by: Leah Celler & Luis Felipa
Ecuador has one of the most distinctive ecosystems in the world, from the lowland Amazon rainforest up to the Andes Mountains and all the way to the coast with the stunning Galapagos Islands. This ecological diversity provides an incredible selection of produce, meats, vegetables, fruits and fish all found year-round, in the country’s culinary scene.Travelers to Ecuador’s capital city can find gourmet guinea pig, inventive fusion, nutritional soups, delicious desserts, outstanding seafood, and craft beer. Here are our favorite restaurants to ensure you eat and drink well when visiting the UNESCO World Heritage city of Quito
If you have a specific restaurant in mind from this list, please check the websites or contact the restaurants directly for specific information and reservation guidelines as restaurant hours, menus and prices are likely to change over time.
Quito historic center
1. Cedron, The Restaurant of Casa Gangotena
This majestic historic building turned boutique hotel, offers fine dining by Plaza San Francisco. Featuring Cocina Mestiza, a style of cuisine characterized by modern takes on traditional dishes, an excellent wine selection and local fresh ingredients. The restaurant crafts exquisite and elegantly presented dishes such as Llama Spring Rolls or Red Snapper Ceviche.
Website: Casa Gangotena Hotel
Phone number: +593 97-999-9995 or +593 2 604-0882
Open: Open: Daily from 7am to 10pm. Call in advance for closing periods during the day.
Address: Andalucía N24-234 y Cordero (Plaza San Francisco)
Price range: $$$$$
2. Pekaraz
Located in one of the impressive colonial buildings of the Plaza Grande, Pekaraz offers an exquisite combination of local, Mediterranean and international food. It’s recommended to make reservations in advance. The views of the Central Plaza and romantic setting make this an exclusive restaurant in Quito.
Website: Pekaraz
Phone number: +593 2 295-1190
Open: Mon-Sat from 12:00 to 9:30pm. Sun from noon to 5pm
Address: Chile and Venezuela St., Palacio Arzobispal – 2nd floor (Independence Square)
Price range: $$$$$
3. Theatrum
Theatrum Restaurant and Wine Bar is found on the second floor of the historic National Theater. The restaurant offers Ecuadorian gourmet cuisine and Mediterranean fare, including octopus and…Theatrum’s dessert menu, however, features a range of specifically Ecuadorian fruits. The restaurant prides itself on its wine bar, which keeps 1,000 bottles in stock with over 150 labels and even offers an oenology course. Call in advance for courtesy transportation from/to hotels.
Website: Theatrum
Phone number: +593 98-790-8619 or +593 2 257-1011
Open: Mon-Fri from 12:30 to 3:30pm and 7 to 11pm. Sat and Sun from 6 to 10:30pm
Address: Teatro Nacional Sucre – 2nd floor (Plaza del Teatro)
Price range: $$$$$
4. La Belle Epoque – Hotel Plaza Grande
La Belle Epoque is located on the second floor of the deluxe Plaza Grande hotel in the old town of Quito and has a spectacular view of Plaza de la Independencia. It combines a pleasant and elegant atmosphere with a French cuisine with Ecuadorian products and outstanding service. The opera show certainly gives the unique touch to this baroque style restaurant. A fine dining experience from beginning to end.
Website: La Belle Epoque – Hotel Plaza Grande
Phone number: +593 2 251-0777
Open: Mon-Sat from noon to 11pm. Sun from noon to 3pm.
Address: Garcia Moreno N5-16 y Chile
Price range: $$$$
5. Hasta La Vuelta, Señor
This charming and delicious restaurant located in the heart of Quito’s historic center, features balcony seating overlooking the covered courtyard. Here, Ecuadorian cuisine is prepared with panache – sautéed seasoned vegetables – and reliable favorites include empanadas, ceviche, lamb stew, tilapia and sea bass.
Website: Hasta La Vuelta, Señor
Phone number: +593 2 258-0887 or 258-5812
Open: Mon-Fri from 11am to 11pm. Sun from 11am to 9pm
Address: Chile Oe 456 & Venezuela C.C. Palacio Arzobispal, 3rd floor
Price range: $$$$
6. La Casa de Los Geranios
Traditional Ecuadorian fare, try some the of classic soups the Andean region is famous for. Vegetarian and gluten free options. Located in La Ronda, one of Quito’s most historic streets, has been known as an artistic area for decades. Features various artisan shops.
Website: La Casa de Los Geranios
Phone number: +593 98-560-6645 or +593 2 295-6035
Open: Daily from 11am to midnight
Address: Morales OE1-134 y Guayas
Price range: $$$$
Adjacent to historic center
7. Pim’s
Pim’s is located right at the top of Panecillo Hill by an impressive statue of the Virgin Mary. Gorgeous views of Quito can be seen from the restaurant’s magnificent floor-to-ceiling windows. Pim’s provides fine Ecuadorian and international cuisine and a great place for lunch with panoramic views!
Website: Pim’s
Phone number: +593 2 317-0878 or 317-0162
Open: Mon-Sat from noon to 11pm. Sun from noon to 6pm Closed on Wednesday.
