Where to eat: the 50 best restaurants in Cuenca

Overhyped overrated! There’s also a question of not standing by the advertised jazz singing.👎👎👎👎👎. The restaurant has a lovely ambiance, a setting that looks a throwback to the 1960s. As such, it does look like a nice venue for a jazz evening. UNFORTUNATELY, the lady singer did not appear and there’s not even an announcement the she will not be!!!! The quartet played some nice tunes, BUT the stretch of almost 3 hours, there’s no variety… Overall … BORING! For the reader, this drab live music has a separate $10 cover charge per person. The “Special Menu” look okay but nothing special. 👎 👎👎Empanadas de Viento::: contradiction in terms! “Viento” is a Castilian dish for a fluffy puff pastry dessert. Here, it’s cheese puff with sugar… WHY IS A DESSERT SERVED AS APPETIZER?? 🫤🫤🫤 Minestrone::: a classic simple Italian soup with a distinctive mild tomato flavor. Here, Parmesan cheese has been added making it a strange cheese-flavored soup. 👎👎👎 Fettuccini Porcini::: the pasta is very dry plain tasting, which means it’s an old factory made kind. The sauce is watery. And there’s hardly any identifiable to Porcini mushrooms, but some brownish ground stuff. 🫤🫤🫤 Lenguado Papillote::: for a restaurant that prides itself on their chef/cook, a small piece of fillet of sole served WRAPPED IN TIN FOIL… Why?? It’s also under seasoned. 🫤🫤🫤 Budin de Pan::: it’s more bread than pudding!!! It is very heavy! 👎👎👎👎👎Pavlova con Rujos Frutos::: it looks very pretty BUT THE PAVLOVA IS QUITE HARD, it takes a strong blow from a spoon to break it. This means it is either overcooked OR factory made OR made weeks ago. 😎 The only bright spot of the evening is the cocktail. Service is okay.

Love the bar. Old school, woody bar with a good selection of liquors. Dinner was excellent, and the service was great. Highly recommend this place for dinner.

Fancy place with friendly staff. Views from here are amazing Good coffee too.

Thanksgiving 3 cours meal was amazing but a bit spandy for a big family. The food was delicious, tho.

Wonderful food, excellent service and lovely ambience! Our 3rd special visit for anniversary previous two visits were our engagement and our honeymoon night! Never disappoints ❤️

This was by far my worst meal in 3 weeks in beautiful Ecuador and one of the most expensive. Starting with a positive, the view is beautiful!! That's all I've got for positive. My passion fruit mojito was very strong, but the passion fruit tasted like it came from a frozen pulp. It was not fresh. The octopus appetizer was decent but thr octopus was so fishy tasting I couldn't eat it. I ordered the baked chicken with truffle rice/risotto and Eggplant. The chicken had good flavor, but one side being thicker than the other it was raw in the middle. The "truffle" rice was DISGUSTING, it tasted like licorice?? Then the Eggplant tasted like they just put plain sugar on it and cooked it in the oven. The worst part is I probably took a bite of rice, a bite of Eggplant and two bites of chicken (from the thinner cooked side) and the waiter cleared my plate without saying a word or asking if everything was OK (I'm fluent in spanish too!). The wait staff seem like they have been working there for 80 years and hate their jobs.. My wife had a steak that she ate most of, but she offered me some when she saw I wasn't going to eat my food and to me, the sauce tasted like it was a packaged sauce of some sort, definitely not freshly made. Also gross. I left the restaurant hungry and paid $5 for a shawarma down the street and was so happy. There are so many great places to eat in Cuenca, save yourself some disappointment and skip this one...

One of the very worst service experiences for me anywhere, any time in my life! A small army of middle-aged, all male, and snobbish wait staff appeared at first to attend me (solo). It quickly became apparent just how patronizing and presumptuous they were to a man, treating me as a young know-nothing tourist they could just rush out the door. First, they put only the night's combo menu in front of me and I had to fight with them to provide me with the full menu even when I asked clearly in Spanish. I had to repeat myself in asking for the wine menu as well. The patronizing and humiliating experience makes El Jardin little better than an overrated tourist trap in my estimation. The only real gentleman I encountered was the attendant at the hotel front desk. The food was so-so, nice presentation but over-priced. The onion soup was mediocre at best, weak and drab in color. The sea bass beurre blanc had a good presentation, and the fish was right but the beurre blanc sauce was quite bland, virtually tasteless. Their offerings of wine by the glass are absolutely pathetic. Literally down to one choice for white: sauvignon blanc. Gorgeous, old colonial style building, inside very eclectic, actually (in a good way). The view of the river at the window is amazing.

Tiesto’s has a big reputation in Cuenca, so we were excited to finally try it. And while the food mostly lived up to the hype, the overall experience had some definite downsides. What we loved: 1. The flavors. When the food was good, it was really good. The beef? Cooked to perfection—tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. 2. The interactive service. The waitstaff made us try different sauces and explained everything, which made the meal feel more special. 3. The decor. The restaurant has a charming, traditional feel that we absolutely loved. It adds to the experience. What we didn’t love: 1. Waiting 30 minutes in the rain. Even with a reservation, we were left standing outside, and the door person wasn’t exactly welcoming. That kind of start sets a bad tone. 2. The pork was a disaster. Dry, overcooked, and so tough it got stuck in our teeth. 3. The soup was barely there. It tasted good, but the portion was tiny. 4. The family-style ordering. With a group of 17, this was a logistical nightmare. Very few personal dishes meant a lot of back-and-forth trying to accommodate everyone’s preferences. Would we go back? Maybe, but not with a big group. If you’re after great flavors and don’t mind some logistical headaches, it’s worth a visit. Just hope for good weather and order the beef.

From the moment I stepped into the restaurant, I knew I was in for an exceptional dining experience. The ambiance and warm hospitality of the staff immediately set the stage for what was to come. The menu showcased a diverse array of delectable options, all crafted from locally - sourced ingredients and carefully prepared with great attention to detail. The presentation each dish was a work of art that perfectly complemented with the exquisite combination of flavours. The attentive service (Sebastian) throughout the evening was unparalleled, consistently going above and beyond to ensure our meal was nothing short of exceptional. My experience was further elevated by the passionate and talented Chef Juan Carlos. Not only he created an array of mouthwatering dishes with exquisite flavours, but he also took the time to share his knowledge and expertise with us. What truly left a lasting impression, however, was the chef's incredible talent for turning desserts into edible art pieces. The chef's dedication to their craft and desire to share his passion, made my visit truly exceptional. As an Ecuadorian , I felt so proud to find a world-class fine dinging experience in the beautiful Cuenca!

This restaurant was an experience, It highlights ecuadorian cooking and different skills and flavors that mesh well. We had a waiter - who at first felt like he was trying to sell us a used car - but for some reason we accepted his recommendations and we were blown away. The different meats in different types of sauces - the fish was amazing. Having the shared plates genius. Showing us how to eat them as well. The chimmicurri is sooo good!!! excellent presentation and really fun!

An amazing culinary experience in Cuenca Ecuador, the ambiance is so inviting and staff is attentive, welcoming , knowledgeable and friendly explaining every course in detail. A must go when in Cuenca 💕

This is not just a restaurant. Tiesto's is an Experience. It is not cheap, but it is worth every penny. The atmosphere is 100% Ecuadorian. It is cozy and intimate, simple yet elegant and Juan Carlos Solano is always there to welcome you with a huge smile. The staff are genuinely happy to see and welcome you. We only order the tasing menu (about $99 for 2), and that is where the magic of Tiesto's happen. The dishes keep coming, and each one is better that the one before it. Cuenca is my home for 2 years so far, and Tiesto's is the best eatery the city has top offer. Do yourself and your family a favor, and go to Tiesto's. You will never regret or forget the experience.

If go go to Cuenca this is a must, the food is delicious, service exelent and prices are cheap for what you get! The owner who is also the chef welcomes you and interacts with customers which to me is a plus! We went for one of the tasting menu and everything was great. At the end the chef gave us a couple drinks for free which where perfect to digest all the food we ate. I will for sure go back on my next visit to Cuenca :)

This is our mandatory stop in Cuenca. We love everything about this fine restaurant. We had Option One, with minor changes due to nut allergies. The wines were also quite nice. The dish embellishments on the dessert are edible and handmade. Kudos for the artist!

El Mercado is an absolute gem! From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with a warm, inviting atmosphere that perfectly blends rustic charm with modern touches. The service was exceptional — friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about every dish. The food was the real star of the show. Every plate was beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. You can really tell that the ingredients are fresh and that the chefs put care into every detail. The grilled octopus or the fritada was out of this world, and the cocktails were perfectly crafted to complement the meal. Whether you’re coming for a casual lunch, a date night, or a special celebration, El Mercado delivers a memorable experience every time. Highly recommend — can’t wait to go back!

To be honest we just wanted some drinks since we been eating all day around Cuenca because is our last day in this city. We ordered an appetizer and for the main dish Salmon that was ok .Alejandra was our server I felt in love with this waitress her service and her professionalism was amazing.

Elegant dining in Cuenca, highly recommended by a famous model from Guayaquil. Everything was exquisite, 5 5-star experience; however, I deducted 1 star for the extremely long delay between the main course, which created discontent among the group. Lomo El Mercado was spectacularly cooked to perfection $24.90, an incredible value.

I ate here 3 times during my 5 days visit in Cuenca. The foods, their presentation and the environment are all good. So is the service and the wine. I’m taking out one star from the food because of the duck paella I had during my last dinner there. Although the dish was great in term of flavor and texture, the few thin slices of duck is really disproportionately little compared to the rice. It made me feel dissatisfied at the end, a shame.

A Culinary Gem in Cuenca! El Mercado is an absolute must visit! From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with warm, attentive service and an atmosphere that beautifully blends rustic charm with modern elegance. The food? Simply exquisite. Traditional Ecuadorian dishes are elevated to a whole new level each bite is a celebration of flavor, quality, and creativity. You can truly taste the love and craftsmanship behind every plate. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, dining at El Mercado is an unforgettable experience. Highly recommended!

It’s a well appointed restaurant 😎😎😎 as I remember from several years ago…. As such I have high expectations….. BUT SILLY AND SERIOUS MISTAKES dampens the dining experience🫤🫤🫤. 🫤🫤🫤 The waiter pushed for cold refrigerated red wine. I insisted an ambient temperature bottled be opened. RED WINE MUST NEVER BE SERVED CHILLED. 🫤🫤🫤🫤🫤 THERE’s EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF GARNISHES in both the starters and main entrees. GARNISHES SHOULD ALSO UPLIFT FLAVOR OF THE DISH. They are NOT a filler NOR a simple decor NOR otherwise dampen/detract the primary flavors. INDEED, *** The Pulpo (Octopus) appetizer comes with EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF CREAMED CORN. The octopus should be king NOT the side attraction. *** The Sweetbreads (Mollejas Croquetas) again comes with TOO MUCH WHITE CARROT PURÉE. The sweetbreads should be star!!! WORST ARE THE LEMON SAUCE DROPS THAT ARE EXTREMELY SOUR 🤬🤬🤬. It kills the flavor of the sweetbreads. *** The Frito Cerdo 😎 is a nice twist of preparing pork ribs. BUT THE AVOCADO PURÉE IS NOT APPROPRIATE. It does NOT add anything, in fact it dulls the flavors of the ribs. It should be clear to anyone that BOTH pork and avocado are naturally fat/oil-containing… THEREFORE A GARNISH PURÉE should balance and uplift the fat of the pork!!! Pork goes well with fruit…so why not consider a SMALL AMOUNT of fruit compote like figs, orange or cranberry???? The MENU looks well planned… BUT AGAIN the cook needs to know BALANCE and WHICH OF INGREDIENTS should be king!!! The selection of wines by the glass are quite good and reasonably priced👍. But the rest of wines are overpriced at 200% to more than 1000% overpriced… None of the wines at vintages that warrant those exorbitant prices.

Wonderful atmosphere, best food of our trip, service was exceptional. Highly recommended!

Authentic Colombian food. You know it’s good when there’s a line to be seated. We were able to get the lunch menu to go $3.50: small portion of meat, rice, plantains, small salad, soup, juice and bananas. There Bandeja Paisa looked yummy. Definitely would visit here weekly if we lived in Cuenca.

