The best restaurants Quito

Ecuadorian cuisine on the menu at this French bistro in the capital! A choice address, with dishes that are both aesthetically and gustatorially pleasing. Tip: try the appetizer locro de papas (delicious potato soup with cheese and achiote, a typical Ecuadorian fruit) and the main course hornado (made with pork). The menu features specialties from all over the country, so you can travel from the Amazon to the Andes to the Costa in a single meal. Lunchtime only, but one of the best almuerzos in the neighborhood.

Cafeteria Modelo is a myth! You'll see very few tourists, but it's a popular spot for locals. Founded in 1950, it's the place to go for local specialities of all kinds. Seco de chivo, ponche, ceviches and the famous pernil sandwich (cooked ham) will delight your taste buds with flavours that are truly typical of Ecuador. Prices are modest and the welcome is really friendly! A great place for a quick lunch, between two churches, right in the heart of the city.

The opinions are unanimous, it is one of the best pizzerias of the city. In a small rustic room with a friendly atmosphere, about fifty pizzas cooked on a wood fire, and mixing flavours and colours, are proposed and served to the customers. Pasta and other dishes are of course offered, as well as Italian wines. However, we advise you to choose the pizzas which are much better than the pasta. This is probably because everyone comes here for them! The bill is reasonable considering the quality.

This trendy restaurant stands on the slopes of the Pichincha volcano. The modern minimalist decor emphasizes the large bay window that offers a spectacular view of the old town and the avenue of volcanoes. On the plate, we find an excellent fusion cuisine based on fresh local products cooked in an original and refined way, with Mediterranean influences in particular. The wine list is up to the standard of this trendy place. A little far from the centre, it is advisable to go there, and especially to come back by taxi.

This panoramic restaurant of the same name offers a breathtaking view of the old town and Plaza Santo Domingo, and only for this, the trip is worth the blow! You will be entitled to a quality almuerzo, typically Ecuadorian. The international invoice menu, with vegetarian options complete the menu. Professional and pleasant service. A good address. Only hic: the servings will certainly not agree with the big appetite.

To vary tastes, Japanese cuisine enthusiasts can test this sushi bar with an excellent reputation for the quality of its products and the creativity of its recipes. Sushi, makis, tepanyaki, soups… the choice is wide. Decorated in a sober Asian style, the room is very relaxing. 

Los cebiches de la Rumiñahui is a chain of restaurants specializing in Ecuadorian-style ceviche. A kind of ceviche fast food, Ecuadorians often come in groups for lunch. The ceviche mixto is particularly tasty. The food is very good, but the atmosphere is not always to the taste of international visitors. Nevertheless, prices are very affordable and the quality is top-notch. All in all, it's an ideal option for eating like a local!

A restaurant serving Ecuadorian cuisine located in La Mariscal, where you immediately feel at home thanks to the owners' warm welcome. The room is very elegant, and a tree even grows inside, crossing the ceiling because the owners didn't have the heart to cut it down. Excellent ceviches, seco de chivo or roasted cuy will delight your taste buds. Chef Andrés personally checks with guests to make sure they've enjoyed his dishes. It's one of the best restaurants in the area, yet the prices remain reasonable.

In the middle of a beautiful garden, adjoining a charming house, is the gastronomic restaurant of Jérôme, a French chef from the South-West. He prepares a creative, modern and original cuisine while preserving the traditions for which French gastronomy is famous. The dishes are carefully prepared and delight the taste buds. A mixture of flavors, colors and smells absolutely delicious! The inhabitants of Quito are not mistaken, one finds here a posh clientele appreciating the beautiful kitchen.

Not only is the welcome very cordial, but the food is also delicious. The place is clean, pleasant and the atmosphere is friendly. All the Lebanese specialties are offered, from hummus to falafel, tabbouleh, fatush (salad) and meatballs, without forgetting the oriental sweets. You can also accompany your meal with a delicious Kefraya, an excellent Lebanese wine. Since 2020, the restaurant offers a delivery service. This is a very good option, especially as this cuisine is very suitable for reheating.

