Quito
Kitschy religious icons and old-fashioned radios decorate this old-school classic serving Ecuadorian fare to bustling workday crowds. Opt for first-rate seco de chivo (goat stew), corvina (sea bass) or arroz marinero (seafood rice) – there are so many options the menu takes an age to peruse. Follow these up with old-fashioned helados de paila: ice cream handmade in big copper bowls.
Go for a guagua (small) portion if you cannot manage the generously sized platters.
Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús
0.22 MILES
Capped by green-and-gold domes, La Compañía de Jesús is Quito’s most ornate church and a standout among the baroque splendors of the Old Town. Free guided…
1.91 MILES
For spectacular views over Quito’s mountainous landscape, hop aboard this sky tram, one of the world's highest aerial lifts, that takes passengers on a 2…
3.51 MILES
In the former home of the legendary painter Oswaldo Guayasamín (1919–99), this wonderful museum houses the most complete collection of the artist's work…
3.48 MILES
One of the most important works of art in South America, Ecuadorian artist Oswaldo Guayasamín’s Capilla del Hombre stands next to the Casa Museo…
0.14 MILES
The low white building on the northwestern side of Plaza Grande is the seat of the Ecuadorian presidency. Visitors can enter by joining a free guided tour…
Museos Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana
1.27 MILES
Newly reopened following a full-scale makeover, Museos Casa de la Cultura encompasses three museums in a single bright, modern space. The expansive Museo…
29.16 MILES
The centerpiece of Ecuador's most popular national park is the snowcapped and downright picture-perfect Volcán Cotopaxi. At 5897m, it's Ecuador's second…
15.44 MILES
At the center of the Mitad del Mundo stands the centerpiece of the park: a 30m-high, stone trapezoidal monument topped by a brass globe containing a…
0.04 MILES
This monastery is a fine example of 17th-century architecture, with unusual Moorish arches decorated with hundreds of golden pineapples. Many of the…
0.08 MILES
On the northeast side of Plaza Grande, this former archbishop’s palace is now a colonnaded row of small shops and restaurants, located between Avenidas…
0.11 MILES
While wandering around colonial Quito, you'll probably pass through the Plaza Grande several times. Its benches are great for soaking up the Andean…
0.14 MILES
On Plaza Grande's southwest side stands Quito's cathedral. Although not the most ornate of the Old Town’s churches, it has some fascinating works by…
5. Monasterio Museo Santa Catalina de Siena
0.14 MILES
Guided tours (in Spanish) of the museum at this fully functioning Dominican monastery, founded in 1592, take in 18th-century religious paintings, some of…
0.14 MILES
The low white building on the northwestern side of Plaza Grande is the seat of the Ecuadorian presidency. Visitors can enter by joining a free guided tour…
0.16 MILES
Beside the cathedral on García Moreno stands the 17th-century Iglesia del Sagrario.
8. Centro Cultural Metropolitano
0.17 MILES
Just off Plaza Grande, this beautifully restored building houses the municipal library and lecture rooms, and hosts temporary art exhibitions.