This place is fantastic. I had the Elmer’s almuerza: $3, totally fine. But my wife and son had the arepas which were knock out good. The staff is so pleasant and the owner was waiting tables and chatting us up. Just lovely.

We got there too early for almuerzo (11:00a) and we were very hungry so we ended up ordering breakfast. It was fabulous and filling! My boyfriend and I ordered two different combos, and they were both delicious. But above all else, the owner was extremely kind and hospitable. Can’t wait to come back for lunch! This spot has nothing but good vibes!!

One of my favorite places to eat anywhere! Great food served by great people at great prices.

Delicious homemade Colombian comfort food. The original location is great. Welcoming and friendly staff. Daily specials are always a good option but the menu items are outstanding, vegetarian options. Tip: lunch time is packed, arrive before 12 or after 2pm. No WiFi.

Wonderful and tasty almuerzos. I have eaten here twice and will continue to return. Helpful and attentive waitress. Ring the bell 🙂

Vegetarian options The fried stuff was rather heavy on our stomages Taste was good We liked the plantain ground dish

Had the almuerzos (daily lunch set) and it was great. The food was good, the service was good, it’s always busy which says a lot, and the decor of the restaurant is really nice. It’s great value at $2.95 and would definitely recommend this place.

Arrived with a dickie tummy looking for something bland, but not. At this point I'm a tough customer. These guys did a sterling job of accommodating me. The food was great and the service exceptional. All 5 🌟.

Fresh ingredients, clean tableware, tasty food, great value, and the witness of a loving family working together for a fantastic business! Lots of admiration.

The almuerzo carne was very tasty. Service, even though rush hour, was very efficient and amiable.

We highly recommend El Tunel for almuerzos. Our Peace Corps friends introduced us to this restaurant 5 years ago and we have gone back often. It’s hard to find a better value and the food is always tasty. Usually there is a choice between two meat entrees, or sometimes fish. Fresh squeezed juice, soup, mote or popcorn, ají, segundo, and small dessert is $2.75. The set lunch menu is posted on a white board at the entrance on calle Honorato Vasquez. The almuerzos meal is actually brought in from outside and seems to arrive slightly after 12pm most days. The small staff team and the atmosphere are nice, too. There's actually three floors of seating but most stay on the ground floor for quick service. Clientele is a mix of locals and expats. On our weekly visits, we can tell we're not the only "regulars." For more recommendations on what to do and where to eat in Cuenca, find our blog posts by searching: "Intentional Travelers Cuenca"

As far as the places my husband and i went this is the best place for karaoke night

Solid, clean, inexpensive and delicious. Sopa de zanahoria rocks

I can really recommend this place. Very nice selection of food and everything we tried was really delicious.

A delightful lunch in an Cuenca dining institution😎😎😎. Located in Parque Calderon, it’s a popular place to locals dating back to 1930s. The menu is rather longish but manageable, there are some pictures of what seems to be popular fares. Food served is more of the POPULAR ANDEAN FARES rather than coastal Ecuador food. 👍 The warm table toast with house sauces is a nice touch. 👍👍👍 👍👍the Ensalada Fresca is MOST DELIGHTFUL: a rather large platter of lovely greens and veggies with sautéed mushrooms in a very pleasing light and light drizzle of balsamic, topped with grated Parmesan. 👍👍👍👍👍 the Trucha Frita is surprisingly very good. Deep fried whole trout, VERY CRISPY SKIN and WITHOUT AN HINT OF OIL. PERFECTLY COOKED, Very flavorful without the need of sauces. Served with a lovely house salad, fresh red onions and avocados. The fries are crisp fresh cut potatoes that are themselves seasoned. OVERALL A LOVELY LUNCHEON. Service is quite good. The eatery is an unassuming but quite welcoming place😎. It is a well lit dining room with a mezzanine. It has minimalistic yet pleasant decor (the framed photos look like old mementos from the 1900s).

It’s at very convenient location after visiting the cathedral. It looks old inside as we found this restaurant may founded in 1910 from a wall picture. The food is of gorgeous amount and fresh. Just not that easy to accept the flavor as foreigner. But ok to take a try the local food. The washroom is very smelly, the one thing really disliked it.

I recently visited Raymipampa Restaurante and tried their Plato Típico. It was a hearty and flavorful dish featuring tender pork, savory black sausage, white corn cooked with egg, a potato patty, and a refreshing salad. The portion was generous, and every element was well-seasoned, capturing the rich, traditional flavors of Ecuador. To accompany the meal, I had a refreshing Pilsner, a smooth and crisp Ecuadorian beer that paired perfectly with the savory components of the dish. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the service was attentive without being intrusive. Raymipampa is a fantastic spot for anyone looking to experience authentic Ecuadorian cuisine in a cozy setting. Highly recommended for both locals and visitors!

I thought everything about this place was great. The atmosphere and location were spectacular. The menu had so many options. The service was excellent. And most importantly, the food and portions were great for what we paid.

We have been craving fresh vegetables so we ordered a chicken Caesar salad. It was smothered in a salty dressing and the lettuce was consequently limp. The atmosphere and service were good, and maybe the Ecuadorean food is good, but stay away from western food.

The location for this restaurant is great, right next to cathedral with great view of the central square. Foods are yummy but a bit salty. The garlic bread is delicious! I also love the banana with chocolate sauce crepe as dessert. The food gets ready quickly with no long wait, which is a plus so we can have more time to explore the old town.

Atmosphere and decor is fabulous. My husband loved his breakfast burrito. The home fries are delicious with great seasonings. A few were cold tho. My bagel breakfast sandwich was good but the bagel is cooked on the grill not just toasted so it was a bit greasy. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful and spoke English. Reasonable prices for quantity and quality. Highly recommend!

AN OUTSTANDING BREAKFAST in Cuenca 🤩🤩🤩. It looks very popular, most of the tables are occupied even in the middle of the work week. The breakfast menu is simple yet substantially varied to suit any gustatory desire. *** NOTABLY, each of listed BF dishes have “sub-selections” such as fried or scrambled eggs, bacon or ham, white or multigrain bread, potatoes or fruit bowls. It’s PERSONALIZED BREAKFAST … great concept / business model 👏👏👏👏👏. SOME RECOMMENDATIONS: 🤩🤩🤩 Desayuno San Sebas: it’s the house specialty. It’s a very substantial BF, eggs prepared however one desires, choices of meat and carbs. 🤩🤩🤩 Migas: a lovely ovovegetarian BF 🤩🤩🤩 Meat Lovers Scramble: a large BF for the carnivore 👍👍👍👍👍 For bread choice: Ask for the Integral Multigrano …. It’s a terrific whole grain multigrain bread… it’s flavorful, substantial and HEALTHY choice for bread 😊😊😊 The breakfast potatoes is excellent: Seasoned well and flavorful 🤩🤩🤩 Given a choice, ask for the fruit bowl! OH the coffee is fresh piping hot! Service is outstanding! The general ambiance is well designed. There are three dining rooms and an upstairs. Tables are comfortable and well spaced apart. 👏👏👏👏👏

I had just the burger but it was soo good i’m sure the other stuff they have is great as well. The burger was juicy and tasty. The place is also very beautiful with great artwork and lovely ambiance. I look forward to trying the other stuff on their menu. We did some work there too and it was a perfect space for that.

Such a beautiful little place. The terrace upstairs was very cute and pleasant. I had the huevos rancheros which were amazing. The breakfast tacos and "hippie" scramble are also recommended. The strawberry juice was so good, I had 3 servings.

Excellent breakfast fare, gracious staff and well located establishment. Really enjoyed everything about Cafe San Sebas. Gem of a spot with quality dishes at fair prices 👌. Only complaint was the regular black coffee but that is a minor issue that should not deter you from checking this place out. Thank you Cafe San Sebas for your amazing breakfast and great service!!!!

For selfish reasons, I hesitate to review this place because I would be inconvenienced if it got overrun. But, the food, hospitality and vibe are wonderful. Don’t take all the brownies, please leave one for me.

The food and coffee is pretty good but I was disappointed in the service. The waitress didn’t answer my questions about the food properly (even though I spoke in Spanish). I wanted to know what else came with pumpkin French toast (which isn’t on their regular menu) and she said “nothing”, even though it comes with fruit, granola, a sauce and cream. I asked for my juice to be with very little sugar but it was still too sweet. I don’t recommend eating here if you have dietary restrictions because they don’t seem to give enough information about what’s in the food and they don’t care to adjust the food according to your dietary restrictions.

Mangiare Bene in Cuenca was an average dining experience. Although the location was fairly convenient, the food left us somewhat disappointed. Despite the owner speaking Italian, the quality of the ingredients didn’t live up to expectations. The dishes, including the bolognese which was overly salty, were authentic yet simple. The ambiance matched this simplicity—nothing remarkable. Service was decent, but overall, it didn’t justify the price, which was relatively high for Cuenca standards. Not a place we would particularly recommend given the quality-to-price ratio.

I strolled by and was drawn in by how warm and inviting this place looked. The food was lovely, the service was excellent and friendly, and they were wonderfully welcoming to my pup… who also thought it was delicious.🐶

Amazing food, amazing service and lovely people. We really did have the best evening with our family here and they even served gluten free paste!! Thank you so much for the 2 lovely evenings and the great service!

Superb open kitchen, excellent food. Dining staff seemed a bit short but we were enjoying the company. Everyone loved the food and presentation. One of my favorites 🤩

Walking into Manggiare after having read so many glowing reviews of the food I was prepared for....nothing like what we received. While our waiter was stellar and the atmosphere is as charming and inviting as it appears in the photos, the food was simply...almost awful. Our personal pizza was not as good as many frozen pizzas that can be purchased in the US. The dough seemed almost certainly purchased frozen and used with an insipid tomato sauce and a very commercial processed cheese not remotely resembling a good mozzarella. Likewise, the ham and salami used were very mediocre commercial grocery store products. Better can easily be found at SuperMaxi. In short, the pizza was awful. The pasta with ¿Alfredo? sauce was only a little better. Actually, the only food that we enjoyed were the complimentary bruschetta with red peppers and another eggplant based dish, and the complimentary tiramisu (good, but by no means excellent) which we received, probably when the waiter realized that we were clearly disappointed with our meals. I hate to be negative but I must be honest. Much, much better is to be found in this city in the way of both pizza and pasta, in our experience. I do, however, agree with the positive comments about service and ambience.

My husband and I had a wonderful experience at Restaurante Mangiare! The waiter was very friendly and attentive! The menu was extensive, with lots of different pasta and sauces to choose from! The best part was our desserts. My husband had their chocolate cake and devoured it! I had the Lemon pie, so delicious! I’ll add a picture. Highly recommend you check this place out while in Cuenca!

Very nice restaurant with delicious food. The food was very tasty with good sized portions. My waitress was very accommodating and pleasant.

The service was perfect, and the food was incredible. We spent the last weekend in Lima, and this restaurant would have stood without problems next to the best places there. The pear tart was savory and fresh, the beef was flavorful, and the chocolate mousse was decadent.

Top class, incredible food. This place is beautiful. The ambiance is impeccable and the food is good. The chef is hospitable and nice. The drinks too are amazing. We went there for my wife’s birthday and had a good time. Thanks to Chef Giovanni and his amazing team and this wonderful one of a kind restaurant.

I'm from Ecuador but I live in Miami, I went there because my family invited me to this amazing and delicious place, we had the chicken, beef, lamb ragu and duck, everything was delicious we also ordered dessert, wasn't able to try the crème brûlée since my uncle ate it all but we also ordered the 3 small desserts and it was a variety of deliciousness. Also the escargot was to die for! And the place is beautiful.

Amazing food, the place is quaint with a country feel. Interesting getting there but certainly worth the drive and patience to find it. Tried the frog legs, better than the ones I had in Paris. Try the dessert and cocktails. The veal sweetbreads were so tasty, best I've ever had. Good portions and the price is decent. Not the cheapest but definitely worth the price. Fantastic service, David C served us. He knew the menu well, his recommendation were on spot. Hidden gem in Cuenca.

