Must-see restaurants in Northern Highlands

  • Mishqui Quinde Heladería

    Mindo

    Oswaldo has moved from the old van to a more permanent site, but it's still all quinoa, all the time: in burgers ($4 to $5), pudding, homemade sorbet and…

  • Yumbo's Chocolate

    Mindo

    Owner Claudio Ponce works with an all-female cooperative of cacao growers near Timbiré, Mujeres Para El Futuro (Women for the Future), bringing the heat…

  • Cafe Fussion

    Otavalo

    Chef Javier, who studied the culinary arts in Peru, painted this place in Caribbean pastels, and the same artful imagination goes into his recipes: smoked…

  • Sumac

    Otavalo

    Ecuadorian chef Jorge David Quilumbaqui, trained in French cuisine in Quito, presents artfully plated meat and fish dishes, as well as delicious desserts,…

  • La Cosecha Coffee Shop

    Otavalo

    This contemporary cafe with Santa Fe–like adobe walls and minimalist design wouldn't look out of place in a cool outer-borough NYC neighborhood (it even…

  • Heladería Rosalía Suárez

    Northern Highlands

    In 1897, Rosalía Suárez discovered the best ice-cream had no cream at all. Her shop has been a sensation ever since. Now run by her grandson, it serves…

  • Bizcochos San Pedro

    Northern Highlands

    If bizcochos are a religion around Cayambe, Father Rafael Morales is their patron saint. For more than 40 years this gentle-hearted priest has been making…

  • Taco Bello

    Otavalo

    Puns aside, the tacos, burritos, enchiladas and fajitas are most definitely more beautiful than those of this small, simple restaurant's titular namesake …

  • Beehive

    Mindo

    Run by Ingo and Genny, the Beehive is located on the bottom floor of the Dragonfly Inn, a cool hangout with a Scandinavian design perched over a river…

  • Yolanda’s Chicha de Yamor

    Otavalo

    Yolanda Cabrera has become famous for delicious local fare such as tortillas de maíz (corn tortillas), empanaditas (Spanish pies) and the local favorite…

  • Árbol de Montalvo

    Otavalo

    Wander back of the Hostal Doña Esther for Otavalo’s only wood-fired oven pizza. Tasty, certainly, and the best in town no doubt, though crusts are cracker…

  • El Leñador

    Northern Highlands

    A carnivore's delight, this grill features fresh linen tablecloths and tasteful decor. Order any beef dish (the delicious consequences of a leather-making…

  • Arepera

    Mindo

    Budget eaters rejoice! These exiles from Venezuela dish out delicious and ample arepas, the stuffed-corn-cake treat which fits any meal, really. Filled…

  • El Quetzal

    Mindo

    This laid-back coffee shop and restaurant, easily the largest in town (for better or worse), has excellent coffee plus locally grown beans and chocolate…

  • Daily Grind

    Otavalo

    Belly up to this corner coffee-bar and watch the action unfold on Plaza Bolívar. Inject your central nervous system with an espresso or downshift with a…

  • El Quinde Café

    Northern Highlands

    Run by a Colombian husband-and-wife team, this charming little spot on Parque Pedro Moncayo serves locally grown coffee, and cakes and pastries. The small…

  • La Reposteria

    Mindo

    Head down a narrow dirt road for this small cafe with a few indoor and outdoor tables. Ownership has changed from German to American, but the specialties…

  • Mercado Jatuk Cem 'Cotachi'

    Northern Highlands

    The stalls at this outdoor covered food court serve everything from marisquerías to parrillas (seafood to BBQ steak). The food is as good as the tourist…

  • Olor a Cafe

    Northern Highlands

    Downtown Ibarra's literary hangout is housed in a stately colonial-era building, and its operators claim it is the top spot to pop the question (a running…

  • SISA

    Otavalo

    An attractive three-story complex: the ground floor has local handicrafts, the 2nd floor sandwiches and the top floor standard international fare, plus up…

