Location: Colonia del Sacramento
Top Restaurants in Colonia del Sacramento
Colonia del Sacramento Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Colonia del Sacramento
The historic quarter of Colonia del Sacramento, founded in 1680, evokes old Lisbon with its Portuguese-influenced architecture and winding streets. The area, located in southwestern Uruguay on the Rio de la Plata, was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995. It's an easy day trip by ferry from Buenos Aires, making the beaches a popular Argentinean escape. Major sights include Iglesia Matriz, the country's oldest church, the Municipal Museum and a 17th-century port jutting into the river.
Things to do in Colonia del Sacramento
1. Viejo Barrio Restaurant and Bar
Overall Ratings
4 based on 527 reviews
Reviewed By Wanderlassie - Oldsmar, Florida
Based not on our concierge recommendation, but on TripAdvisor, we made our way to this intimate quiet restaurant. We ordered a L. of not-so-great Tinto vino, but what the hey, it was as inexpensive as the Cervesas. Jim ordered spinach -filled ravioli w/ tomato sauce, my own pasta dish (began with letter 'S'), was fat (4-cheese) dumplings, one of these being the cheesy cream sauce. YUM! Service was quick & friendly. They accept Visa, and tip-inclusive, we had a genuinely pleasant dinner for $29.
2. La Florida
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 340 reviews
Cuisine, new product development, boutique wines
Reviewed By Jenn W - Hong Kong, China
The restaurant decor is very unique! It's a museum itself, I am sure it was converted from the owners' house. The menu was not big, but very exquisite! Must get the squid rings, the lamp rack, and the ravioli!!!!!! The tea I ordered was served in beautiful tea sets!! The owners were super nice and welcoming! They spoke good English and were so lovely to talk to! And the music there, wow! Was so soothing and romantic!!! It was just a highlight of our trip!!! Not easy to find, but it's worth exploring it!
3. Lentas Maravillas
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 561 reviews
Lentas Maravillas isn't exactly a restaurant, it's a coffee shop/tea-room that also serves lunch and occasional private dinners. We are a small venue that sits up to 14 people in our living room and up to 16 people in the garden. We like being small because we can provide better service to our clients. We specialise in gourmet sandwiches and salads in Summer. In winter, in addition to our sandwiches, we make a spicy goulash and a chicken curry...There's also a hot, fiery soup to welcome our clients as they wait for their food to arrive...Desserts are home-made and some of the cakes are a revised version of my mother's Austro-Hungarian recipes.
Reviewed By Jonas S - Santa Cruz do Sul, RS
Lentas maravillas was discovered while wandering thru beautiful Colonia del Sacramento. You may overlook its very simple, but charming outside - basically, an open house door and a blackboard in front of a typical Colonia residence - but once inside, you will find yourself very comfortable in a place full of personality.
Excellent coffee and many menu options using Uruguay´s very best ingredientes will make your time here a delight. The viewing is awesome. Lovely cats allow you to stay as long as you want, too, sometimes inspecting the guesses to finding someone playfull. One thing, beware: the place´s simplicity dont exactly mean anything cheap here.
4. El Buen Suspiro
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
We offer a local cuisine based on the best artisanal products of Colonia, in the most emblematic street of the old quarter of Colonia del Sacramento, the “Barrio Sur”, a World Heritage site, in a typical house of Portuguese construction of early 1700s. Wines of local vineyards, artisanal cheeses, homemade jams, olive oil, spirits, grappas, and typical pastries are part of the menu, to take or to taste at the store. Whether in a small and intimate room or at the courtyard, you can taste different appetizers based on a selection of artisanal local cheeses served with sweet and sour sauces, combined with salami, sausages, ham, vegetable tarts, and chicken brochette. In winter, homemade soups of onion or pumpkin; in summer, salads.
Reviewed By adnilelag - Melbourne, Australia
While the food range was limited to antipasto-style platters, it was all excellent and well presented, with several choices of price and volume. They feature Uruguayan produce, and some of the cheeses are both interesting and good. But you don't come here for the food - it is the wine that is their speciality, and they have an impressive range of good quality Uruguayan wines and staff who listen, consider, and provide helpful advice. Glass sizes are generous, and no-one pushes you to hurry. A great place to while away an evening and learn about some varietals you won't find in other parts of the world.