Le Petit Jardin is a hidden treasure with a serene atmosphere. The restaurant is surrounded by greenery, creating a rustic setting that is perfect for a peaceful evening. The location is easy to find, but it still feels like a mini-adventure when you visit. Whether you prefer indoor or outdoor seating, the restaurant has both options available. During my visit, I enjoyed the gorgeous view of the front yard from my indoor table. The sunset added a delightful touch to the ambiance, making it even more memorable. The prices at Le Petit Jardin are reasonable, and the portion sizes are just right. I had the opportunity to try multiple dishes, and each one was seasoned to perfection. The menu changes weekly, but I believe they have a few staple dishes. The staff was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. They provided great recommendations and were always available when needed. The restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere, making it an ideal spot for a casual night out. Overall, I highly recommend Le Petit Jardin. It's a great spot to enjoy a delicious meal, soak up the peaceful atmosphere, and have an unforgettable experience. 10/10

I thought it had some very decent food but overall it was overrated. The service was excellent and the cocktails are very good but the dishes were mediocre. The setting was rustic chic but you have to be on to dirt roads to get there which was a bit of a trek from the city. Not many other French options in the city so if you really want French this place is pretty decent.

Hard not to get overly complimentary. Our visit was a treat in and of itself—a countryside setting in the city. Complete with cows and horses and even a llama, the bucolic surroundings put us in the mood for the rustic chic atmosphere of the building we were to dine in. My veal chops were superb and complimented by delicious garlic mashed potatoes and a complex and perfectly balanced pepper stuffed with a medley of carefully chopped and exquisitely cooked vegetables and beans—baby onions on the side. All of our other dishes, escargot, wild mushroom soup, chicken pastry and more were expertly prepared. The wine and dessert were also excellent. The only element of the meal that was somewhat disappointing was the espresso, to finish. A small and forgivable minor distraction to an excellent dining experience. Thank you, Giovanni and staff! Have returned several times now. Constantly changing menu keeps us coming back.

Delicious green salsa & mole! Was craving Mexican food after months in other South America countries- being from California, I’m very picky with Mexican food and this hit. The tortilla soup needs way more work but the mole enchiladas, salsas, and jamaica were amazing. Pricey so I wish they used more mole sauce though.

Very good Mexican food and good prices. Service was slow to start and I had to ask for salt and utensils. Ordered pico de gallo and didn't receive it. The salsa verde was too salty and I like salt😱 Guacamole needs more lime juice. The only reason they received 3 stars was due to forgetting the pico de gallo and having salsa that was too salty. I still highly recommend this place as it's not my first visit and I will be here again. I really didn't want to give this place a 3. I was here a few years ago and the rating then was 4 to 4.5. Growth comes with pain.

Excellent roof top and great food.

Best Mexican cuisine I’ve enjoyed outside of Mexico. I applaud the serious dedication put into this restaurant. The ambiance, the setting, the plating, but most importantly (and obviously) the ingredients, recipes, and flavors are very high-quality. The Yucatán pork was succulent and flavorful. The pickled Jalapeño appetizer was the perfect level of spice and went great with the rest of my meal. I am a budget traveler, but my girlfriend and I wanted to treat ourselves to a good meal after a long days travel, and this was the perfect spot. It is definitely one of the priciest meals ($28, appetizer, 2 mains, 2 cocktails) we’ve paid for, but we absolutely love Mexican cuisine and found the price to be worth it. This is better than any Mexican food i had growing up in California for 30 years (not that Cali is Mexico, but it’s almost half Mexican, as are my step dad and my ex-wife). If you don’t appreciate fancy meals or don’t think Mexican cuisine can be elevated above tacos/burritos, then go somewhere else for a cheaper meal. If you want to treat your SO to a nice meal out, then go here.

Absolutely the BEST Mexican food that I've had in Cuenca, and very good service. The homemade chips are crispy, not hard and chewy. The salsas are perfection, and the guacamole for two is a generous portion. The refried beans are very authentic. Best margaritas, after so many disappointing ones elsewhere, and two for one weekdays during lunch. Will definitely be back.

The tacos we had in the almuerzo during our first visit were wonderful and surprisingly satisfying, which persuaded us to make a second visit. That said the enchiladas we had on our second visit were sadly disappointing. Given the Cuencano palate it is understandable that spice would be turned way down but honestly the sauce on the enchiladas was little more than tomato puree. The appetizers are nice, home made chips and some good dips. They should offer heat levels from very little to respectable. After all it is Mexican food and if a tourist or local is coming here, they expect some level of spice. The corn tortillas are the standout ingredient as they are homemade and fresh. We will try the place again because we love Mexican and the core ingredients such as beans and tortillas are solid. But we will ask for more authentic spice levels. The atmosphere is top notch and quaint. The terrace needs a visit and the bar is very respectable. Worth a visit but with lots of customer driven direction. Worth a mention is impeccable service. The servers are wonderful and so attentive.

Great place! Good food, wonderful plants, attentive staff, we will return!

Delicious modern twist on Ecuadorian cuisine with plenty of vegetarian options. Service was attentive, knowledgeable and friendly and we really enjoyed chatting to the bartender after our meal. Lovely cocktails based on local ingredients, we especially loved the Mixte cocktails! Thanks for making our last evening in Cuena memorable :) Muchas Gracias!

Ordered the tasting 6 course meal for lunch, portions were adequate food was delicious. However; I was taken aback that the menu specifically states that they use local ingredients in season and the meal had a Mexican flare the soup had chayote, the corn tortilla, mole and green tomatillo sauce with crunchy tortilla. I honestly thought I was going to be in for authentic Ecuadorian food elevated to the next level. The food did taste good, just not what I thought.

This is the best example of Ecuadorian cuisine! Before coming to this wonderful country i had a perception that the food is gonna be super fried and simple. I WAS WRONG! And this place, of the best ones we tried, had proved how rich and flavorful this cuisine is. The combination of sweet, sour, salty and fruity is mixed together in something unbelievable in your mouth. It’s hard to explain, you just need to try it! Service was 100 out of 10, very attentive and polite staff. The place is very stylish! I highly recommend coming and trying these unforgettable dishes!

I give this restaurant 5 stars not just because of the food, but also because of the service I received. There have been times when I'm in a restaurant, speaking fluent Spanish, and the waiter insists on speaking to me in English and (again I speak fluent Spanish), telling me they thought I would be more comfortable in English. The staff did not do anything silly like that here. The moment I entered and spoke to them in Spanish, they did the same with me. Thank you for that. The food was phenomenal! The first thing I was handed was fresh warm sourdough bread with a delicious green butter mix. The next item was an inventive fanesca soup, which was not overpowering with a multitude of items, the smaller portion was great to get started with. Then came the Tagliatelle dish, which was hot and not room temperature, how I like food to be served. Afterwards came dessert, which I don't recall the name of, but it was equally devine. Traveling and living in South America, I worry first about the level of service I'm going to receive as a black woman , especially a black woman dining alone in a nice restaurant, and then I concern myself with the quality of food. Today , this restaurant did a great job in providing excellent service and food. I plan to return and enjoy their hospitality and good food.

My wife and I went here for lunch today. While the ambience is very appealing and the food was attractively served, both the presentation and the flavor of my lamb dish were very disappointing. It was quite bland and lacking in much of any character. Visually, it appeared to be nothing more than a square of pulled cooked meat that had been formed into a cube and grilled to a crispy texture on one surface. It lay on a bed of what appeared to be white wax, which had a few leaves of basil and a few pickled items decorating it. Underneath this was a bland layer of cooked morocho. My wife’s much less expensive mushroom (wild) and onion pizza was visually much more attractive and accordingly tastier. If I were rating the restaurant on my dish alone it would have barely merited three stars. We may return and give it another chance, though we know of several other very lovely restaurants in central Cuenca that are more competitively priced.

best restaurant in Cuenca at this date. dare to explore beyond tiestos. Excellent environvent, loved their music, their decoration. Excellent service, bilingual waiters. Loved their food as well, you could told they put a lot of work and used lots of techniques during the cooking process. They use local ingredients, which is a plus. Congratulations dos sucres

A restaurant with clear principles on the source of their organic food. However, it was small portion size and when I asked for a diet coke the reply was "we don't work with soft drinks". That might be appealing to some, but I find it annoying.

Soup and Salad, try finding that in Cuenca, sure they both ususally come with a almuerzo, which means all the other stuff in an almuerzo. I enjoy a light lunch, and this place gets it right, they change the salads and soups every day or so, something different most visits. I better not mention the price or there will be none left for me. Great place.

Food is tasty and great prices.

A lovely culinary oasis. Delicious Taiwan flavor influence. Lots of veggies and large portions. A filling lunch if it's the speical for the day or other specialties the feature. If you want something a little different than Cuenca's chain Chinese restaurants, it's worth the trip. Enjoy outside seating in the bamboo garden.

I thought the food here was pretty good, and reasonably priced as well. In June 2024 the meal of the day is $3.75, and they serve the meal of the day on Saturday as well.

Though it's a good mile walk out of the center, it's worth it for the value. We found this place 5 years ago and it's still going strong. Food here is all vegetarian with a slightly Taiwanese twist. For the almuerzos lunch plate, you get four different sides which are served in large portions on top of rice. There are several choices of juice. Menu of the day - juice, soup, plus 4 selections with rice - is $3. (If I remember correctly, in the "before times" you could choose your 4 things but now it's a set menu.) The tempura-battered fish, vegetables, or soy "meat" have always been tasty, and the steamed broccoli was really well done, too. The portions are quite large, so you could probably share with two people if you're not too hungry. There's plenty of seating indoor or outdoor, and SuperMaxi is not too far away if you need to run some errands! For more recommendations on what to do and where to eat in Cuenca, find our blog posts by searching: "Intentional Travelers Cuenca"

I should have tried more dishes but i love the vegano chaufan (chaulafan) too much here in Good Affinity. the wait time is only a few minutes. fair price for such a large plate. the place is cozy and quiet even though it's right by the trolley/Tranvia line.

Enjoyed an excellent meal here with tons of great flavorful veggies. Will for sure be back for more. Also bought some yummy tofu to go. Highly recommend.

Really bad experience at this place. I ordered two milkshakes that didn't taste fruity at all. The copa para enamorados was only papaya and not other fruit. The banana split was mostly cream instead of ice cream, and tigrillo needed a better presentation. I used to love this restaurant at san blas Park, but this location needs better performance

Honest, fresh, healthy vegan food. Two main dishes plus a smoothie was only $5.60.

I love this restaurant, I highly recommend the “super copa” that comes with greek yogurt and fruits and their banana bread.

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(Translated by Google) Typical Ecuadorian food made with only vegetables. The meat is replaced with soy meat. The food is good for those who like Ecuadorian food, but that does not mean that everything is the best for the diet, because like a good Ecuadorian restaurant, almost everything has rice. Of course, there are salad-only dishes, and you can ask for salad only to be served instead of rice. Very economical prices. It is a popular restaurant. (Original) Comida típica ecuatoriana hecha con sólo vegetales. La carne es sustituida con carne de soya. La comida es buena para el que tiene gusto por la comida ecuatoriana, pero eso no quiere decir que todo es lo mejor para la dieta, porque como buen restaurante ecuatoriano, casi todo tiene arroz. Eso sí, hay platos de solo ensalada, y se puede pedir que en vez de arroz sirvan ensalada solamente. Precios muy económicos. Es un restaurante popular.

(Translated by Google) Terrible service. I waited half an hour and they didn't bring me my food; and on top of that, they gave me my money back with a rude attitude and told me that the dish wasn't available and that if I wanted something else, they were unprofessional. I understand that they don't have it, but don't leave me waiting half an hour. (Original) Pésimo servicio esperé media hora y no me trajeron mi comida; y encima con mala actitud me devolvieron mi dinero y me dijeron que no no hay el plato y que si quiero otra cosa que poco profesionales; entiendo que no tengan pero no me dejen esperando media hora

(Translated by Google) A little bit of food paradise in a city of wonder. Typical Ecuadorian lunches without meat and very delicious. (Original) A little bit of food paradise in a city of wonder. Typical Ecuadorian almuerzos sin carne y muy deliciosos.

(Translated by Google) The best in its class. Handcrafted with a touch of author's creativity. Well, its owners who jealously reserve the formulas have included many ingredients from the region. Congratulations on successful endeavors with this one. (Original) Los mejores en su clase. Artesanales con un toque de creatividad de autor. Pues sus dueños quienes se reservan celosamente las formulas an puesto muchos ingredientes propios de la región. Felicitaciones en los emprendimientos exitosos con este.

