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Looking for the best seafood in Uruguay? The cuisine of Uruguay’s most eastern province, Rocha, is chock full of fresh seafood. It is easy to come by. You can often buy directly from fishermen as they bring their catches to the shore daily. Restaurants and paradores (beach bars with tables and chairs) take full advantage, creating tasty bites.
Here are some of our favorites:
Ask for: mee-nee-ah-TOO-raz
Bite-size pieces of white fish, dipped in batter or covered in breadcrumbs and deep fried. Served as an appetizer to share.
Ask for: boo-nweloz day AL-gas
A Rocha classic, seaweed fritters are served everywhere from humble fish stands to the most exclusive restaurants. Seaweed is collected in the morning, added to batter and deep fried.
Ask for: crow-KEH-taz day see-REE
Another Rocha classic, deep-fried croquettes made with sirí crab caught on the coast.
Ask for: mee-la-NAY-sa day peh-SKAH-doh
A breaded, deep-fried fish fillet. Most common milanesas are made with beef (carne) or chicken (pollo). Vegetarian version include eggplant (berenjena). But at the beach, it’s gotta be fish. A sandwich version is a milanesa al pan.
Ask for: boo-tee-YA
A bright orange fruit with a sweet and sour flavour which grows on the palm trees in Rocha. Locals use it to make a liqueur (licor de butiá). In Rocha, you might find butiá in everything from ice cream to elegant sauces for seafood to firewater (caña).
In case you are wondering, Rocha is pronounced RO-cha. RO as in Ronald.
Check out our recommended hotels and restaurants in Rocha.
To get other insider tips about typical Uruguayan cuisine in the countryside and at the beach check out the Guru’Guay Guide to beaches and ranches. Our guidebook to Montevideo focuses on classic bar and street food.
Photos: Guru’Guay (miniaturas and seaweed fritters), CRebholz (butiá fruit)
Namasté — Vegetarian restaurant in Montevideo
Namasté is more than just a vegetarian restaurant in Montevideo. This colourful, family-run spot has been serving vegetarian and vegan food since 2008. And the food is only part of the experience. Come for a relaxed meal, stay for the atmosphere, the friendly service and the chance to slow down for a while.
Dance tango in Uruguay. Whether a complete newbie or you already dance, the tango scene in Montevideo is a great way to make friends.
Estancia Los Plátanos – Authentic 6th generation ranch
Venture into deep Uruguay to Estancia Los Platanos, a working ranch. Just 3 guestrooms—and there’s a gorgeous indoor pool.
Nominate your favourites for the 2027 Montevideo Guru’Guay guide
Do you love a business in the capital that absolutely MUST be in our next best selling Montevideo guidebook?
Ignacio Fuentes, RE/MAX – Recommended Montevideo realtor
Montevideo real estate made easy—foreigners trust this realtor for smooth, reliable rentals and property purchases.
Estancia El Cangüé – Cattle & roses in Paysandú
Home to Uruguay’s biggest rose collection, this 200 year west Uruguay estancia is the perfect destination for outdoor adventure or a wedding.
Martín Pescador – Sierras ranch 1 hr from ocean
Just an hour inland from the beaches of Punta and José Ignacio, the perfect Uruguay estancia, horse riding and trekking.
Uruguay LGBT rights – A trailblazer for over a century
Did you know Uruguay is among the most LGBT-friendly countries worldwide? Small nation. Big equality record.
TEFL Uruguay: new qualification for foreigners and Uruguayans to teach English abroad
TEFL Uruguay comes to Montevideo in 2027: Four-week face-to-face training for foreigners and English-fluent locals.
Expats in Uruguay spill the beans: What life is really like
We interview foreigners in Uruguay who moved here from principally English-speaking countries so you can learn from their mistakes.
Dance tango in Uruguay. Whether a complete newbie or you already dance, the tango scene in Montevideo is a great way to make friends.
TEFL Uruguay comes to Montevideo in 2027: Four-week face-to-face training for foreigners and English-fluent locals.
Between June and August, visit Uruguay for horse-riding, great music and culture, bonfire parties, wine tasting & whale-watching.
For 200 years, estancia San Pedro de Timote has been the pride of Uruguay. Today it’s a historic country hotel where you can go riding and meet gauchos.
Unique ocean-front location to reconnect with nature—with luxury touches—on one of Uruguay’s most deserted beaches in Maldonado.
Fine white sands, pines, mysterious structures—an eagle head & a UNESCO Heritage church. This Uruguay beach town is 30′ from the airport.