  • La Casa de Frida Bistro-Cafe

    Northern Highlands

    Sandwiches, nachos, coffee and mixed drinks for the most discerning palates are all served in this comfy cafe based on the theme of 'all things Frida.'…

  • Ana de Nuñez

    Northern Highlands

    A small shop stuffed to the gills with signature Ibarra treats such as nogadas (sweetened treats made from walnuts, sugar, milk and egg whites) and arrope…

  • El Coyote

    Northern Highlands

    Heat lamps, as well as tequila, warm things up when dining after dark at this spot with only outdoor plaza seating. The tasty, standard Mexican meals,…

  • Oraibi

    Otavalo

    Right in the heart of town you’ll find this charming vegetarian oasis in the courtyard of an old hacienda. The menu consists of pizza, sandwiches, salads…

  • Restaurante Pizzeria El Tigrillo

    Mindo

    This simple, open-air place across from the Mindo Volunteer Hostel is our favorite pizzeria in town. The pizzas are cooked in a brick oven and offer eight…

  • Comedores

    Northern Highlands

    A half-dozen or so comedores and stalls selling the same collection of specialty sweets are sandwiched into little slots in the brick fort on the east…

  • Quino

    Otavalo

    This popular eatery next to Hostal Santa Fé 1 offers up excellent seafood dishes within its dimly lit walls, but not if you’re in a rush: all main courses…

  • Shanandoah Pie Shop

    Otavalo

    Like the pies, the shopowner Aide can be a bit crusty. Although this isn't a salubrious-looking shop, the homemade fruit-flavored pies are the best in…

  • Cafe Rio Intag

    Northern Highlands

    Organically grown Intag Valley coffee, cakes and small sandwiches are served at this cool university-like hangout spot with comfy couches and a nifty…

  • Aroma Cafetería

    Northern Highlands

    Grab a sandwich or leafy salad at Aroma Cafetería alongside office workers on coffee breaks, but save room for a satisfying slab of cake. In an array of…

  • Pastry Shop

    Northern Highlands

    Right next to Rio Intag on Parque San Francisco, Robin Lea delights her expat clientele with piping-hot cinnamon rolls and scrumptious carrot cake, among…

  • Cafe Tulcán

    Northern Highlands

    A popular and modern spot serving up sandwiches, coffee and cake since 1945. Treat yourself to an ice-cream ($2 to $3) too. Jose, the third-generation…

  • Donde el Argentino

    Northern Highlands

    Transport yourself south in this matchbox-sized cafe packed with ambience. Go for the excellent steaks and fries. Outdoor tables on the square expand the…

  • El Cheff

    Mindo

    A popular spot for set meals ($3.50 for breakfast or lunch), this basic steakhouse sizzles and is a reliable choice. Try the lomo a la piedra (steak…

  • Buenavista

    Otavalo

    Service can be brusque and the international fare mediocre (learn from our experience and avoid the pasta); however, the balcony provides an unbeatable…

  • Oro Mar

    Otavalo

    Feeling landlocked? The blue color scheme, maritime-themed wall paintings and more importantly the huge portions (you can order half-size) of cazuelas,…

  • Hilda Ruiz

    Northern Highlands

    A clean and modern cafe with a shop selling bizcochos, guava-filled empanadas, and queso de hoja (boiled white cheese). For three decades, Doña Hilda has…

  • Lady Blue

    Otavalo

    This new joint next to La Cosecha on the Plaza de Poncho hasn't got its food together quite yet (we'd call it average) but the jazzy ultramodern decor …

  • Bucanero Marisqueria

    Northern Highlands

    Order at the register and grab a table at this popular restaurant, especially crowded with families on Sunday afternoons, serving up ceviche, cazuela …

  • Gran Chifa

    Otavalo

    Gran-sized portions of good Ecuadorian versions of Chinese fare, plus a small 'fusion' section of street food like salchipapas (sausage and fries) are…