(Translated by Google) Excellent ice creams (Original) Excelentes helados

(Translated by Google) Great ice cream, a brutal tradition 👌 (Original) Gran helado, una tradición brutal 👌

(Translated by Google) The best ice creams 😋 (Original) Los mejores helados 😋

(Translated by Google) Delicious ice creams, 100% recommended (Original) Deliciosos los helados recomendable 100%

(Translated by Google) Delicious! (Original) Deliciosos!

(Translated by Google) They are the richest ice creams I have ever tried..... 100% recommended (Original) Son los helados mas ricos q e probado..... 100% recomendados

The best sourdough bread in all Cuenca & extremely delicious Mokka Frappuccino!

As an avid baker, I was impressed. Best bakery we’ve come across in town, and we’ve tried nearly 30.

Great bread!

(Translated by Google) I had high expectations of their breads because of their IG community but it wasn't really that good, the prices were high for the quality of the bread, little variety and the bread rolls didn't have much flavor. The baguette was good but there were similar options at a lower price in other bakeries. (Original) Tenía altas expectativas de sus panes por su comunidad de IG pero no fue tan bueno realmente, los precios eran elevados para la calidad del pan, poca variedad y los panecillos no tenían mucho sabor. El baguette estuvo bueno pero habían opciones similares a menor precio en otras panaderías.

(Translated by Google) 5 stars because I missed a well-made bagel! The sandwiches could be a little more American and less gourmet but that is a personal opinion regarding my perception of an American bagel. Because other than that their version is very good. (Original) 5 estrellas porque extrañaba un bagel bien hecho! Los sanduches podrían ser un poquito mas americanos y menos gourmet pero es opinion personal respecto a mi percepción de un bagel americano. Porque fuera de eso la versión de ellos es muy buena.

(Translated by Google) The best croissant I have ever tasted not only in Cuenca but in my life! 💯 without a doubt the best Bakery in the city! Excellent bread! (Original) El mejor croissant que he probado no solo de Cuenca sino de mi vida! 💯 sin duda la mejor Panaderia de la ciudad! Un pan excelente!

(Translated by Google) The bread is very good, they sell delicious bagels. Although a little expensive (Original) El pan es muy bueno, venden bagels riquísimos. Aunque un poco caro

The restaurant is pretty and the service is fine but the food is not good - it’s highly Americanized, not fresh, and too saucey. I would not go back.

The food leaves a lot to be desired but service and atmosphere are on point.

This is not casa alonso anymore, it has been closed. The restaurant of the mantion alcazar is called « cocotte » and proposed french food. They keep using the previous restaurant’s good rate. (Same phone numbers etc…)

(Translated by Google) Spectacular, you must purchase the virtual tours on Google maps to be able to see them from Canada (Original) Espectacular deben adquirir los tour virtuales en Google maps para poderlos observar desde Canadá

(Translated by Google) One of the best places in Cuenca. First-class service with first-class staff too... (Original) Uno de los mejores lugares de Cuenca. La atención de primera con un staff de primera también...

(Translated by Google) A good place to delight the palate. (Original) Un buen sitio para deleitar el paladar.

(Translated by Google) Very delicious food and good service (Original) Muy rica comida y buen servicio

Great place with an extensive menu of pasta, pizza and other items. The pizza was well prepared with a nicely cooked crust, and we had a nice shrimp appetizer. Great meal, only drawback was no whisky 🤣

Actual (4.5 stars, rounded up to a five because there is something for everyone that is quality and affordable) Atmosphere is central to the historic area and always bustling it seems. A little chilly but still sat outside as the energy was great and the restaurant didn't pretend to be a gimmick or something they were not. Service was awesome! They didn't mistreat my Guayaquil family at all :) Food: Bake Ziti and BBQ pollo (don't hate please haha) / Margherita pizza. First, the Bake Ziti; I am sure they made their own meat sauce and it was quite delicious but they must freeze it because it came out watery almost like a soup. They are lucky it was so delicious, but unfortunately not full points. The noodles were cooked to perfection and seasoned altogether very well. The breadstick provided was delicious and left me wanting more. Pizza(s); we asked for half and half in case the bbq wasn't good but it was! I am very picky about pizzas since I spent a large amount of my youth working in pizzerias and the dough did not disappoint. It was great! However, you could see some age in the inside of the cooked dough which is an indicator that the dough might have started to age likely from preparing it the day before (it is a common practice for busy places). I don't think they freeze the dough but definitely refrigerated so it maintained a nice freshness despite it starting to age. I really liked the dough which is very important. There was no red sauce on the pizza but the cheese and toppings were great and fresh. Complementary to the meal, we had a boiled wine (mulled wine without the cinnamon bits) and it was really good! I didn't care for the sugared rim, though. And the house red wine is very good and a generous amount. I want to try all the dishes, but I can't because I'll get fat. Thank you for the excellent experience in Cuenca!

This used to be a great place. Now it has gone completely downhill. We ordered a chef’s salad and both the tomatoes and lettuce were wilted. Some of the cutlery was dirty and surrounding tables were not well cleaned. I took one look a the high chair that was available decided against it —It was smeared with pasta and tomatoes. (None of the staff offered us this or any other high chair for my baby) We ordered two pizzas. One chicken which was good but the California Dream was just more of the very old tomatoes. It was a soggy mess. The service was mediocre. We had to summon the waitress even though there were only two other occupied tables in the entire restaurant and plenty of waiters available. When they bought our pizzas and we mentioned the wilted vegetables, the waitress did not even respond. No one offered the check or checked in our table. What was most concerning however, was the glimpse we got of the food handling. Boxes and bags of food arrived and were thrown on the large table next to ours. Ground meat, tubs of ice cream and cheeses, and whatever else was in bags stayed there during our stay. No one put them in refrigerators. It was very concerning. And as I mentioned before, there was plenty of staff available, lounging at the register counter. Sad to see this place going downhill. It seems like no one cares anymore. I remember when Fabiano and his family opened this place. It was the best pizza in Cuenca. You could tell how much they cared. Now it’s mediocre in every way. So sad.

Super good spagetti and the garlic bread is delicious (comes with the pasta). Huge portion! The staff is super friendly and speaks English as well. Can highly recommend!

Great restaurant. If you're downtown, I'd definitely go to this location. Everyone is friendly. Great vibe, great food.

Garlic bread knots and chicken Pizza are soooooo delicious!!! Well, Spaghetti is okay. Actually, We tried many pizzas from this restaurant, and we think this restaurant is very good at making Pizza!

Overall great culinary experience. Unique Cuenca establishment with an Italian twist. Excellent service and attention. Quality dishes and ingredients. Average price point, so you will not break the bank for a dinner of 2 or 4. Definitely recommend 👌!!!

We stopped by for appetizers today and really enjoyed our visit. I had the shrimp and my husband had the grilled provolone. Both were delicious. The service was excellent and the interior was very nice. We look forward to going again for dinner.

Great amount of food for the price and was very good! Highly recommend! Get the mixed platter for two!!

The idea of this restaurant is ideal for big groups (4 - 6 people and more) this is because of the “discos de arado” - that work as big pots of different proteins and carbs to be shared. The favorites are the mixto de carne and the lomo de res. Although the paella and pasta can be nice to combine with the ones with only protein. Regarding drinks: lemonades and sangria could be your best option to complement the main dishes. The atmosphere is cozy and feels like a special date in the city. Always glad to be back!!

A FOODIE’S CHOICE FOR OUTSTANDING STEAKS🤩🤩🤩. To a large extent, this is a Cuenca dining institution, which has been in business since our first sojourn to Ecuador several years ago😎. The restaurant is truly cozy. Rather two smallish dining rooms yet very pleasant.👍👍👍. The wonderful aromas of meats being grilled and foods cooking pervade the place… stimulating gastric juices and the gustatory centers of the brain 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩. The menu is quintessential Argentinian, gaucho parrilladas (mostly beef, some pork, and seafood) with the expected touches of Italian influence of pastas and risotto 👏👏👏. PORTIONS ARE LARGE, even for those meant for one. 🤗🤗🤗 The Pulpo ala Plancha is a generous serving of grilled octopus. Very tender yet crispy and textural… Simple but delectable flavors. It’s serve on a bed of fresh tomatoes and dry baked potatoes….WOW… 🤗🤗🤗 Ojo Bife is a very lovely steak, very juicy and tender mid-rare. Simple seasoning lets one enjoy the flavor of the beef. … served with fresh-pickled red cabbage and vegetable salad … and sliced fried potatoes… WOW… 👍👍👍 very notable are the compliment of terrific sauces and cold munchies *** the cold pickled aubergines wakes up the palate *** the cold couscous is a gastric stimulant *** the Aji picante is the most lovely sauce for the steak… umping the flavor of the meat🤩 Service is very good.

Sweet gem of an Argentinian style steak restaurant. The wait staff were helpful and explained their cooking process and gently warned that it was "alot" of food. We got a shared platter with steak, chicken, and langostinos. The langostinos were enormous. The steak was melt in youroyth tender and the chicken was flavorful and juicy. The restaurant itself is dark and cozy and I felt like I was in a little romantic nook.

I had a very nice meal with friends. This place is ideal if you're looking for meals served family-style. Somewhat of an Argentine twist to the menu. Also great desserts. Not cheap, but a nice choice for a special meal in Cue6

Everything was delicious. My only complaint is the meat was a little more done than requested. The service was impeccable and still warm and friendly. The waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu. Wine is very reasonably priced with a wide range of choices. The price per person I listed included wine.

We have been there on a Tuesday night. There was one male service person, he was really rude and unfriendly. The female ones were really great- thanks! We enjoyed burger and the table tennis

Great spot, excellent staff and wide variety of beer. The imperial lager was the highlight of the beers and so was the porter. Potatoe crisps were way SALTY and the bread could be more toasted but it was pleasant.

An interesting cross of sports bar and brew pub, with a family slant. Quite a few TV’s playing the soccer match, a kiddie play area, and a ping pong table. They have a number of craft beers, and I tried the honey lager, which was very good. My wife had a white wine, not too many choices for vino. For dinner, my wife had a pulled pork hamburger, and I had ravioli with ricotta. Both were nicely presented and tasty. For dessert, we had a postre that was a suave bizcocho soaked in chocolate with vanilla ice cream. Totally over the top but very good. It’s an open air sort of place, so if the weather is cool, bring a sweater. There is a small outside seating area.

The name tells the whole story...except it doesn’t. This is a beer hall apparently owned and operated by the eponymous Czech brewery. Cavernous inside, and offering basically four or five different beers on tap of its own production, this place also offers pretty good pub food. I found everything on offer to be of good quality, but neither the beers nor the food amazed me. However, the classic Czech/German beer hall layout inside was a pleasant surprise.

Huge space with Czech beer and cuisine. I found it a bit less impressive than their pubs in Guayaquil and Galapagos, despite it being the central one. The goulash for example is pork, not beef and is not very good with a lot of pork fat. I went for the lunch menu once and there was only one person doing everything, so everything took ages. Seems the owners are caring about all their other pubs but somehow forgot about their main one.

Awesome atmosphere to watch Ecuador va Brasilia futbol match. Julio is a great server, and Great biers $3-6 although no cider yet, highly recommend !

Huge beer hall. Immaculately clean and modern, with tasty clean beer to match. I’m looking forward to returning to compete in their 500ml in 5 seconds, beer challenge. The beers and food are little pricey by Latin American standards, so aim for happy hour of your drinking (half price beer).

Food was good, they gave me a no sugar pancakes upon request. Nice and kind service. We also had a fruit bowl which was fine.

It’s a popular cafe for snacks and coffee. They also serve breakfast. 🤗🤗🤗 They are known to roast their own coffee beans. As such, this is good source for coffee, for whole beans OR ground on site. ☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️ it goes without saying then that this is an EXCELLENT STOP FOR FRESH BREWED COFFEE. 🤗 The assortment of bake goods are very good. For us, the CARROT CAKE IS OUTSTANDING… subdued sweetness and moist. Service is very good. The place is one of those yuppie cafes with a good bookcase to choose a reading materiel from while having coffee 👏👏👏👏👏.

This place is so nice. It's a very warm and comfortable environment. The woman at the counter is so sweet and she is very helpful. The flat white is perfect with a chocolatey after taste. They roast their own beans which are excellent quality. They have a dark roast coffee. This place is a must.

