Experience amazing cuisine in Uruguay
Specially selected best Uruguay restaurants —including the infamous Mercado del Puerto for steak, tiny places where staff worked at La Huella—for drinks, a gourmet chivito, Uruguay wine & fresh veggies
It’s not just the beef, stupid… though there are 3.5 cows to every Uruguayan. Until just a few years ago “Uruguayan cuisine” was principally a slab of grass-fed beef accompanied by a simple lettuce, tomato and onion salad. Things have really changed in the capital of Montevideo and along the coast with a boom in gourmet but still affordable eateries.
Back in 2016, I wrote “Uruguayans like their food plain, simple and meaty. Give them a well-cooked piece of beef and a mixta (the preferred salad of lettuce, tomato and sliced onion), and they will be happy.”
My, how things have changed, and how happy you, dear reader, will be. The last 5-6 years have seen a boom in good eating and a focus on local, hand-crafted ingredients—captured in the second edition of The Guru’Guay Guide to Montevideo . Nowadays (shock horror) it is even relatively easy to be vegan.
Classic meals and foods in Uruguay
Where to eat – Guru’Guay’s Top Picks
Montevideo
- Beef – Cabaña Verónica in the Port Market
- Seafood in Montevideo – Es Mercat
- Breakfast, cocktails and chivitos in a historic cafe – Bar Montevideo Al Sur
- Uruguayan classics with a twist (and Tuesday jazz) – Bar El Mingus
- Bistro open noon-midnight with massive wine list – Baco
- All local & native foods at this tiny bistro in leafy Prado – Arazá
- Bread club – Pantera
Wineries
- Outstanding foodie lunch + great wines – Artesana
- Taste high-end wines with the maker – Manuel Filgueira at Los Nadies
At the beach
- Amazing foodtruck on the coast – Lobo Suelto
- Seafood specialities in Punta del Diablo – Il Tano Cucina
- 100% local and organic fine-dining – Salón No. 3
- Fine-dining just outside the capital – Verne
The interior
- Home cooking with spectacular sierra views 360 degrees – Estación Penitente
- High tea in the former hide-out of British spies during World War II – Hotel Solís
Our favourite Uruguay restaurants, bars and services
Look no further for the most creative fine-dining in Uruguay—down an urban backstreet or hidden in a leafy suburban park—, to the best food truck & local cuisine, to the juiciest steak in Montevideo.
Guru’Guay only recommends eateries and Uruguay restaurants that we absolutely love, who love what they do and demonstrate consistently excellent quality.
Unfortunately consistent quality is not all that common in Uruguay, which is why a great recommendation from someone who knows is sooo important. We’ve visited every one of our Top Picks multiple times.
Estación Penitente – Magical hill-top restaurant in Minas, Uruguay
Overlooking Uruguay’s Sierras de Minas, with views reminiscent of Greece. Traditional cooking, Uruguayan BBQ & wild boar. Day trip from Montevideo & Punta.
Il Tano Cucina – pasta & seafood in Punta del Diablo
One of the best seafood restaurants in Punta del Diablo & open all year round. Family-run, it’s minutes from the ocean & specialises in home-made pastas.
Adriana Rossi – your personal wine shopper in Montevideo
Can you believe this? A personalised wine delivery service in Montevideo. Adriana selects Uruguay wine to your taste and budget & delivers to your home.
Bar Montevideo al Sur – Historic bar & cafe
If you’re looking for a traditional Montevideo bar with a community-feel, good honest food, great cocktails and a friendly vibe, this is your place.
Do you know a restaurant serving such great food with such dedication that they deserve to be a Guru’Guay Top Pick? Tell us all about it.
Uruguay wine
With more than 200 wineries, Uruguay is the new world’s undiscovered wine jewel.
- Introduction to Uruguay wine country
- Tannat: 1 out of 3 bottles in Uruguay is a tannat Find out why
- Top tannats of 2020
- 2020 produced some of the best wines in decades
- Best Uruguayan wines (2017)
- 3 Uruguayan white wines you must not miss (2014)
- Uruguay wines vs. Argentina’s, who comes out top? Financial Times’ Jancis Robinson was rating Uruguayan wine highly back in 2014
Craft beer
In 2016, there were 21 craft breweries in the country. By 2020 there were over 250 producers.
- Craft beer begins to take off (2014)
- Summer beers (2017)
Travel Guidebooks
With passion & soul
Written by a Brit with all the contacts and knowledge accrued over almost twenty years living in Uruguay, these guidebooks will ensure you have an unforgettable time in one of South America’s least-explored destinations. Carefully selected foodie recommendations guaranteed.
The Guru’Guay Guide to Uruguay
Beaches, ranches and wine country
The Guru’Guay Guide to Montevideo
All you need to know about Montevideo
Your handy directory to Uruguay travel & living
More foodie tips. Free download.