Breakfast is not big in Uruguay

Bizcochos, medialunas and cafe con leche or mate. The traditional breakfast in Uruguay revealed.
By Karen A Higgs
Uruguay breakfast
Last updated on November 26, 2013
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Back in 2013 I wrote: The bad news is, breakfast is not big in Uruguay.

A typical breakfast in Uruguay is a café con leche accompanied with a couple of bizcochos (sweet or savoury pastries) or a sandwich caliente (toasted ham and cheese -or tomato and cheese- sandwich).

However things are starting to change! A few Montevideo restaurants are starting to realise that there is a public for great breakfasts, good coffee and brunch.

The Guru is on a personal and professional search for BRUNCH in Montevideo

Check out the cafes we love in our ‘Food & Drink‘ section and our recommendations in The Guru’Guay Guide to Montevideo where breakfast and brunch recommendations have a whole chapter.

Bakeries

Freshly-baked bread and bizcochos available from 7am until 9pm each day (except Sundays) at the classic Confiteria 25 de Mayo, 25 Mayo 655 on the corner of B. Mitre (the street with the bars).

While you’re at the bakery, you might want to get something to go with your maté later on in the day. Uruguayans are addicts for masitas (pictured below).

Uruguay breakfast

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12 Responses

    1. The typical Uruguayan breakfast in the countryside was and still is in many cases, beef from the night before! The traditional breakfast in the city – coffee and croissants – would have come over with immigrants from Europe. — Best, Karen

  1. Was wondering if lactose-free milk or butter is available in Montevideo.?
    ( I don’t mean soya milk, I cannot drink that)

    1. Hi Connie, yes, ‘leche deslactosada’ is available in the majority of supermarkets. I’ve never seen butter, but then again I’ve never looked out for it… Perhaps another reader will help. Best, Karen

  2. Hi
    We are looking at coming in May from South Africa and everything looks great. Just need to figure out prices – our ZAR is not a strong currency to the US dollar
    So to give me an idea can you tell me the +/- cost of
    Cup of Coffee
    Dinner for 2 with a bottle of wine – nothing fancy we like to eat where the local eat.
    Had a look at your guest house & that at $85 seems reasonable.
    With thanks & looking forward to our trip / honeymoon

    1. Hi Claire, a cup of coffee can cost anything between 50-100 pesos. A meal for two depends a lot on where obviously. But to give you an idea, a main course can cost 250-450 pesos in a nice place and a bottle of wine from about 300 pesos in a restaurant. The current US dollar exchange rate is 1 dollar to 28 pesos. Hope that helps. Do come stay with us! – all the best Karen

      1. Hi Karen
        Thanks for getting back to me.
        All seems pretty comparable to SA so thats great.
        We will be getting things booked ASAP but can I ask if you can help a little bit more…
        My other half has seen you can go Piranah Fishing in Uruguay – in the River – but we cant find out where exactly.
        He does want to book a full on fishing trip – seen a website that offers a 5 day trip – but just go somewhere for a day & night.
        Can you advise anyone we could contact to arrange (as wont have any fishing gear with him so will need to be included with the excursion)
        Then we can finalise our trip to Uruguay & accommodation as may need to do eg: 3 nights – away for a night & back for 3 nights
        Any feedback would be appreciated
        Claire – feeling excited

  3. Hi! Great suggestions. I’ve never visited La Dulcería de Xime Torres before, but my friends who did say it’s really good. They have brunchs on saturdays 12-3pm at $315. Jaime Zudañez 2855 esq. Roque Graseras, it’s in Pocitos.
    Also in Ciudad Vieja you can visit Mojana Café at the Centro Cultural de España. They have a really nice, quiet space with lots of magazines, newspapers and most important (to me): sunlight! The food is really good and it isn’t expensive at all. Rincón 629.

    1. Ha, ha, Joel 🙂 While Uruguayans do like a bit of blood sausage –known as “morcilla”– they would NEVER eat it for breakfast (I can almost feel that nation shudder). Morcilla is part of a BBQ, or parrillada, and usually served as a starter before the main meat fest gets going.

      Laverbread… ah your little hat tip to my Welsh roots – thank you 🙂

      You may joke about the G&T but at lunch time on weekends it’s very typical to see the older guys and gals quaffing down enormous amounts of whisky on the rocks – to accompany their lunch! A tall glass is filled to the brim with ice and then what space is left is filled with whisky.

      Congrats, you are my first ever legit commenter!! Thank you heartily.

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