We had breakfast at this pleasant spot which is a few minutes walk from Parque Calderon. It has two levels of seating, if you walk thru the upper level there are stairs down to the lower level, which is small but pleasant. The restaurant has free wifi, the SSID and password are listed above the door jamb on the upper level. Breakfast was very good, I had the Simple pancakes with fried eggs and bacon, and a bowl of fruit. The pancakes came with two syrups, maple and strawberry. Excellent! My wife had the Heartland, which was scrambled eggs, country fries, bacon and fruit. She was happy! Along with breakfast was two coffee con leches. A special treat was using the bathroom, tucked in a corner and designed for people under 5 feet tall. Cuidado con tu cabeza! As an added benefit, near the front door they have some racks of products for sale, various types of Ecuadorean coffee, honey, and other items.

Came for a coffee and pastry. No pastries, so shared one of their breakfast sandwiches. It was tasty. We weren’t aware that there are more coffee selections than what appear on the menu. Maybe next time.

The vegan pancakes and dirty chai are my go to favorites but everything I have tried from the menu has been great. Highly recommend. Also nice for computer work.

Ñucallacta knows how to make great coffee! I’ve had a lot of weak and super milky lattes recently but Ñucallacta’s latte was strong, smooth, and delicious. My husband enjoyed his iced coffee as well. The interior is beautiful and bright and the service was prompt. I didn’t try the food since I had just eaten lunch but it looked amazing.

Incredibly good coffee and excellent service from Monica.

Fabulous place, quiet, good music, great coffee and pastries, and excellent 3 course lunches. It's our favourite place in Cuenca!

Nice place with pretty good food! Despite being called Cafe Austria, it becomes clear pretty fast that the place is not run by an Austrian. Otherwise Mozart would be depicted as the grinch on the front page of the menu 😆 Nevertheless, it was a nice visit and one can enjoy oneself with old books and comics from German pop culture.

What a delightful place to take the weight off some nice comfortable seats that you can sit and watch the world pass by. We got there just in time to se them setting up for live music lunch time. We got to talk to the artist who said that they were happy to play here as it was a nice crowd. We enjoyed a nice cop pf coffee and some apple pie and ice cream. We enjoyed our time here and are happy to return for the music

Really great cafe (particularly if you're missing European food and are a bit tired of rice!!). Had the pancakes for breakfast and they were excellent. Then came back and had the apple strudel for afternoon tea - also bloody excellent! Internet is pretty good. Setting is lovely - very comfortable sofas, really nice place to work or read for an afternoon!

A very nice cafe with a classic colonial setting in Cuenca for a break during your touristy or work day. A cappuccino, canelazo, and Irish coffee filled our break and I need to say the Irish was top rate. Good Irish whiskey, flavorful coffee, and just the right dollop of fresh cream on top. Well done! I hope to be back for another soon.

Great coffee good food and the selection of desserts was amazing I just didn't have Room for any. Definitely a upper class place to stop in enjoy some coffee food and dessert

We had lunch for our anniversary and the service was spectacular as well as the food!

This was my first visit and it was a delightful visit with delicious food and kind service.

18/06/22 Update: The dinner was excellent. Our corvina was extremely fresh, was cooked to perfection and delicious. The staff was gracious and personable. It is always a pleasure to dine here. This was our first visit. The fish and shrimp were outstanding. The service and atmosphere was perfect. 👍

Great place to eat amazing seafood in Cuenca. Looks a bit like a hole in the wall, but service, food and atmosphere are all great.

This is a fantastic family-run restaurant! The fish is among the best I have experienced worldwide. This is definitely a place to not miss or a place to make a regular routine. Wonderful food and people.

Capitan is my favorite restaurant in all of Cuenca! The food is delicious and fresh and the service is incredible! On one visit we went for my parents' anniversary and they were so kind in preparing a personalized experience for them. We have tried a variety of dishes from their menu and everything has been absolutely delicious!

Our experience was definitely a very positive one and I can certainly understand the high ratings for this charming, chef owned and operated, tiny eatery. We had two different preparations of Corvina (sea bass), showcasing excellent cuts of the fish and making it clear that much of what is offered locally as “sea bass” is likely nothing of the sort. We also shared a black clam (concha) ceviche. The main reason for giving less than five stars is that the excellent sauces seemed to overwhelm he fish itself. It was still delicious and many people obviously love it this way. But for me, I would prefer a more subtle sauce, showcasing the fish itself. The French fries were superb, home cut and flavorful. The steamed vegetables seemed a little bit like a garnish and didn’t “stand out”, for me.

Sunrise Cafe was recommended to us by an expat; so we took our kids there. The staff was great and offered us a room because of our kids. I could tell this place was catered mostly to expats because they greeted us in English and the menu was mainly American dishes. There were many expats dining at the time. The food looked great but was just missing seasoning; it tasted blend like food in the US. I would advised the cook to add a little more spices like garlic and herbs to make the taste pop. They have BBQ and cornbread on Saturdays, but I wonder if I’m going to be disappointed due to lack of taste.

Great Sunday brunch! Excellent food. It was a very busy Sunday morning and the restaurant probably had too few servers to accommodate the crunch of people. Service was slow. Didn't get a coffee refill until we were about to leave. Not big on atmosphere but the food makes up for any minor issues.

Excellent spot for expats — everyone speaks English and the atmosphere is welcoming. The daily specials are amazing: instead of the usual big pile of rice with a tiny bit of protein you get at some places, you get a generous portion of meat with a big bowl of soup and a side. Fresh-squeezed lemonade is what I order but they have many beverage options, and you even get a small desert with the lunch special. Big portions, great quality, and very affordable. I could honestly eat here every day!

Great place for breakfast and lunch and expat meeting place. The service is excellent and the food is tasty and well priced. Had the Saturday BBQ special today. Absolutely delicious. Service is great as well. I have been doing the Saturday BBQ for several weeks now. Consistently the same great taste.

Bringing the American Diner concept to Cuenca and Ecuador is a laudable idea… BUT THIS PLACE FAILS TO DELIVER MISERABLY👎👎👎👎👎. IT IS OVERRATED for an overall dismal food quality. There are 2 pictorial menus, one for Breakfast and another for lunch. Each picture has a list of ingredients of the food listing. It’s tedious but navigable menus. 👎 Whilst apparently freshly made, the coffee is flavorless. It appears it’s filtered drip Coffee, the WORST WAY TO MAKE COFFEE as it removes all the natural flavors and micronutrients of coffee. 😑😑😑 Paradise Omelette is prettier than it looks. 👍 the Omelette is quite good, the folded stuffing is rich…..BUT 👎👎👎👎👎 the Hash Browns is TASTELESS, lacking even the natural flavor of potatoes… NOTE Ecuador is chuck full of very flavorful varieties of potatoes…. One suspects, this hash browns comes from a pre-processed bag. MORE SERIOUSLY, the Hash Browns is VERY SOGGY. It means it is cooked with a lid on it, which will bring about water condensation that drops into the potatoes…. Hash browns SHOULD be crisp, NEVER soggy if prepared properly. 👎👎👎👎👎 Fish & Chips::: again prettier than it tastes 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬 The Fish is a VERY SMALL UNSEASONED PIECE . It is COATED WITH VERY THICK AND VERY OILY TASTELESS BATTER. The batter is supposed to be beer batter, not a hint of it! 👎👎👎👎👎 the Tartar sauce is UNPLEASANTLY SUGAR SWEET WITH AN ARTIFICIAL YELLOWISH COLOR. 👍 the bright spot of this dish is the fresh very well prepared coleslaw The potato fries is also crisp and seasoned… BUT DON’T CALL CHIPS. Chips are fresh rough cuts of potatoes. Here, the fries are the usual strips of almost identical cuts… indicating pre-processed fries. SERVICE HOWEVER IS GOOD. The eatery has vibe of a Diner… unfortunately the food is dismal overall…

Comfortable atmosphere, very very friendly employees and the food was excellent! I had simple fare, two eggs over easy with hash browns and a fresh baked biscuit served with preserves. On Wednesdays for lunch, he makes the most amazing onion rings and coleslaw!

[I was going through all of my G.Maps reviews and was surprised If given Sunrise 4 stars. I must've been cranky, because this place is Excellent. I think I was cranky because I couldn't get food that day, they were so busy. I'll leave my old review, but just know this place is one of my favorites. Cheers]. Good place, good food, lots of gringos. Was going here a lot, my only advice is don't go on Sunday. For the last month I've been going three times a week, but made the mistake of going on a Sunday. Just way too crowded. I figured, well, I'll just get food to go then, and stood there for 20 minutes, and couldn't even order take out. It's kind of frustrating when you go all week, tip well, and Sunday rolls around you can't even get a simple take out order. Just way too busy, but any other day is usually worth it.

Craft beers are really Belgian taste. Definitely a master piece here in Cuenca. However, attention is not the best, employees could be more polite and explain the experience of tasting really good beer. Additionally, they could be more polite, service is cold and empty, could improve. Atmosphere is not bad, maybe something more is missing because outside it looks like any other beer bar from around, but is not. French fries are good enough.

Great place for tapas or a sit down meal. Nice selection of Crafted cervezas (beer) with a full menu of lunch or dinner 🍽️. Enjoy tapas while sitting outside or go inside for a sit down meal with friends or family. Good table side service - but outside of tapas be prepared to enjoy the company as entrees come out when they're ready, maybe not when you're ready for them Enjoy yourself while you wait with good company and a pint of craft beer.

As a Belgian myself, I must say that the stoofvlees with fries were really good. A little side salad would have been beneficial though. We also ordered the frikandel aka curryworst special, but that one didn’t really taste like it should. It was quite dry and had a different texture. I also advise the restaurant to have real Belgian mayonaise and ketchup to accompany the dishes, especially for the fries and frikandel special. Also we think that vol au vent should be re-added to the menu, it’s a real Belgian classic! Service was top!

I ordered a fish burger and two dark beers with cherries. The beers were very good, they are expensive but you get what you paid for. The fish burger was good but nothing special in order to deserve a five star.

The Belgian beer was perfect temperature. I fell in love with the Delirium Red dessert beer. Fruit based beer is difficult to pull off.....but this one tops my list by far. Excellent mix of fruity hops and smooth finish yeasts make this an instant classic.

Stumbled upon this gem. Belgian Bistro is so chic and great selection of beveys!

This resto-bar had a pretty good range of craft and imported beer. The atmosphere was good, the place it’s centric and well located and has a terrace. Other than beers we got the Belgian chips that didn’t look very Belgian but they tasted right

We came as a group of tourists so we had a preset meal. The food was appreciated by most. The cheesecake and the juice were very good. The sides were ok. I didn't like the beef that much because it was cooked rare. It was strange that no one asked how we would prefer the meat to be cooked. The view is very nice and the staff was very attentive.

Absolutely wonderful place to eat! The food is excellent and the service is top notch! Definitely recommend dining here.

Food was alright but comes with an amazing view and ambiance and good service

Delectable, delightful and deceivingly reasonable. I had the lamb burger late and enjoyed perfectly grilled lamb cubes, exquisitely marinated with the perfect blend of herbs and spices to compliment the grill and paired with a medley of perfectly cooked onions and tomatoes of excellent quality. My wife had the wild mushroom ravioli which was also delicious, though the pleasant creamy sauce was a little lacking in character. Our host, Richard, and our very attentive server, Alexandra were absolutely charming and helped make a special evening even more special. The ambience speaks for itself. Modestly priced for the very fine service and food and environment. Absolutely recommended! Returning a year later, but this time for a leisurely late breakfast, we were equally pleased with our food and with our experience. So glad they’ve reopened for business!!

The food is the best and the seafood so fresh! The service is kind, thoughtful and professional. The owner pays close attention to the details of running her restaurant. The view of the cathedral comes lit up at nightfall is so stunning! Visiting Cuenca? Look no further this is your restaurant!

Perfect view to the Cathedral. Lovely place to get inspiration. Locro de papas and tea was tasty. Costumer service can improve, check out process was slow even with a few customer. 5% fee with credit card payment. Cleanliness and maintenance in restrooms can also improve.

A great spot to relax. I had a beer and the staff were very friendly and helped me as I don’t know much Spanish. I didn’t have a meal but I’m thinking of coming back for the shrimp pasta.

One of Cuenca's Special Restaurants. The owner goes out of his way to make sure you are happy. The food and atmosphere are definitely worth checking out.

My favorite restaurant in Cuenca. Spectacular food with heart and a story to help you better appreciate the dish you are savoring. Staff, second to none!

