Restaurants in Guayaquil
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Lo Nuestro
Housed in a century-old mansion complete with wooden shutters and period furniture, Lo Nuestro is one of the most atmospheric places in Guayaquil to eat seafood dishes typical of the region. Musicians play on Friday and Saturday evenings, when reservations are recommended. At lunchtime the place fills up with local bigwigs.
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La Canoa
One of the more recommended places for a taste of Ecuadorian-style diner food is La Canoa in the Hotel Continental. Instead of hamburgers, the quick dish of choice is ceviche or fried rice with crab.
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Bopan
A good place to break up a walk along the Malecón, Bopan has an extensive menu of crepes, tortillas, sandwiches and pastas.
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Escalón 69
On the steps of Las Peñas, this is a charming mix of romantic elegance and casual local spot, with a menu of creative interpretations of typical Ecuadorian dishes: yucca patties served with honey lemon sauce, squid stuffed with Spanish sausage and rock bass ceviche. It's decorated with flowing yellow drapes, hammocks and handwoven tablecloths. Above the restaurant is a welcoming bar with karaoke and live music on weekends.
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La Parrilla del Nato
A staple for lunching office workers, this two-story Guayaquil institution (there’s another branch in Urdesa) is always crowded and bustling, even in such a large space. Specializing in personalized grills – meat or seafood – fired up at your table, almost everything is available on the menu, from pastas ($7), pizzas ($3) and sandwiches to good ole standard almuerzos ($4).
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Caracol Azul
A fine dining institution, this gourmet French-Peruvian restaurant has been serving scrumptious seafood and steak for more than 30 years. Langostinos encocoadas (shrimp in coconut-milk sauce) is especially good. The relatively elegant dining room is more welcoming than stuffy.
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Restaurant Ali Baba
One of the only Middle Eastern options downtown, Ali Baba serves staples such as hummus, falafel, juicy shawarmas and filling empanadas ($0.80). Service may not come with a smile but it’s still a good place for a quick eat or a lazy drink at one of the street-side tables.
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Trattoria da Enrico
One of the more expensive but also more romantic places to eat in Guayaquil, da Enrico makes its intentions loud and clear by the dim mood-lighting, low cellar-like ceiling and, well, the prices on the menu. Serves conventional Italian fare and has an extensive wine selection.
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Artur’s Café
A longstanding hideaway perched over the Río Guayas in Las Peñas, Artur’s does average food (Ecuadorian and international standards such as pasta). Despite the chintzy decor and dark lighting, it’s still a pleasant spot. There’s live music on many weekends.
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Menestras del Negro
If you want to avoid the KFCs and Pizza Huts, this homegrown chain is a good fast-food alternative. Grilled meat, fish and chicken dishes are on the menu along with heaping servings of beans, an Ecuadorian staple and the restaurant’s namesake.
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1822 Restaurant
Grand Hotel Guayaquil's restaurant serves excellent international food in a Mexican/Spanish villa setting, replete with stucco and tile and Simón Bolívar portraits. Up in Pepa de Oro, the coffee is excellent and refills are free.
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Grand Banquete Buffet
This unassuming, large Chinese restaurant in Urdesa is a good choice if you're hungry - the buffet packs a wallop. Besides a selection of seafood, it has salads and meat and veggie dishes; chicken and pork are grilled to order.
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Dizengoff 99
The La Fontana Hotel’s otherwise ordinary restaurant looks like a stage set for La Bohème. Whatever the owner’s Parisian fantasies, the menu is decidedly uninspiring – basic almuerzos and grilled meats with rice.
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Resaca
This restaurant on the Malecón feels a little like TGI Fridays, what with the red checkered tablecloths, salads, chicken wings, pasta dishes and friendly waiters. It's also a popular bar open late on weekend nights.
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Frutabar
The best place for fruit shakes and fruit juices is the surfer-themed Frutabar, which also has sandwiches ($4.50), snacks and light meals. There's another branch on Avenida Estrada in Urdesa.
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Asadero Costeño
Rotisserie chicken is a dime-a-dozen in Guayaquil, but this place on the east side of Parque del Centenario stands out for its size and efficient ordering system – pay at the caged cashier before sitting.
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Café La Española
The super-clean and air-conditioned dining area more than makes up for this chain outlet's lack of charm. Good deli sandwiches and meal deals, baked sweets and breads are the specialty.
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Le Gourmet
The best bet for a splurge is Le Gourmet, a top-flight French restaurant in the Hotel Oro Verde. El Patio, serving Ecuadorian standards at upscale prices.
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El Toro Asado
Serves good, reasonably priced grilled meats in a casual and busy atmosphere. Asado y menestra (grilled beef with lentils or beans) is the specialty.
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Ristorante Casa Italia
One of the few stand-alone Italian restaurants downtown, Casa Italia is a casual, informal place with cheap almuerzos with your choice of pastas.
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Las 3 Canastas
The best place for fruit shakes and fruit juices is the surfer-themed Las 3 Canastas, a busy daytime spot with street-side tables.
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Riviera
Every night looks like Christmas Eve at this festively lighted Italian. Serving conventional Italian fare, it offers an extensive wine selection.
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Matsuri
An unpretentious Matsuri is a Japanese restaurant along Estrada, which is open on Sunday when much of the area is shut down.
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Palacio Dorado
An indistinguishable chifa (Chinese restaurant) on the block south of Parque Bolívar, serving low-cost and filling dishes.
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Viva Mexico
For ethnic variety try Viva Mexico. This is uber-Mexican with mariachi bands, burritos and excellent tortillas.
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