: $$$ A seafood-focused restaurant near the port market, serving whole fish cooked on the grill, bones and all.
• DE MORONDANGA – Price: $-$$ (tapas) Named for its minimalist nature, this corner bar offering a variety of tapas was opened by coworkers from El Mingus. Reservations are not accepted, so it’s best to arrive around opening time (7 pm).
• JACINTO – Price: $$$ A protege of Francis Mallmann, Chef Lucía Soria’s restaurant is known for its fresh homemade bread from its bakery and its traditional Uruguayan dishes.
• GARCÍA – Price: $$$ Traditional Uruguayan fine-dining with high-quality grilled lamb and beef along with their extensive wine list. Portion sizes are big so it is advisable to share.
• CAFÉ MISTERIO – Price: $$$ A favorite in Montevideo, serving both locals and tourists, this restaurant is known for its sushi along with its classic Uruguayan dishes. Enjoy cocktails and wines from Familia Deicas in this relaxed atmosphere.
• BAR AROCENA – Price: $$-$$$ This bar is known for their chivito, a typical hot sandwich, and is open 24/7. Their milanesa en 2 panes is also recommended.
• MISION COMEDOR – Price: $$ A modern restaurant that offers different brunch, lunch and dinner menus with dinner focused on tapas and cocktails.
• TOLEDO BAR DE TAPAS – Price: $-$$ (tapas) A short menu of tapas that changes with the available seasonal ingredients from the market, and is ideal for sharing and trying a variety of lighter dishes.
• EL MINGUS – Price: $$ A fun hidden gem with great food, cocktails and live music. The tapas are generous, and there are many options to choose from, as well as weekly menu options.
• RÍO CAFÉ & RESTAURANTE – Price: $$$ From the creators of Manzanar, this restaurant has three different menus; an ample breakfast menu, a lunch menu focused on Greek and Turkish food and a dinner menu focused on traditional Italian foods.

PUNTA DEL ESTE

• L’MARANGATU – Price: $$$$ Enjoy healthy breakfasts, fresh lunches, an afternoon tea or drinks at sunset, all in a relaxed environment with good service.
• VIRAZÓN – Price: $$-$$$ Enjoy delicious Uruguayan seafood as you take in the views over the port on the patio.
• MUELLE3 – Price: $$$ A bar and restaurant with a wide variety of food, friendly service and a patio with great views.

• CUENTOS DE AMOR DE LOCURA Y DE MUERTE (TALES OF LOVE, MADNESS AND DEATH) by Horacio Quiroga is composed of short stories known for their realistic yet slightly fantastic quality which highlight subjects which were taboo during their conception. Horacio Quiroga mainly wrote short stories based in the jungle of Misiones (such as Cuentos de la Selva) and is said to have taken inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe.
• LA TREGUA (THE TRUCE) by Mario Benedetti is set in the 1950’s in Montevideo and constructed entirely from diary entries, tells the story of a government official on the brink of retirement who, as a widower, unexpectedly finds love. This famous work of Uruguayan literature explores themes of loneliness, love, and everyday life in Uruguay.
• LAS VENAS ABIERTAS DE AMERICA LATINA (OPEN VEINS OF LATIN AMERICA) by Eduardo Galeano is written by an Uruguayan journalist who was forced out of Uruguay for his left-wing leanings and subsequently spent nearly a decade hiding in Argentina and Spain. In this book he gives an analysis of Latin American economic problems looking into the exploitation, destitution and dictatorships endured on the continent.
• LA NAVE DE LOS LOCOS (THE SHIP OF FOOLS) by Cristina Peri Rossi is written by one of Uruguay’s feminist icons who was exiled by the government during the dictatorship of the 1970s and her works banned. Troubled by his dreams, Equis heads out on an adventure across the world, facing the challenges of social tension and exile head on. This book tackles and unpicks widely held beliefs about the dynamic between sexes.
• LA VIDA BREVE (A BRIEF LIFE) by Juan Carlos Onetti is about a copywriter living in a mix of reality and fiction as he tries to deal with his failed career and his wife recovering from cancer. He starts to fantasize a different life while also seeking release in the real world. This story touches on despair, futility and what it means to be alive.