I stayed here for 3 nights and ate breakfast here each morning. The food is fantastic, modern but still very Ecuadoreans. I really loved everything about the place!!

We just left La Guarida after an amazing experience. Andres did an amazing Tasting Tour of America. 5 incredible courses of some incredible food. (My Southern Heart was particularly blown away by the sausage gravy and biscuits) Andres spoke to us about each of the dishes he prepared, while Omar had prepared a pairing menu for the evening. Truly an amazing experience. We had been on one of our visits before moving, and really enjoyed his local cuisine. But to have that taste of America we didn’t know we missed was a treat. And to know that he was experimenting with some items for the first time was mind blowing. Do not miss this place! The artwork by Eduardo Segovia only adds to the amazing atmosphere of this gem!

We've been coming to La Guarida for 4 years (each time we return to Cuenca). We love the atmosphere, food, movies, Andres & Omar. We always feel at home and welcomed. We would recommend the La Guarida experience to anyone!

Attended the Wednesday night dinner and movie. The service and the food are excellent! A very friendly and warm group of people. I think regularly attend this Wednesday night dinner. The owner and his partner are gracious and the food is is top right!

Such a cozy place. Not very many tables, but great decorations and atmosphere. The food was very good and Spanish/English menu and English speaking staff. There was quite a few Americans when I was there. I've heard they have Indigenous women to show culture on Tuesdays, but I forgot to ask about that. One could call and confirm, but it sounded really interesting from what I heard.

Up side: Delicious wood fired bread. Tasty fillings in the sandwich. Ok service and reasonable prices. Buy some bread before you leave ($1.75 ciabatta loaf). We want to come back for Pizza. Downside: 3 of the things we wanted to order were not available, maybe because it was a Sunday? Don't think they Speak English but I think you could manage.

Different than any other pizza I have tried in Cuenca so far. it had a more artesanal taste/look to it. Lots of option to choose from and everything is enjoyed in a beautifully arranged room.

Breakfast was ok, drinks came after food, food not at the same time, but still was delicious. Waiters speak English and are really attentive. Coffee is strong. Wish to have been there for pizza because the oven looked sooo nice!

What a fantastic meal I just had. My salad was absolutely delicious and the mulberry juice... Oh My God! Honestly it might be the best juice I've had in my life. I highly recommend coming here. This meal made made my night!

Overpriced soggy pizza with nice atmosphere. Cute ambiance with piped light rock music, but fare is substandard with north-american prices: I've eaten better frozen pizza. It may be a fancy oven, yet what came out of it was soggy in the middle (as in waterloggled) instead of being crunchy. Perhaps the outer 1-inch of crust was better than completely uninspiring. The caprese salad we ordered was largely tomatoes with several dry mozzarella slivers lining the rim of the platter. If the intent is loitering in a pleasant environment, then this may work; but there are better options for self-respecting food.

Tried to eat here after a long day of hiking in Cajas. We were starving and really wanted pizza. We showed up 20 minutes before they closed for their lunch time, and were turned away. Normally if a restaurant advertises “open” hours and you come during that time, they are happy to serve you. Regardless, we really wanted pizza so we unfortunately decided to come back for dinner when they reopened. Something to note: you can not choose what you want on your pizza. They have toppings which you can pay extra for, shown on the menu. BUT, you are only allowed to add them to their menu choice pizzas. The cheese pizza has a note next to it which states that you are not allowed to add toppings. To further explain, the large cheese pizza is $10. The pizza with mushroom, garlic and parsley is $16. That is a $6 (60%) upcharge to add only these three items, two of which are not even really toppings. One is garnish and the other should be in the sauce already. For example: as noted, the large cheese pizza is $10. Toppings are either $2 or $2.5 additional. If you wanted a pizza with only mushrooms, you would be forced to purchase a $16 or higher menu priced pizza which had mushrooms already, and ask to remove all other toppings. We wanted a pizza with mushrooms and eggplant only. I asked the waiter if this was possible, and he stated what I have previously explained. I pointed out that there were no pizzas on the menu which had both of those toppings, and any one which had either of these also had things which we did not want. He said that our only option was to choose one of the $16 pizzas with mushrooms and trade a topping for eggplant... When I pointed out that we were paying for things we didn’t want, he responded “that’s what the menu says”. Ok, got it. Our pizza came with eggplant and without parsley, per his suggestion. The eggplant was extra thick sliced and crunchy. It also had a very thick skin which was hard to bite through. There were very few mushrooms. When we went to pay, our bill came to $17.50. When I inquired, he explained that the extra $1.50 was for adding eggplant. Despite the fact that he had just told us we could trade one topping for another, which we had already begrudgingly agreed to. We didn’t even know how to respond. I explained that he had just told us we could trade a topping, and he acted like we were crazy for thinking we could trade parsley for eggplant, even though that was his exact suggestion. So now, we had paid $7.50 to add a few mushroom pieces and thick crunchy eggplant to a $10 cheese pizza. We rarely write bad reviews, but this was some of the worst customer service we have experienced anywhere, and by far the worst in Ecuador. They should think more about service and less about profit. Forcing people to pay for things they don’t want is not a good model.

Outstanding wood fired pizza - not exactly what you will find in other countries but very good non the less. Be careful entering/exiting because you step right out into the road (not onto a sidewalk)!

Tres Estrella more than a restaurant is a unique Cuenca experience. I went there for the Guinea pig (or cuy or cuis as they know it in South America). The cuy was okay although there was little meat to it. However, the overall experience was priceless, including the cooking of the cuy and the restaurant decor. Even if you are not yet ready to eat the cuy, I would recommend to stop by Tres Estrellas and experience the place.

If you're in Cuenca, this is the place to try guinea pig. The place oozes charm, it's packed with locals, and every single local who heard I was going here, or had been here, talked about how it's the absolute best place to get guinea pig. Be aware, it takes an hour to prepare a guinea pig, but if you want, you can reserve one ahead.

Excellent food, vibes, and service! We got the fresh juice, lomo fino de res, coffee, and locro de papas. Everything was so good! Great prices as well. They take credit card which is a plus. Will be returning. Food was so good, I ate it before taking a photo

Small portions that don't justify the price; it looks like they're serving it with regret, as if they're afraid of running out of food

Our guide reccommended us this restaurant. He comes here with his family to eat traditional guinea pig. I have to say it was very tasty, not to compare with any other meat. This restaurant is popular with locals so it is well wort a visit for authentic local food. The ambiente is very nice with lots of old stuff on the walls

The "cuy" here is delicious, and the decor is very interesting, but getting a table can be tough especially during weekends and for large groups, I usually order to go , I call it my happy meal as they pack everything in a nice box. Also there is no parking especially when there are events at the nearby theater.

This is the only place the Guinea pig never fails, is always juicy and well cooked, plus al their dishes are delicious.

I give 5-star for the environment, it’s cozy. Although the BGM was kinda rock music, but I felt relaxed. I ordered the $9.5 one on the menu, and my husband ordered $12.5 one. But I don’t recommend mine, it’s not worth it, the sausage was totally not German style :( Maybe should try during the night, ‘coz they have live show.

Good bar, food is ok but average. Staff is very good. Place gets crowded after 9. Update 6 years later: still good, but not very busy tonight. We had e good meal however and some live music.

This is a place to come snack. It gets active at night. It's just beautiful and the view is amazing. Love the rooms. A place to visit with your significant other for drinks and an empanada. Romantic. Not expensive.

Great location, great atmosphere! Friendly and professional service. Prices are reasonable. Good hanging out place with live music. The food is prepared well, ordered the German bratwurst plate ( I know, visiting Ecuador and eating German food !) and it was not close to what I recall being the original bratwurst but a honorable try. A German would get offended lol but it was good. Overall great decorating and interior, excellent service, priced well and live music. Highly recommended!

The best guacamole I've had in Ecuador. Great live entertainment.

It was a confusing experience, no one advisign me that it would be an extra charge of 10% if I pay with MC Credit Card... And the menu only state that they accept Visa over a check of 20 box... however, after more than twenty year that the place is open, it still has its nice charming... (Sorry you miss the tip)

Will come back, that burger was tasty!

Exquisite food and amazing views. The service was superb as well. Over all we had an great experience.

Great food great service a glass elevator takes you up top and it's a truly amazing experience with quality food views overseeing the cathedrals and skyline. The food is great drinks are great and just a must go to place. We will definitely go back tell our friends and constituents to visit this location. Glass Elevator takes you up top. It's great and the daytime but at night time it's unbelievable. You are awesome.

Looking to sip some delicious cocktails on a rooftop with a view of the cathedral? This international chain provides exactly what you’d need for a nightcap. The servers were very friendly as well, and weren’t bothered that we were just there for drinks (it was 10 p.m. after all). The entrance to the rooftop bar is inside a clothing store, giving it a speakeasy vibe. The cocktails were delicious— and I absolutely loved the “Jengibrazo”, a twist on the classic canelazo. The Andes Negroni was a hit as well for those Negroni lovers. The food menu had a lot of sushi options. Would have loved to tried some if we had another night in Cuenca.

An unforgettable dining experience at Negroni Cuenca! The rooftop views of the city and cathedral are absolutely spectacular — the perfect setting to enjoy cocktails and great company. The food was outstanding — we especially loved the chicken bao buns and spicy rock shrimp, both full of flavor and beautifully presented. The drinks were crafted perfectly, and the service was attentive, friendly, and professional from start to finish. A must-visit when in Cuenca — great atmosphere, excellent food, and breathtaking views. 🌇🍸🍤

Love the views and the food was amazing. Cocktails were also amazing

The pinnacle of this place is obviously the fantastic views of the rooftop, if you can get a terrace view, which are on a first come first serve basis. The service is very good, and the food is average. Ordered the lamb chops ($32) which were good but would not order again. Total cost for 2 including Spritz was $70.

This place has great photo ops! cool design of the restaurant. service was good! drinks were solid. The salmon and sushi is good! would recommend

Good quality food with very little flavor. Egg rolls over cooked. Service fast at first then you wait a long time for the check. Coppelia Restaurantes Borrero had much better Chinese food. Go there instead. Prices are better and food is better. DNR

The plates that we ordered were very flavorful! A great find better than some Chinese spots back home. Service was good. Great decore inside. Super happy!

Our new favorite Chinese food restaurant in Cuenca. They have egg rolls! Also a huge selection on the menu. Vegetarian options. Very clean and well decorated. Friendly staff. Reasonable prices which was surprising. Prepared fresh to order. Good size portions. Highly recommend!

The fried wonton is the best thing. We got the chaufarín (noodles and fried rice 50/50) and the sweet and sour pork and they were pretty bland. Sauces watered down a lot. It is pretty pricey and the pork doesn’t even come with white rice. Wouldn’t recommend.

Compared the other chinese spots, this was def on the pricier side but we saw the good reviews and thought it would be worth it. Unfortunately it was below our expectations. Food was really average. Not great. Not bad. The pics look better than it tasted. We ordered the Wonton Rellenos (the best thing that we ordered), chaufarin (fried rice and noodles) and the sweet and sour pork. Everything was on the bland side. Typically all chinese restaurants give you rice with your dishes and a $8 pork dish did not come with rice at all. Had to order separately As an asian, I was super disappointed and it was a big uh oh for me personally. Overall, everything was fine from the food to the atmosphere. Don’t think we’ll be coming back again but I’m glad we tried it.

This is without doubt the best takeout chinese in Cuenca. The people saying it lacks flavor are people who have obviously never been anywhere near the far east and think that quality food Chinese is south American oversalted fried rice and spring rolls. The review from 'Foodie' is laughable. This place is fantastic. Huge portions of quality food, that tastes simply sublime.

Although the food is good, the restaurant ambience is sad and the lighting is depresing ( cold white lights) there is no background music, and the staff not friendly. We won’t eat there again, however we might order for take out or delivery

Decided to have a nice spontaneous dinner for two while visiting the mall. The food took an absurdly long time to come. About 45 minutes for duck and tomahawk steak to be ready, no appetizers to delay it either. Also, the place was empty so it wasn’t because of a backlog. Having waited 45 minutes, you’d expect for the food to be cooked to perfection. My date ordered her steak medium. The steak was rare, and at certain points it looked raw. She ended up only having 3 bites or so. The duck was nice, but oversauced. Would never come back and wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.

Good meal, we were the only people in the restaurant. Service needs some work.

A very nice respite from the mall.