5. Los Farolitos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 235 reviews
nice chivito place
Reviewed By Chillyking
As a lover of chivitos I thought I'd better try this place that everyone says has "the best in Uruguay".
They're not bad and it's one of the few places anywhere I found that actually has a hot sauce, but the best in Uruguay? No way. I thought it was pretty decent street food, nothing too special.
It was a bit disappointing to be served with two filthy glasses though. I asked for two clean ones and another two unwashed ones came out. So perhaps best to drink from the bottle instead.
The guy cooking and serving clearly spoke English though, so I suppose that's a plus.
6. Ganache Cafe & Pasteleria
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 759 reviews
We roast our own coffee, Breakfast, Brunch, Homemade Bread, Vegetarian Sandwichs, Soups, "Empanadas", Desserts, Celiac Options, Vegan Ice cream, Home & Fire
Reviewed By AdM85 - Sydney, Australia
I loved this place! I went a couple of times. Its in a beautiful cobbled street and sitting outside in the Sun looking around is a lovely way to spend time.
The service is friendly, the coffee is nice and the cakes are delicious. I had a lemon meringue pie and the best alfajores I’ve had in a year in South America.
7. La Bohemia
Overall Ratings
4 based on 305 reviews
Reviewed By William G - Schenectady, New York
We had a wonderfully tasty lunch at La Bohemia this past Sunday. The fresh homemade pasta (pumpkin gnocchi) was delicious. The staff was friendly and welcoming. The wine recommendation (an amazing tannat) was on point. The velvety cheese cake was great. Somewhat pricey, although I thought the same about most restaurants in Colonia regardless of their quality. As expensive or more than better restaurants in Montevideo and Buenos Aires. I don't get it. Well, same thing happens in Paraty (Brazil). Still, it's a solidly good restaurant with its emphasis on pasta, but also offering burgers, meats, etc. We enjoyed the relaxed, laid-back atmosphere.
8. Deli de las Rosas
Overall Ratings
4 based on 201 reviews
Reviewed By Janine T - Vancouver, Canada
I had both lunch and afternoon tea at this hidden gem. So refreshing to find healthy home made food in a tourist Mecca. Deli de las Rosas is a neighbourhood find. Natalya, the owner, speaks English and serves Illy Coffee and various teas, including Twinings. I had a vegetarian quiche with my Illy coffee for lunch - the crust was whole wheat. It was so refreshing to have normal food, rather than the usual tourist offerings. Lunch, including coffee, cost about US$5.
I returned for afternoon tea, partly because the surroundings are so pretty and relaxing. A delicious home made cooked it ha perfect pot of tea for less than US$3.
I will definitely return
Lovely to sit outside, too. Good free wifi connection.
9. Charco Bistro
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
We prepare our dishes with fresh and carefully selected raw materials that make our final product a healthy and delicious food.
Reviewed By J A - Calabasas, California
Though we didn't sit next to the river, we could still enjoy the scenery of the river (muddy brown). The restaurant, which is a short walk from the Plaza, had just opened for lunch so we were one of the few customers in the restaurant....MoreDear Tripadvisor user, Thanks for writing us. We will take into account your comments to improve our service. Best regards, Charco Team
10. Churana
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 383 reviews
Reviewed By Geoff and Jenni G - Sarasota, Florida
We had an absolutely delicious vegetarian lunch here, including the best chickpea and onion bread ever :-) ...however the service was quite unfriendly and unaccommodating.
The restaurant garden was empty (bar one other couple) but the waitress told us we couldn't sit on the comfortable bench seats but only on the hard backed chairs at tables for 2. We had been walking all morning and wanted to relax somewhere comfortable. We told her (in Spanish) that we would be quick but wanted to be comfortable and both have a view of the river and she was rude, unfriendly and as unhelpful as possible. When we asked for salt it was practically thrown at us. The only time she cracked a smile was when we left her a tip in USD.
We would definitely return for the food and the location. The ambience would have been lovely if it weren’t for the young girl serving who needs to adjust her attitude – even if she doesn’t like tourists! She didn’t ruin our experience – but did manage to make it slightly less than 100% ;-)
