Things to do in Asunción
-
A
Confitería Bolsi
More than a confitería, this traditional place (it's been going since 1960) serves everything from sandwiches to curried rabbit and garlic pizza. Try the surubí casa nostra (a superb selection of different pasta types and flavors on one dish).
reviewed
-
B
Centro Cultural Manzana de la Rivera
Across the street from the Palacio de Gobierno is the free Centro Cultural Manzana de la Rivera, a complex of eight colorful and restored houses. The oldest is Casa Viola (1750), where the Museo Memoria de la Ciudad houses a history of Asunción's urban development.
reviewed
-
C
Lido Bar
This diner-style local favorite, with sidewalk seating opposite the Pantheon, serves a variety of Paraguayan specialties (excellent sopa paraguaya - cornbread with cheese and onion) in generous portions for breakfast and lunch.
reviewed
-
Paulista Grill
Dripping slabs of delicious meat (veggies can have the salad buffet). Very popular for those in the more upmarket east, and worth going to if you're staying in the area.
reviewed
-
D
Bar San Roque
Head back in time to this restaurant with warm turn-of-the-20th-century atmosphere. Since 1905 this fine family has been serving out-of-this-world traditional Paraguayan dishes. The counter displays fresh goods from the family farm - macadamia nuts to fruits - and the wine list is as impressive as the decent menu of pasta to meat dishes. As many locals will attest, a culinary must with service to match.
reviewed
-
E
Museo del Barro
Everyone's favorite, Museo del Barro, is east of the center in a slick modern neighborhood. It displays everything from modern paintings to pre-Columbian and indigenous crafts to political caricatures of prominent Paraguayans. Take bus 30 from Oliva and alight at Av Molas López; the museum is to the south off Callejón Cañada in a contemporary building.
reviewed
-
F
Britannia Pub
Casually hip with an air-conditioned international ambience and outdoor patio, the 'Brit Pub' is a favorite among foreigners and locals alike.
Note that bars charge a cover price (more for men!) and can be crowded at weekends.
reviewed
-
G
Museo de Historia Natural
The Museo de Historia Natural is notable only for its spectacular display of insects - including a butterfly with a 274mm wingspan. From downtown, the most direct bus is 44-B ('Artigas') from Oliva and 15 de Agosto, which goes right to the gates.
Every second Sunday a train departs the Botanic Gardens to Areguá. Tickets can be purchased from the old train station at Plaza Uruguay.
reviewed
-
Cinecenter del Sol
Downtown cinemas are notorious for showing cheap porn and low-budget action-adventure flicks on reels that rarely make it through a screening. More reliable, though less endearing, are the cinemas of Asunción's shopping malls, such as the four-screen Cine Atenea and the Cinecenter del Sol. Check Tiempo Libre (a free weekly) for showtimes.
reviewed
-
H
Cine Atenea
Downtown cinemas are notorious for showing cheap porn and low-budget action-adventure flicks on reels that rarely make it through a screening. More reliable, though less endearing, are the cinemas of Asunción's shopping malls, such as the four-screen Cine Atenea and the Cinecenter del Sol. Check Tiempo Libre (a free weekly) for showtimes.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Museo Boggiani
The well-organized Museo Boggiani stretches artistic pursuits to a new feathery high - it houses much of the feather art collection of Italian ethnographer Guido Boggiani, who conducted fieldwork with the Chamacoco Indians of the upper Río Paraguay. It's well worth the 45min bus ride.
reviewed
-
I
Panteón de los Héroes
A military guard, in typically frozen fashion, protects the remains of former president Francisco Solano López and other key figures of Paraguay's catastrophic wars, in the Panteón de los Héroes. The changing of the guard happens every eight days.
reviewed
-
J
Casa de la Independencia
Asunción's oldest building is the Casa de la Independencia . Built in 1772, it was where Paraguayans declared independence in 1811. The quaint museum features furniture, coins and copies of speeches, although explanations are in Spanish only.
reviewed
-
K
Folklore
If you're after something nice and traditional to take home to the family, there's a prezzie for everyone (apart from the dog) at Folklore. It's the place to go for ñandutí (lace), leather goods and tereré cups.
reviewed
-
L
La Vida Verde
Assess your mood by one of the 32 quirkily sculptured emotional 'faces' on the wall - 'satisfied' is how you'll feel after this eating experience - delicious daily buffet of Chinese vegetarian delights (although they bend the rules a bit).
reviewed
-
M
Mercado
Soak up the spectacle of this open-air market, a great place for souvenirs. It's stocked with ao po'i or lienzo (loose-weave cotton) garments and other interesting indigenous crafts to take home and stick on your mantel.
reviewed
-
N
Confitería El Molino
With bow-tied waiters and gourmet-style pastries and biscuits, this is one of the sweetest confiterías around. Great for minutas (short orders), snacks and excellent licuados (blended fruit drinks).
reviewed
-
O
Museo Etnográfico Andrés Barbero
The free anthropological and archaeological Museo Etnográfico Andrés Barbero displays indigenous tools, ceramics and weavings, plus superb photographs and maps showing where each item comes from.
reviewed
-
P
Café Literario
Cool air, music, books (of course) and all that jazz. This artsy, comfy café-bookstore is a great place to read, write or imbibe. Excellent café con lechés (coffee with milk).
reviewed
-
Q
Supermercado España
Stocked with everything from colored flip-flops to bulk peanuts to chocolate bars, this chain is a good place to stock up if you can't make it to the shopping centers.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
R
Coyote
Starts late, ends late - the latest place for the younger local hip crowd.
Note that bars charge a cover price (more for men!) and can be crowded at weekends.
reviewed
-
S
Teatro Municipal
Asunción has several venues for live music and theater; the major season is March to October. Check the listing outside for showtimes at the Teatro Municipal.
reviewed
-
Quattro D Heladeria
We're not sure what the four Ds stand for in Spanish (or Italian) - but the ice-cream here is divine, delightful, delicious and delectable in anyone's language!
reviewed
-
T
The Mercado Cuatro
The Mercado Cuatro is a lively trading lot occupying the wedge formed by the intersection of Av Doctor R de Francia and Pettirossi, stretching several blocks.
reviewed
-
U
Taberna Española
The energetic ambience of this 'food museum' with dangling bottles, cooking implements and bells is only the backdrop for good-value Spanish set-price meals.
reviewed