(Translated by Google) A cozy place with a relaxing atmosphere... The food was very delicious... Their lunch menu was excellent and complete: soup, main course, drink, dessert and coffee as a starter, I was satisfied 😍 (Original) Un lugar acogedor con un ambiente relajante... La comida muy rica... Su menu para almuerzo excelente y completo: sopa plato fuerte, bebida, postre y café como bajativo quedé satisfecha 😍

(Translated by Google) The food is good. Sometimes. I like the place. The staff is unpleasant. If the bosses don't coordinate and keep their employees organized and happy, that attitude is reflected in the service. Being helpful should be paramount in the food business. Best regards. (Original) La comida es buena. Aveces. Me gusta el lugar. El personal es desagradable. Si en la cabeza(jefes) no coordinan y mantienen a sus empleados en orden y felices, esa actitud se refleja en el servicio. Ser servicial debe predominar en el negocio de la comida. Saludos cordiales .

(Translated by Google) I went to the establishment because I had previously had a good experience, but on July 6th, I went and had a bad experience. Initially, my order was shipped incorrectly, for which no apology was received. After that, the product was neither the quality nor the flavor as it had been the other time I had a good experience. I think it's essential to train the staff in customer service, since I didn't receive warm service even when I paid the bill. After this bad experience, I wouldn't choose this establishment again, nor do I recommend it. (Original) Asistí al establecimiento ya que previamente había tenido una buena experiencia, pero el día 6 de Julio Asistí y tuve una mala experiencia, inicialmente el pedido realizado fue despachado mal, a lo que no se recibió ninguna disculpa. Después de ello el producto no era, ni tenía la calidad, ni sabor como la vez que tuve una buena experiencia. Considero clave capacitar al personal en trato al cliente ya que ni al momento de cancelar la cuenta recibí una cálida atención. Después de esta mala experiencia no volvería a elegir este local para consumo, ni lo recomiendo

(Translated by Google) Very beautiful and modern place. A bit small menu and limited times you could eat. (Original) Veldig vakkert og moderne sted. Litt liten meny og begrensede tider man kunne spise.

Osaka weeps 😪😪😪😪😪for OVERPRICED MEDIOCRE NOODLE SOUPS THAT ARE NOT NOT NOT RAMEN! The soup base, while it is good tasting, is NOTHING THAT OSAKA WOULD BE PROUD OF… nay there’s NOT a touch of Japanese, which this place seems to imply it has🤬🤬🤬. —- The soup base is the same for each of the soup dishes. — The soup base is NOT Japanese, NOT Chinese, NOT even Taiwanese. — The only difference between the soups is the protein. — BUT, if one orders Chicken or Beer or Pork or Seafood soup… the broth MUST taste it! SADLY THERE IS NO AUTHENTICITY NOR CREATIVITY OF THE SOUPS IN THIS PLACE. 👎🏿👎🏿👎🏿👎🏿👎🏿 WORST, the noodles are MOST CERTAINLY NOT RAMEN. They are tasteless, very starchy and have powdery texture… It is most likely rice flour or some other grain or root flour noodles. *** Real Ramen is made from whole wheat. It is stretchy when cooked and has real wheat flavor. FURTHERMORE, real Ramen soaks up the flavors of food ingredients and seasonings, especially in soups, it is cooked with!!! In addition to the soups, the pictorial menu states the serve “sushi”…. BUT those are NOT TRUE SUSHI but rolls that are drowned in sauces. *** Sushi is a preparation of simple cuts of fresh fish. Sushi rolls are wrapped in Nori. AND the rice is highly quality Kokuho or Calrose or Koshihikari NOT the ordinary short or long grain dry rice. Service is very poor👎🏿👎🏿👎🏿. —- Why does it take 20 min and a second waiter to serve a glass of potable water and ice???? The eatery is otherwise a pleasant cozy little place. NOT RECOMMENDED!!!

The best ramen I tested in long time. I tested ramen all around the world but this place has the same flavor if you where eating in Japan. The lady was telling me that she’s from Philippines but spend 8yeara on Japan. Even the hot source tastes so good! Now it’s my fav place for ramen

Better than Ecuador, but not good. Ordered a Ramen. It had all the ingredients, but does not taste like Ramen. Service is nice Atmosphere too. A bit expensive. I would go somewhere else.

Let's dinner! I think this is our first time to try the very authentic Japanese food by a Japanese family restaurant in Cuenca, Ecuador. Hiroshi San is the owner and also the Sushi chef. We ordered a California roll, wonton ramen and chicken ramen. The food is really good and satisfying. We are so full with heart and soul. Japanese food, Japanese songs and Japanese atmosphere. We recommend this family restaurant of the authentic Japanese food.

Best pork ramen soup in Cuenca and best sushis too. The food was delicious!! The owners are so kind. We really enjoyed our experience. We will definitely go back.

After 2 months traveling around Ecuador I felt feed up with rice and fried fish... so I came up with idea check out this place. Excellent ramen, cozy and calm small place with friendly staff. Sushi also look good. But I was so full after ramen so decided to go there again tomorrow 😋

The owners (marisa & ray) are really friendly and speak good english. The pork and beef are really excellent there (as ray had stayed in japan for 25 years!) though i have to say the ramen here is more like fusion (with chinese noodles, japan style and mixing local food), it is very delicious still! Great comfort and feel like eating at home.

Amazing food and place. If you are a looking for a great gastronomic experience and service. This place is totally recommended.

Extraordinary location directly at the busy Plaza Colderon but still quiet. Once you are in the room you do feel beamed into another century. Service are very good, so the food. It is definitely the place for a special evening.

First, the place, I felt like I went back to the 15th hundreds. Every detail of the restaurant's design will make you think you are in the past with a luxurious tone—such a beautiful place. Second, the service was so polite and knowledgeable about the food. It feels like they enjoy working in the restaurant. Third, the food, I think, is a Michelin star contender for sure. The calamar a la tinta was something from another planet. Every single dish was delicious. Also, I thought I would pay a lot, but I felt the price was affordable for such a beautiful and tasty restaurant. For sure, this is another five-star restaurant

Amazing place. I was very underdressed in a t-shirt while others around me were in shirts, ties and suits, but the service was wonderful and the waiters made me feel special. The food was delicious and they adapted everything for my gluten free requirements. They brought out additional toasted cubes of maduros at the start, too, at no extra price. Prices included IVA (tax which many places haven't included) and service. There was no pressure or place to add a tip.

Just the most charming place to duck into when the afternoon showers be began. My wife and I enjoyed a wonderful cup of tea and a dessert tower and watched people walk around the square. Highly recommend it for the traveler or the local who is not beholding to a time schedule

Amazing atmosphere. Delicious food. Im surprised this restaurant doesn’t hame many reviews!

Mansión Matilde is a beautiful place that offers an equally beautiful experience. The decor and atmosphere is stunning and really takes you back to a different era. The food does not disappoint and is every bit as delicious as it is beautiful. Served in one of a kind dishes the flavors and freshness of the cuisines stand out above the aesthetics. I recommend coming around 4:30pm-5pm for a late lunch or an early dinner. There isn’t as many people and you can really enjoy a nice quite time. You can make reservations through WhatsApp and they are very accommodating if you need to make any changes. There are spaces for intimate dates as well as for large groups. There doesn’t seem to be any wheelchair access so do keep that in mind. The service was very friendly and attentive. If you come to Cuenca you must must must visit Mansión Matilde!

Found this place by accident, was a little skeptical since we arrived hungry at 1045p, we wondered if we’d get good food and for sure we did. We had the chicken milanesa and the chicken spaghetti. Both were delicious, portions were decent and so were the prices. Oh and can’t forget the fruit juices, they too were fresh and tasty. We’ll be back.

We have visited this bar restaurant for many years. The food quality is amazing and the service great. The plates/dishes are well served that you may split for 2 such as the chaulafan. We recommend the trucha frita and the tomate de árbol juice. Definitely will will go back soon.

Local spot... sport bar type, but good fresh prepared food. Good service, locals seem to enjoy it. Free validated parking next to it. Tip: ask for specials of the day and good mixed drinks.

Very friendly staff and super atmosphere to watch soccer :) thanks again for preparing the TV for us!

My family and I had dinner in this famous restaurant. I had the caldo de gallina soup and it tasted terrible. It didn't have a good flavor. The dessert was ok. It was so delicious. In the middle of my dish I found a hair and I wanted to throw it, but I couldn't because I had a pain in my arms. So overall it was so terrible and bad.

I enjoyed my meal here with a colleague this afternoon. It’s more expensive than other local restaurants, but I’ve been coming here with my family for years and I’m glad that the food here is good compared to other newer restaurants I’ve tried around here.

Food is not like before.ceviche chicken wings use to be my favorite but is not good anymore.

One of the Best beer Gardens I’ve been to in a while! Met The amazing twin brothers that run the business they’re such great people to talk to and customer service that the whole staff provided was great. They have many different types of beer selection but the food was something I haven’t experienced in a beer garden not even in miami where I live, everything on the menu was delicious and can’t wait to go back and visit. Highly recommended!!!

If you don't fall in love with Ricardo and his infectious charisma, then this place isn't for you. We felt welcomed from the first step in the door and came back 3 or 4 times during our 3 weeks in Cuenca. Excellent food, alcohol options, and service. Feels like your local bar even if you've never been there. :)

"Great Beer, Good Vibes, Almost Perfect" Lacraft Beer Garden was high on my list of places to check out in Cuenca. I'm a big fan of craft beer, and the idea of a beer garden in this beautiful city sounded incredibly appealing. My experience was largely positive, but a few small details kept it from being a full 5-star experience. First, the good: the beer selection is fantastic. They had a wide range of styles, from crisp lagers and hoppy IPAs to darker stouts and porters. I sampled a couple of different IPAs, and both were excellent – well-balanced, with distinct hop profiles and a clean finish. My companion tried a pale ale and was equally impressed. It's clear that they take their beer seriously, and it shows in the quality. They also have a good selection of bottled beers. The atmosphere is another major plus. The beer garden itself is lovely – a relaxed, open-air space with plenty of seating, both covered and uncovered. There's a good mix of locals and tourists, creating a lively but not overly rowdy vibe. It felt like a great place to unwind after a day of exploring Cuenca. They often have live music, which, on the night I went, added to the overall enjoyable ambiance. The music was good, and not too loud, you could still enjoy the music and have a conversation. The food was good, but not quite as impressive as the beer. I ordered the burger, which was cooked to a perfect medium-rare (as requested) and had good quality beef. The toppings were fresh, and the bun was nicely toasted. However, the fries were a bit underwhelming – they were a little limp and could have used more seasoning. My companion had the wings, which they said were tasty, but nothing extraordinary. It's definitely solid pub fare, but don't come expecting a gourmet culinary experience. Service was friendly and generally efficient. Our server was knowledgeable about the different beers and happy to offer recommendations. However, it did get a little slow when the place got busier later in the evening. We had to flag someone down to get our second round of drinks, which is a minor, but noticeable, point. Price-wise, Lacraft is a bit more expensive than some other bars in Cuenca, but it's still reasonable, especially considering the quality of the beer and the overall experience. In summary: Lacraft Beer Garden is a must-visit for craft beer lovers in Cuenca. The excellent beer selection, coupled with the pleasant atmosphere, makes for a great evening out. The food is good, but not quite at the same level as the beer, and service can be a touch slow during peak hours. I'd highly recommend it, but with the understanding that it's primarily a beer-focused establishment, with food playing a supporting role. Four solid stars, and I'll definitely be back for another pint (or two!) next time I'm in town.

This place is awesome! I recommend the burger container, 320 grams of beef cooked to perfection. Ricardo was awesome too. Takes good care of the customer!!

Very good craft beer, friendly staff, delicious food. Highly recommend!

Our first visit and we really enjoyed their beer. We had a Stout and the Pale Ale. Both were very good and, since we ordered 2 liters (the big glasses), we received a free appetizer. The fries were yummy.

The pastrami sandwich was soft almost melting meat about 2 months ago. But now it's like eating a piece of rubber. Any other meal and beers are good. I'd stay off the pastrami sandwich specially if you had previously eaten a proper one.

