Top Restaurants in Cuenca
Top Things to do in Cuenca
- 1. El Cajas National Park
- 2. New Cathedral (Catedral de la Immaculada)
- 3. AMARU Bioparque Cuenca Zoologico
- 4. Rio Tomebamba
- 5. Plaza Abdon Calderon
- 6. Museo de las Culturas Aborigenes
- 7. Museo Catedral Vieja
- 8. Ecuagenera - Orchids from Ecuador
- 9. Pumapungo Museum and Arqueological Park - MCYP
- 10. Mirador de Turi
Azuay Province, Ecuador Food Guide: 10 International food Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Cuenca
Reviews on International food in Cuenca, Azuay Province, Ecuador. Writers and poets have long flourished in arts-oriented Cuenca, the country's third-largest city and the capital of the Azuay province. Cafes and galleries are tucked among the narrow cobblestone streets. The main plaza hosts both the old cathedral, started in 1557, the year the city was founded, and the blue-domed Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, dating to 1885. Locally made Panama hats get top billing at the markets, with centrally located Casa de la Mujer a shopping standout.
Things to do in Cuenca
10. Don Colon Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 625 reviews
Reviewed By Exciteableboy
Stopped here for lunch while visiting the old city and ate an enjoyable outdoor lunch: soup, salad, an entree and a cervesa - all for about $6. The seating inside looked pleasant for colder days. If you get hungry while strolling through Cuenca, this was a quite, affordable, friendly place to recharge.
9. Hotel Santa Lucia
Overall Ratings
4 based on 144 reviews
The restaurant located in our central patio takes us to a gourmet world where the service and attention are its main characteristics; on the menu we can find a variety of Italian courses apart from the most exquisite international wine selection, having a
Reviewed By John G
We booked this hotel with the understanding that parking is included. What we didn't expect was that the car park is a block away from the hotel and stopping outside the hotel, to check in, almost impossible, due to the heavy traffic and vigilant wardens. Entering the hotel is striking, as you see the fabulous courtyard in all its glory, but that's as good as it gets. Checking in was fine but our room was disappointing, to say the least. Most rooms do not have an outside facing window, with the windows overlooking the courtyard, with a corridor outside the widow. This affords no privacy, so you need to draw the curtain if you don't want passing people looking in. Rather ominously, there was a note inside the room to say that earplugs were available in reception. Other than that, the room was reasonably comfortable, if on the small side. Our sleep quality was poor, as noise disturbance was intrusive. It was so bad that we asked to change rooms the next morning and were allocated a room on the top floor, with an outside window. This room was not as well furnished but it was quieter and had natural light. Breakfast was included but not very good. The poor state of the crockery and cutlery said it all, not to mention the poor service. We wanted to go into the countryside on the Sunday, only to have great difficulty getting someone to open the car park. Later we were informed that the car park is closed on Sundays. Departing early the next morning was also a lot of bother.
8. Restaurant Corvel
Overall Ratings
4 based on 99 reviews
Reviewed By Joanna H
Great food, welcoming staff and a beautiful garden with humming birds. We were lucky enough to go twice to Corvel during our stay in Cuenca. Once with friends for a long Sunday lunch and prior to that on a gastronomic tour with Chef Patricio including a visit to their community herb farm and a cooking class at Corvel including a fabulous prawn quinotto (risotto with quinoa instead) and chicken cooked in cream and ground roasted pumpkin seeds) - delicious!The 45min trip to and from Paute is through scenic countryside and the little town itself is nice to walk around and is near the river. We hired a van and driver to take the 10 of us. Hang gliding for $50 offered nearby.
7. El Maiz Restaurante
Overall Ratings
4 based on 182 reviews
Reviewed By RetireandTravel
Three of us went here today to celebrate a friends birthday. From the moment we entered the staff was so friendly. Our food was amazing. We especially liked the Quinoa Soup and the Quinoa with Portobello mushrooms. It came with chicken on the side. pedimos disculpas por no responder antes, pero agradecemos su visita y nos motiva el saber que les gusto nuestro servicio, les esperamos en una próxima ocasión.
6. El Confesionario
Overall Ratings
5 based on 68 reviews
World Cuisine, Organic coffee from Amazonas. Everything simple and wonderful. The best view in the old town. Come to see with your eyes wide open! We are passionate people for the good kitchen and we create a cozy space taking care of every propitious det
Reviewed By 334vincentr
The food is correct. French onion soup just ok (too salty). Other soups unavailable at 7.40 pm! Salads ok, nothing special.Good desserts.Expensive for Cuenca.But the location is great, with a view straight on the Cathedral.Bonjour,Merci pour votre commentaire. Nous réalisons que les latinos américains aiment les plats plus salés que les européens. Nous allons dorénavant demander l'assaisonnement de la soupe. Oui, il est vrai hier, nous avons eu un problème d'approvisionnement pour les soupes. Nous espérons vous revoir et faire mieux la prochaine fois. Merci, R.
