Restaurants in Pacific Coast & Lowlands
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Marea
Down a side street towards the beach is Marea, the place for brick-oven pizza.
reviewed
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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.
reviewed
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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.
reviewed
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Arena Bar
Chow down to international rhythms and casual surf decor. Pizza is the staple, but the salads, spruced up with olives and cheese, make a nice change from the norm, as do the homey grilled cheese sandwiches.
reviewed
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D’Camaron
As the name implies, shrimp is the specialty at this casual open-air spot near the water. Order them grilled, with a cocktail, and enjoy the ocean breezes.
reviewed
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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.
reviewed
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Tiburón Restaurant
Enormous seafood and chicken empanadas, as well as omelets and ceviches are on the menu at Tiburón Restaurant.
reviewed
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Café Hola Ola
For a few Israeli-inspired dishes, large breakfasts and grilled meats and seafood, try Café Hola Ola.
reviewed
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Street Stalls
If you're in the mood to stroll for your supper, consider the following options. In Tarqui, seafood comedores line the east end of the beach along Malecón de Tarqui. Behind them are several restaurants. Playa Murciélago has numerous cafés, front and center to enjoy beach action from beach-volleyball to beauty contests. The Hotel Oro Verde complex includes an American-style delicatessen and sushi restaurant.
reviewed
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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.
reviewed
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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).
reviewed
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Patacon Pisa’o
Looking for a little variety in your almuerzo (set lunch)? Nothing more than a few small outdoor tables, it serves delicious Colombian specialties such as crepes, arepas (maize pancakes) and its namesake dish: large, thin, crisply fried plantains with your choice of meat topping. Good for breakfast, brewed coffee and an afternoon hang out.
reviewed
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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.
reviewed
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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.
reviewed
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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.
reviewed
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Pizzería da Giulio
Run by a Sicilian, this handsome restaurant serves up excellent thin-crust pizzas with fresh ingredients and old-world flavors (including real prosciutto). There’s upstairs balcony seating, as well as grappa, sambuca and other spirits rarely seen around these parts.
reviewed
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Puerto Amistad
Puerto Amistad is an expat favorite for its delicious fare, English menu and the attractive and airy deck over the water. Salads, savory crepes, quesadillas and grilled dishes all arrive nicely prepared. This upscale restaurant also functions as Bahía’s yacht club.
reviewed
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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.
reviewed
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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.
reviewed
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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.
reviewed
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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.
reviewed
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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.
reviewed
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Mantai
The big drawcard of Mantai is its pretty outdoor setting, featuring paper lanterns, fairy lights and potted plants. This restaurant also offers good-looking wait staff, electronic music and enjoyable bistro meals.
reviewed
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Oh! Mar
Out in Las Palmas, this casual open-sided beachfront restaurant serves delicious seafood dishes like encocado de langosta (lobster in coconut milk) and ensumacao (soup with coconut and peanuts).
reviewed