My second time being here and the food is good and unique. What they serve here you will probably not find in other restaurants in Cuenca. I got their drinks - a regular Miske and a pineapple one and they were both great. I preferred the regular Miske more. For food i wanted to get the pig feet with yuca croquettes i had last time because it was delicious! But they had taken it off the menu and i was quite disappointed by this. I wasn’t sure what to order because i went there with a pig feet mission but we ended up getting the corviche and uchu papa. The corviche was decent but the uchu papa was quite good and tasty. Very unique and special blend of flavors. They know what they are doing. They also gave us a tasty appetizer to try for free, and it had great flavors. As always the service was kind and homey. This is a good place to go to try unique dishes. They are creative!

A wonderful dining experience. Loved the unique and delicious dishes with a twist. Everything was 10/10 friendly staff, great service, delicious meal, and great value. Definetely recommend it if you want to try authentic food with a fusion twist. The flavour combination was also on point and loved how they incorporate different and exotic ingredients to a dish.

Good food with local ingredients. The Chicha was delicious. Service was a little slow.

My favorite meal in Cuenca!! This place is flawless. We walked in and it seemed like a trendy coffee shop. But then we saw the tasting menu and are so glad we went for it! What a delight! The nod to the indigenous cultures and traditional foods was obvious and such an adventure. We tried 4 different drinks and all were flawless and so inventive. The staff was friendly and explained each dish presented flawlessly. The only suggestion I would have for the owner is that right before the dessert came out, we were worried we were going to leave hungry and have to stop somewhere on the way home for a snack. Luckily, the dessert was just hefty enough to leave us feeling satiated. It feel so special when, like a piece of art, you feel like you understand what the artist was trying to communicate to you. Such a privilege to experience the chef's passion. I give my highest recommendation to this one!

Oh my goodness, this restaurant is amazing! We happened upon it while taking a walk on Father's Day. It was truly a memorable dining experience from start to finish. The bartender was very nice and pleasant, and helped us with the menu. My husband had the charki sandwich with smoked and nicely seasoned beef. The sandwich roll, obviously homemade was delicious. The beef was topped with an avocado spread, melted cheese, a mild pepper and thinly sliced zucchini. I tasted it and I was amazed with the melding of flavors. I had the vegetarian hummus sandwich and I ate every bit of it. The hummus was purple in color and spread on delicious bread. On top was kale, thinly sliced zucchini, sun-dried tomatoes, and an herb mixture. I loved it! We each chose a beer to drink. We're staying just down the street so I'm thankful we found this trip early into our visit so we may go back again and again.

Interesting menu, nice presentation, service is good and Chica is interesting, but just didn't live up to my expectations after so many stellar reviews. Corviche and platano appetizers were just ok. Ceviche was shrimp only and a little odd with sesame (?) and coconut broth. Ribs were not as tender as I like and served with delicious trigo risotto and cauliflower. Chocolate cake and cappuccino was good, but espresso was bitter. Overall good and different, but I would not return.

I can understand the high ratings if they are given for ambience and presentation. However, for us, the food was not particularly better than any that we’ve had in a number of other established traditional restaurants in town. The empanadas I got for $4.50 were indeed tasty but at the price of 3 very skinny thumb sized (2 inches by 1 inch, with a pinch of blended chicken and pork inside) empanadas I felt truly “scammed”. My shrimp dish, a sort of stylized ceviche was good but not as good as several others I’ve had for much, much less, and my wife’s avocado and tomato sandwich was also good but nothing that anyone, anywhere couldn’t have made for less than a dollar. Truly a very, VERY simple sandwich. If I go back it’ll be because I was invited. I’ll enjoy the service and the atmosphere and smile about the average quality, overpriced food. (Don’t misunderstand. I realize the ingredients are organic, or quasi organic (not the shrimp, I’m sure) and that it costs money to create such an ambience. However, there are other places in town that do it mucky better for less.

Traditional dishes with local ingredients Amazing flavor, presentation and quality Big portions. The beef tartare one of the best I had in my long culinary live. Complements to the chefs.

I went to laMaria on 12/16/24 and I was greeted by the owner (nice friendly lady). The presentation of the dishes and the food was very delicious. We loved the food. The only problem was the churrasco Cuencano, the meat was not tender..my fault..because maybe "churrasco" means something different in Ecuador than the USA. Also, the waitress was not friendly, very shy and not talkative. I hope in the future they hired more friendly people. Overall, I highly recommend this place. Bueno lugar, pero necesitan contratar mejor personal para servir la comida.

I can highly recommend this restaurant! We went here with my wife early August 2025 and had an amazing experience. The food is prepared from fresh local ingredients with a modern twist. There are also great options for vegetarians on the menu (one starter and one main), that were also really good according to my vegetarian wife. :-) The service is really good as well and the atmosphere is very pleasant. Considering the quality of food and ambiance, I felt that the prices were absolutely fair. Definitely worth a visit if you are in Cuenca and are looking for a nicer place to habe dinner!

This was the best food and service I had in Ecuador. Such a great combination of fine dining and authentic and diverse food.

Simply amazing! If you're looking for an imaginative, delicious meal with great ambiance then look no further. Everything we sampled from cocktails to main course left a lasting and fond memory. Dining at LaMaria Cocina Libre is the reason alone to travel to Cuenca.

A FOODIE’S FIND OF HIGHLY CREATIVE, VERY FLAVORFUL COOKING THAT TAKES THE COMIDA TYPICA TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL🤩🤩🤩. Kudos to chef👏👏👏. The menu is short and sweet, a very good sign of a chef who masters his craft. RECOMMENDATIONS: 🤩🤩🤩 The Cuy Empanadas are outstanding! Smoked roasted Guinea pig meat in a crispy corn dough. Well seasoned, subtle hint of chili. Topped with a dainty caramelized dressing. 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 The Canolis de Cangrejo is a unique dish!!! Not the Italian cannoli pasta, but visually looks like a taco though not that either. The shell is a thin sheet of plantain. The stuffed with very flavorful real crab meat tartare in a creamy sauce….WOW!!! 😎😎😎😎😎 The Osso Bucco de Res is superb! Braised beef shank in a lovely sauce. The meat is very tender, moist and falling off the bone… a dainty spoon is provided to scoop out the marrow. It’s served with mashed potatoes and veggies… It’s divine 👏👏👏. There’s a cocktails list, which use locally distilled spirits. Most have a fruit flavors, apparently using real fruit rather than artificial flavors… Chin chin🥃🥃🥃. The presentation of the food is superb 👏👏👏. The restaurant, situated on the upper level of an Artesanal establishment. Very well lit with natural light, modern simple decor: very lively ambiance conducive for gustatory enjoyment.👏👏👏. Service is very good.

An underrated place! Went two days in a row as the menu looked very exciting and we wished to try more things. The best ones were Locro (the vegetarian was better than w Pulpo) but both were delicious! The ceviche de camarón and pescado was fenomenal. They make it w mani (peanuts): not as acid as the Peruvian one and perfectly balanced overall! I actually had it twice! Another dish which is a must: mini plátano shells w crab - yum! They have a decent drink menu w artesanal beers and local alcohol infusions. The only minus was the ambiance, this cool and creative kitchen deserves so much better!!

Great spot for breakfast, it has outdoor seating facing Remigio Crespo, so you can sip your coffee and watch the pedestrian and auto traffic. We had the American Breakfast, which is French toast, eggs, bacon and French fries. The food was served promptly, and it came with juice and coffee. The food was very good. I checked the lunch menu, they have nice looking sandwiches and burgers. This place is definitely a keeper.

Great breakfast along with perfectly made cappuccinos at a reasonable price.

For a lunch restaurant, it is very good, with only four dollars you eat well even with dessert

Always a great breakfast lunch or dinner place. They serve my favorite cafe con leche in Cuenca!

Excellent food; good price.

Good homemade lunches!

Good place for breakfast

The place was too busy the three times I visited, so I ordered my food to go. Salads and/or fried rice. Taste? Good. Price? Amazing.

Definitely had great vegetarian options. Extremely large portions. Fast service in the food was very tasty and fresh.

Food is cheap, plentiful and tasty. Lots of options.

This veggie place has good reviews on YouTube. The boss got chaulafan and a coconut drink, and I got the almuerzo which included popcorn!! as the starter, a bean and potato soup which was solid, a rice and veggies main, and a mango and passion fruit dessert. And I got a banana drink. Both the drinks were outstanding. Cost was $8.50 total for both of us, so it was well worth a visit.

Best vegetarian restaurant in the whole Cuenca!!! The dishes are super tasty and cheap. The best are the yogurt cups!!! Highly recommended and everything is very fresh! I ate here three times and it was always really delicious!

🌱 We got Chaulafan Vegano and it lasted me more than two meals! 😅 My non plant based family members love the restaurant and have come here for many years! GREAT for vegetarians and pretty good for vegans!

Excellent Vegetarian Almuerzo on Sunday. Very busy - lined up through the door but timely service for me to eat in. $2.60 at time of writing. Across from San Blas Park.

Nice atmosphere, excellent service, friendly waiters. Overall food was delicious would recommend.

Excellent breakfast, beautifully decorated place, really enjoyed it. Great coffee too!

Casual upscale café, multi-generational owner, found this place by word of mouth and need to share with 10mm viewers. Ordered breakfast with assistance from an attentive waiter, will 100% be a top 5 location when in Cuenca.

A breakfast club’s satisfactory Desayuno in Cuenca. Our MAIN COMPLAINT is that all the breakfasts are NOT HOT ENOUGH, they are all lukewarm to the touch 🫤🫤🫤. *** This all hinges on a rather slow service, which is all done by a single waiter (doing his best) on a rather very busy BF service. *** ANOTHER WAIT STAFF can speed service. OTHERWISE, the Desayuno Menu is actually quite good… a very good selection of food for everyone’s taste. We are most impressed with the 🤩 Machacado, a lovely sausage scramble. 🤩🤩 Omelet Champiñones, an order of extra Tocino (bacon) filing made the whole dish really delightful. 😑 As usual, the “ Desayuno Americano” is a very much toned down version of what a true American BF is. It’s nonetheless good with the added fruit-yogurt bowl… WE MISS crispy hash browns OR breakfast potatoes OR pancakes AND sausage patties OR links . 😎 The restaurant is a very well designed dining environment. The entrance is a rather deceptively small one, but it’s a gateway to a huge dining hall😎.

Best coffee shop in Cuenca! The service is amazing and the pan con nata and hot chocolate is the best! I've tried the entire menu and everything is delicious and top notch! Highly recommend it!

I was so excited to get to eat ice cream with everyone else…it was all lactose free. What a yummy treat. And it everything about the place and the people was lovely.

The food and ambience here were both very good, which makes it even more disappointing that the service fell so short. The waiter’s attitude was cold and unwelcoming from the start, which took away from the overall experience. I had brought someone visiting the country for the first time, after telling them how friendly and attentive the staff usually are, so it was embarrassing to be met with such unfriendly service. In a city with so many great cafés to choose from, there is no reason to settle for this. Unfortunately, the lack of warmth and professionalism from the waiter overshadowed the positives, and I am unsure if I see myself returning.

We eat upstairs. Very quiet. We ordered off the menu. Next time we will try the standard lunch as it looked as good as our lunch at a lower price.

Nice food & atmosphere ! Big portions and lovely stuff, very kind people! Pet friendly ❤️

Very beautiful! Made with love and not far from the center. Come check it out! Only open until 4pm.

We had lunch there for just 3.50 dollars per person. It was a big portion with soup, a hot plate, some salad and fresh juice which was really tasty! If you like vegetarian food you should definitely check this out. The restaurant is also cozy but they only speak spanish.

Food: Great burgers and the almuerzo is okey! The Italian meny is not so good. Lasagne was more like a soup with pasta. Place: Clean and nice, with some good design and music! Price: Medium range, I feel they have good ratio for value/price. Yes I recommend to visit this place!

Rice was undercooked. No dressing for vegetables. Soup was bland. The chocolate dessert on the other hand was delicious. It is a nice atmosphere, especially if you get to sit on the balcony overlooking the street.

We had lunch here for 3.25 dollars with a soup, a hot plate and a juice. Super good and portions are big. Definitly recommend.

A great pizza. They have been a Cuenca favorite for several years. We finally visited. The pizza crust was very crisp. The sauce was very tasty. (I do like a lot of sauce. They had more than is common in Cuenca, but more would be nice.) The toppings were generous. At the table, they provide shakers of oregano, crushed red pepper, and parmesan. The best pizza we've had in the city!

I ordered the queso calzone for $5 and it was good and I couldn’t eat it it all. Very good service.