Top 20
6. Bhan Mi
All things South (and Southeast) Asian find a home in Quito: Banh Mi, equally suited to a quick fix with the famed Vietnamese sandwiches that lend the restaurant its name, or delivering sophisticated flair with llama Pad Kra Pows, Massaman curries, bone marrow Phos and so much more, all served in a hip, distressed space radiating both style and warmth.
7. Los Tiestos
Los Tiestos has become a Cuenca institution and one of Ecuador’s finest restaurants. Under chef Juan Carlos Lozano’s smiling gaze, dining here is as much spectacle as it is flavor: steaming clay pots cracked open at the table, generous portions, and dishes that burst with character, cementing it as a benchmark of Ecuadorian dining.
8. Marrecife
Marrecife is one of Guayaquil’s most soulful restaurants. Chef Iván Grain has spent decades at the forefront of seafood cuisine, bringing in fresh catch straight from local fishermen to craft ceviches laced with passion fruit alongside other boldly flavored dishes. With a contemporary vibe and a coastal heart, Marrecife distills the city’s passion for the sea onto every plate.
9. Pez Bela
At Pez Bela (recognized by 50 Best Discovery), seafood arrives fresh and invites full sensory exploration. Chef owner Isabella Chiriboga blends a seafaring spirit with global technique and personal flair, offering ceviches, oyster plates, and lobster creations on a menu that shifts with the seasons. The result: a maritime experience as inventive as it is refined.
10. Nuema
Quito’s most acclaimed fine dining room, Nuema is a fixture on World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Chefs Pía Salazar named World’s Best Pastry Chef 2023 and Alejandro Chamorro reinvent Ecuadorian cuisine, turning foraged and Indigenous grown ingredients into dazzling tasting menus. Inventive plating, botanical drinks, to die for desserts and a tranquil setting confirm its place as a world class culinary destination.