Address: General Melchor Aymerich (on top of Panecillo)
Price range: $$$$
8. Pim’s Itchimbia
The internationally recognized Pim´s Restaurant was opened in Quito in 1981 by Alejandro Baraya and María del Carmen Almeida. Chef Baraya has thirty years of experience and more than 250 items of products on his versatile menu, integrating regional and international dishes. This Pim´s Restaurant is located in the Itchimbia Park , which has one of the best views of the city of Quito. You can enjoy delicious steak, chicken and fish dishes along with traditional Ecuadorian cuisine.
Website: Pim’s Itchimbia
Phone number: +593 2 322-8410 or 322-8411
Open: Mon-Sat from noon to 11pm. Sun from noon to 6pm
Address: Palacio de Cristal, Calle Iquique s/n (at Itchimbia hill)
Price range: $$
Quito North center
9. Terra
TERRA’s cuisine is inspired by the taste of the four regions of Ecuador. The restaurant’s creator, Chef Alvaro Reinoso, uses his modern kitchen to prepare the freshest ingredients from local producers. He combines traditional Ecuadorian fare, and creates something new and unique. His distinctive style and preparation will elevate their cuisine to the world. The restaurant represents a magnificent combination of the new and the traditional, a modern space that preserves the spirit of the old traditional house in the neighborhood of La Floresta.
Website: Terra
Phone number: +593 2 451-0635
Open: Tue-Thu from 12:30 to 3pm & from 7 to 10pm. Fri-Sat 12:30 to 3:30pm & from 7 to 10:30pm
Address: Av. Isabel la Católica y Galavis
Price range: $$$$
10. Zazu
The Relais & Chateaux restaurant offers a bright main dining room with a buzzy, laidback international feel and a clientele to match. Contemporary gourmet food offers Latin flavors that feature a Chef’s tasting menu and dishes, like local stone crab served with olive oil, chili and lime juice. They have an impressive cava, too.
Website: Zazu
Phone number: +593 2 254-3559
Open: Mon-Fri from 12.00 to 3.30pm & 6:30-11pm. Sat from 6:30 to 11pm. Closed Sunday.
Address: Mariano Aguilera 331 y La Pradera
Price range: $$$$
11. Rincon La Ronda
Rincon La Ronda has specialized in serving traditional Ecuadorian food since 1982. Among the best dishes are cazuela de mariscos (a seafood casserole soup) and pernil (roast pork) with llapingachos (mashed cheese and potato pancakes), peanut sauce, and avocado. During the week dinners are accompanied by guitar music, and folk dancing follows dinner on Sunday.
Website: under renovation
Phone number: +593 2 224-0401
Open: Mon-Sat from 9am to 9pm and Sundays from 9 to 5pm.
Address: Noruega E1049 y Av. 6 de Diciembre
Price range: $$$
12. Urko
This is a trendy place whose plates are creations of Ecuadorian chef, Juan Sebastián Pérez. He uses native organic ingredients coming from all the regions of Ecuador to prepare gourmet food that will tantalize your taste buds. The kitchen is open, so you can see what the chef and his assistants are creating. The aromas, colors, textures and flavors are stunning and reflect the cultural and natural diversity of Ecuador.
Website: Urko
Phone number: +593 2 256-3180
Open: Tue-Sat from 7 to 10:30pm
Address: Isabel La Católica N24-862 y Julio Zaldumbide
Price range: $$$$
13. Quitu
Quitu Identidad Culinaria is a restaurant exploring the city’s culinary roots, which date back to the Quitu Pre-Columbian indigenous people who inhabited what is today known as Quito before being conquered by the Spanish in 1524. Quitu focuses on innovative high-end cuisine, using top-quality local produce, and promoting sustainable development, farming and fishing practices. You can travel through the flavors of the four regions of Ecuador by enjoying one of four tasting menus offered for a limited number of people.
Website: Quitu
Phone number: +593 99 139 7766 or +593 2 513-8887
Open: Mon-Fri from 12:30 to 10:30pm. Sat-Sun closed
Address: Alberto Mena Caamaño E13-54 y González Suárez
Price range: $$$$
14. Somos
Rooted in local ingredients, flavors and traditions, Somos has searched the globe to bring back new techniques, contemporary dishes and a spirit of progression to create a restaurant that tells the story of today’s Ecuador through the language of food. “Ecuadorian born. Globally inspired.” is both their motto and their mini-manifesto as they marry the flavors, ingredients and traditional dishes of Ecuador to create contemporary cuisine.
Website: Somos
Phone number: +593 99-057-8897
Open: Tues-Fri 12:30-2:30pm & Tue-Sat 6:30-10:30pm
Address: Av. Eloy Alfaro N34-421 & y Av. Portugal
Price range: $$$$
15. Zfood Pescaderia
A fresh seafood restaurant in Quito with a commitment to responsible fishing and fair trade. They create the value of consciousness in what they bring to the table. Zfood offers excellent fish-based menus and is set up like a fish market with an open kitchen so you can watch the chefs in action. Zfood is becoming one of the city’s favorite places, perfect for a delicious lunch or dinner paired with a nice selection of white wines.
Website: Zfood Pescaderia
Phone number: +593 2-223-6425
Open: Mon-Wed from 10am to 5pm. Thu-Sat from 10am to 11pm. Sundays from 10:30am to 5:00pm
Address: Coruña N30-135 & Whymper
Price range: $$$$
Ready to get on a plane and fly to Ecuador for a culinary adventure?
- Get in touch with Southwind’s specialist Travel Consultants. With years of experience in Ecuador and customized trip design, they’re ready to dream up the perfect South American vacation for you.