Seafood restaurants in South America
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Kaupé
For an out-of-body seafood experience, head to this candlelit house. Chef Ernesto Vivian employs the freshest of everything and service is nothing less than impeccable. We can’t leak our faves, since the chef protests that customers always repeat the order! Service is attentive, the wine list extensive and the views of the bay, well, we doubt you’ll bother to notice them. Reservations advised.
reviewed
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Ocean Pacific’s
From brass-rimmed portholes to fish tanks and a massive fiberglass whale skeleton, they’ve gone all out on under-the-sea decor here. The menu should come as no surprise then, not least because they’ve illustrated it with photos of each fishy dish. The kitsch factor is reason enough to come, but the massive seafood platters and traditional fish stews are surprisingly good, too.
reviewed
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Mixtos
Tucked away in the alley behind the cathedral on the Plaza de Armas is this popular and quaint restaurant that serves mainly Italian and criollo (spicy Peruvian fare with Spanish and indigenous influences) seafood dishes. Try the enormous and flavorful sudado de pescado (fish stew) while enjoying the view from the outdoor balcony.
reviewed
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La Rosa Nautica
Location, location, location. Though you can get the same (or better) seafood elsewhere for less, the views at this eatery on the historic pier are unparalleled. Go during happy hour (5pm to 7pm), when you can watch the last of the day’s surfers skim along the crests of the waves. Take a taxi to the pier and walk the last 100m.
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 Olla
Serving the best seafood in town, this place packs in locals and tourists alike. The ceviche caribeño, with salmon and congrio, is a meal in itself, as is the caldillo (broth). Don't pass up the cilantro (coriander) and garlic bread spread.
reviewed
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Sobrenatural
The exposed brick and old hardwood ceiling set the stage for feasting on the frutos do mar (seafood). Lines gather on weekends for grilled fish and moqueca. During the week, stop by for lunchtime specials.
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La Perla de Rurre
Everyone in Rurre will tell you that this is their favorite restaurant and ‘The Pearl’ does indeed serve up some mean fresh fish and chicken dishes. The surroundings are simple but the service is excellent.
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Socaldinho Guaiamum
This long, large, always bustling, semi-open-air restaurant pulls in families, couples and groups of friends for good-value, good-quality meat, seafood and pasta.
reviewed
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Restaurante David
Still going strong after nearly 40 years, David’s serves high-quality seafood at little wooden tables with checkered tablecloths in the heart of town.
reviewed
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Daniella II
Numero Dos is a plain-faced local favorite serving hearty portions of Chilean comfort food. The fresh seafood is especially tasty.
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La Costa Verde
Located directly on the Barranco beachfront, this sophisticated restaurant is recommended for its excellent seafood.
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Wanchaco
This highly acclaimed Peruvian restaurant serves excellent seafood in a cozy, creatively decorated setting.
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Años Luz
For a country that doesn’t exactly bowl foodies over with its culinary arts, this sophisticated refuge built around a centerpiece bar made out of an old fishing boat is an exception. Stylistically and gastronomically, it’s worth all the pesos in your wallet. The salmon ceviche is gorgeous; the filet del pueblo (filet with onions, bacon and a fried egg) is perfectly cooked; the house pisco sour (with honey and a cinnamon rim) is a welcomed twist on a classic; and the ice-cold Kunstmann drafts are served in proper beer mugs. Service isn’t exactly swift, but you’ll soon forget. As long as the naysayers claim it’s ‘not Chilota enough,’ there’ll be more for the rest of us.…
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Aldea Daniel Defoe
This restaurant/bar, with a worn, salty maritime feel, serves up sandwiches, fish and chips, crab or lobster crepes, and heaping fixed-price meals. It even has a couple of Peruvian and Mexican dishes. While the food may not have an edge on other restaurants in town, it wins in terms of personality.
It is always smart to reserve ahead at restaurants, especially if more than two people will be dining, or if you desire lobster or more elaborate dishes. If you don't like seafood, you may be in trouble, although basic vegetarian options can be concocted on request.