5. Casa Alonso
Overall Ratings
4 based on 216 reviews
Reviewed By Heather G
We had the pleasure of partaking of Christmas dinner at Casa Alonso restaurant in the El Mansion Alcazar hotel.The experience was beyond our hopes and expectations. Honestly, one of the top ten dinners we've had anywhere in the world; maybe even the top five. For us, the dining experience is at least of equal importance to the food itself, although obviously good service, beautiful presentation and gorgeous surroundings can't make up for bad food. Casa Alonso delivered on all fronts.The hotel itself is a wonderfully preserved patrimonial building with a gorgeous lounge open to the ceiling. A stone fountain adorns the centre, with the beautiful roses of Ecuador in bouquets around the edge.Our table was set with pewter charger plates, in a little alcove in the window. We enjoyed the twinkling lights out in the garden while our very attentive wait staff filled our water glasses from a pitcher infused with limes, brought us menus and the pre-dinner cocktail included in our set Christmas dinner. We each also had the Mansion Alcazar cocktail. We both like sweet, fruity alcoholic drinks and this was perfect as far as were were concerned.The waiter arrived with tiny dinner rolls, still warm, and herbed soft butter. Next came an amuse bouche, thinly sliced corvina much like ceviche. I had the shrimp thermidor appetizers. My husband had the mushroom croquettes. Mushrooms are not something he generally eats, but he ate every bite of this.Next, we were presented with a tiny scoop of sorbet on a paper thin pastry leaf, to clear our palates before the main course. I chose the turkey for my entree and my husband had the steak. The staff appeared with our 'mains' plates covered by serving domes sporting angels with open hymn books (or something). Absolutely wonderful touch on Christmas Day.The covers were lifted to reveal plates presented as beautiful works of art. A flower graced the top. The food tasted very bit as good as it looked. The turkey was tender and moist. My husbandâs steak was perfectly prepared as well. All the vegetables were crisp. My potatoes were done with a hint of onion, and seemed to have been riced, then fried a bit then compiled into some kind of - Iâm going to say casserole. We were both happy that though the portions were generous, they were not overwhelmingly huge.Dessert was an array of three items: Chinese plum confit, fig ice cream with chili coulis and a chocolate mocha quenelle, arranged to look like a pine comb.The bill was $129 U.S. The three house specialty cocktails accounted for $32 of that. Without our indulgence in expensive cocktails, we would have paid about $135 for this wonderful dining experience.
4. Sunrise Cafe
Overall Ratings
4 based on 202 reviews
We have both English and Spanish speaking waitstaff. We serve breakfast all day but have an extensive menu with international cuisine. For example, eggs benedict, omelettes, crepes, veggie & fruit juices, healthy smoothies, soup, salads, sandwiches, burge
Reviewed By sfeddie
I've been avoiding this place for years, way too many gringos, but we finally took the plunge and we weren't disappointed. In fact we're kind of making it our go-to family Sunday brunch place - to give mom a break. The home made sausage patties I dream about. Best hash browns ever. Eggs done right. The eggs Benedict covers my hunger for the day. French toast, pancakes, pretty much everything that a gringo would ever want for their breakfast. Coffee is great and never an empty cup. The lunch menu is large, varied, and delicious. So if you have a hankering for the over-the-top American breakfast, well cooked, good service, go here. You wont be disappointed.
3. A pedir de Boca
Overall Ratings
4 based on 441 reviews
Reviewed By Lotte_Heeman
I was blown away by the ridiculously delicious hummus with grilled veggies and focaccia. Pricing is very reasonable, staff very friendly, and the ambience just right. Do yourself a favor and visit this quaint little eatery for lunch or dinner.
2. MegaPizza VasSalli
Overall Ratings
5 based on 62 reviews
The VasSalli MegaPizzas are thin and crunchy, Italian sauce and unleavened dough, fresh ingredients, the very delicious Italian sausage, Virginia ham, choose the ingredients you want in your pizza. The great and tasty Calzone, desserts of the Italian gran
Reviewed By geddavies
I've tasted supposedly "great" pizza in Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia and Peru. This is the first pizza I've eaten in South America that matches the absolute best that the USA has to offer. If I could buy this back in California I would.Wow what a great compliment thank you very much , we hope to see you again someday
What to do and see in Cuenca, Ecuador: The Best Places and Tips
1. Zircus
Overall Ratings
4 based on 134 reviews
We are pleased to put at your service the services of our restaurant which was awarded the Tourcert International Germany certification, thanks to its quality and service. We offer an International Cuisine with style that presents its distinguished chef w
Reviewed By FLaWolf
The Zircus Lounge and Restaurant in the 360 Hotel is superb. Great breakfast buffet that offers a good range of fruits, juices, cereals, eggs, and traditional Ecuadorian fare and it varies day to day. Brunch and dinners are delicious and won't break the bank. I thoroughly enjoyed their paper thin slices of veal with fresh veggies. The staff speaks very good English, which they seemed to prefer while we tried to increase our Spanish. We enjoyed their food and services so much that we ate there rather than the hotel where we were staying. Will definitely go back there when we return to Cuenca next year.
Where to eat Latin food in Cuenca: The Best Restaurants and Bars