Opposite the Secret Garden inn, this small restaurant is a good idea (just look at the queue in the evening!). Not only is the food tasty (pizzas, salads, pasta; the choice is however limited) but the setting is typical. Not to mention that the owners will welcome you with a big smile! A very popular place for young people staying in the San Blas area, especially as good addresses are rare in the area. The best thing to do is to make a reservation via WhatsApp at the number above.

Do not look for the bar name, it is not displayed (and should change). At the most important street Juan León Mera, this hotel offers a refreshing break in the open air. Fresh fruit juice, smoothies, fruit salad… Three round tables arranged on the terrace (sheltered), rock music, are enough reasons for stopping.

A restaurant filled with stories and traditions in a beautiful white house in the quiet district of La Floresta. In a classic-chic setting, you can taste good dishes from fish and seafood (ceviche, rice and shrimp, fish or shellfish, soups, cazuela cazuela…) and some meat dishes (seco, for example). Service in large pump, elegant frame, good kitchen… and reasonable prices. 

The restaurant Carmine is located in a beautiful restored colonial house, in the middle of a beautiful garden, in the district of La Mariscal. The exterior is as charming and elegant as the interior. Carmine transports its guests to Europe for dinner. You will enjoy a delicious and tasty international cuisine of Italian inspiration, superbly prepared. Very nice wine list (nearly 200 references). The prices are of course in line with the standing of the place, the bill can be salty.

In the modern part of the city, Romolo e Remo has become over the years one of Quito's favorite addresses for Italian cuisine. The restaurant is run by an Italian chef who serves simple but deliciously prepared dishes: pasta, salads, pizzas, focaccia... You can come for lunch or dinner with friends, the welcome is pleasant and the service fast. Special mention for the famous saltimbocca alla romana, particularly tasty. The establishment also has a cafeteria. A very good quality-price ratio.

The very rustic setting of this restaurant might scare some of you! But don't let it put you off, and come in. All the specialities of the coast are served here (shellfish, ostiones, ceviche, fish a la plancha with rice and patacones, encocados...) on bistro style tables often juxtaposed for the big tables. Luxury is not the strong point of this place but the quality is there, proof is that the back room is always full of people; mainly locals, who seem to have passed the word!

A very chic place, a refined lounge decor in dark tones in the purest Relais & Châteaux style. Zazu is a unique place in Quito. The chef's cuisine is modern, creative and fragrant, and surprises the palate. Seafood takes pride of place, and we particularly recommend the duck confit with gnocchi or the famous cuy, a traditional guinea pig. Ceviches, prepared "Peruvian-style", are again rich in a variety of flavors. Tuna and foie gras ceviches are sure to arouse the curiosity of gourmets.

A fine address in the heart of the Arzobispal patio. Here you can devour fine cuts of meat at reasonable prices. If you prefer seafood, you'll find top-quality grilled prawns. Don't forget to accompany them with a good, slightly spicy chimichurri sauce - it's a real delight. More airy than its upstairs neighbors, Juan Fogonero on the first floor is a great place to dine in the historic center, especially as the few restaurants open in the evening in this area are located here.

Not to be missed in Quito! This small family cafeteria is very well run by charming owners. The place which exists since 1965 serves very good typical dishes. We advise you the seco de chivo. For breakfast, Fabiolita offers various very healthy options. Most of the products used here are organic and often harvested by the employees of the house. You can enjoy the quality of the products in a very simple way. Moreover, from the terrace the view on the Plaza Grande is sublime. Highly recommended!

It is the oldest covered market in Quito! Although it has been in existence for almost 120 years, the market halls have been renovated relatively recently. You can stroll around, do some shopping and even eat there with many Quiteños or visitors from the province. The visit is a must, but we strongly advise you to sit down at one of the tables and taste one of the seco de pollo or other specialties that make you want to. Here, we are far from the tourist traps, one of the best plans for small budgets!