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.

What you should know about eating out in Uruguay

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

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
Classic empanadas at their freshest minutes from the airport – Doña Martina

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.

Karen A Higgs

CEO, Guru'Guay