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Vira Verão
Praia do Futuro is lined with enormous barracas, some with hundreds of tables under sunshades on the sand. It’s good for seafood meals and snacks – pargo assado (grilled red snapper) with salad is a favorite dish here. Vira Verão boasts a sea of golden-tanned goodness under coconut tree palapas (thatched-roof hut) on any given day, a requisite stop for surfers, windsurfers, kitesurfers and pretty much everyone else who owns a revealing swimsuit.
reviewed
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Segundo Muelle
You’ll find no less than a dozen types of ceviches and tiraditos at this pleasant, well-tended seafood eatery renowned for its fresh ceviches, some with innovative twists. (Try the ceviche de mariscos a los tres ajíes, a stack of mixed fish and shellfish bathed in three types of hot pepper sauce.) The menu also features heaping rice and other seafood dishes, including a recommended parrilla marina (seafood grill).
reviewed
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Camarões Restaurante
Natal’s most famous restaurant is a prawn-lover’s palace – some 36 varieties of creative shrimp dishes are served with a few meat choices for those allergic to shellfish. Cabugi (sautéed with farm butter, mushrooms, capers, white wine, cilantro and tomatoes) and potiguar (sautéed with vegetables, dendê – a reddish palm oil – and creamy coconut sauce) are the most popular preparations. Dishes serve two people only.
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Las Terrazas
A little bit out of the town center, this popular place is well worth the S1 mototaxi ride. Packed with hungry diners daily, it serves up heaped plates of seafood, and will ceviche or cook anything from fish to lobster to octopus. It’s all prepared in the northern coastal style and they have live folk music on the weekends. It’s on a classy 3rd-floor terrace and has flowing tablecloths, lots of decorations and a festive mood.
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Barreado
In a lush setting west of Barra, this rustic spot serves fresh Brazilian seafood with a wildly eclectic twist. Meals are prepared in the wood-burning oven, and pumpkin is the serving vehicle of choice. You can order it filled with rich delicacies such as shrimp with catupiry (a kind of cheese), scampi, or lobster and mango. Vatapá and roast meats are also excellent choices. It’s located about 35km west of Rio.
reviewed
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Inka's Hut
Though all-business Av El Sol is almost a wasteland when it comes to restaurants, this humble locals' joint with a few outdoor and indoor tables is a real gem. Skip the á la carte menu and instead go for the special menú (set meal) of the day, which features true Peruvian fare, including some of the most lip-smackingly good ceviche (raw seafood marinated in lime juice) in the Andean highlands.
reviewed
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Plaza Asturias
The dated decor at Plaza Asturias assures you that this is no cutting-edge Spanish eatery – no foams, mousses or organic produce here, just heaping portions of shrimp, mussels and clams tossed with garlic and herbs. Try the pungent cazuela de mariscos (seafood stew; a flavorful antidote to the meat-heavy cuisine at other restaurants) that will jolt your palate and clear up your sinuses.
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O Porto do Bacalhau
Fine seafood isn't the first thing you'd expect in the landlocked capital of Minas, but it's exactly what O Porto delivers. This traditional place with a covered outdoor terrace has been delighting local palates for three decades, with some of the best bolinhas de bacalhau (codfish fritters), moqueca (Bahian fish stew) and grilled fish this side of the Atlantic.
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Jairo's
Enjoy the sounds of the kitschy organ player as you dine at the city's top seafood restaurant. The intimate and formal dining room offers delectable dishes including ostiones a la crema (scallops in cream sauce) and a cocktail of erizos (sea urchins). Follow it up with the catch of the day in Jairo's sauce of shrimp, mushrooms, tarragon and chives.
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La Penultima
La Penultima has views of the wild ocean from the front balcony and a Mexican cantina feel. It serves up pizzas and seafood and sometimes has live music. Other little bars open up along the seafront during the summer, but the best parties happen on the beach where locals and visitors gather around beachfires to play guitars, sing songs and just generally hang out.
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