Ecuador - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget

Travel Reference

In-Depth Information

NIGHTLIFE

Guayaquileños love to party, so it's no surprise that the

city has a nightlife to rival Quito's. Las Peñas has a wide

selection of café-bars and Urdesa is also a good place

for a few drinks after dinner. To hit the dancefloor, go to

the Zona Rosa, between downtown and Las Peñas, around

Rocafuerte and Pánama. Most bars open at 8pm and clubs

at 10pm. Bars stop serving alcohol at midnight Mon-Thurs

and at 2am Fri-Sat and most discos only open Thurs-Sat.

There's usually a minimum consumption charge of $10 for

discos, which includes entrance.

Chappus Estrada, Urdesa. A Guayaquil institution. Have

a few drinks on the wooden balcony or hit the dancefloor

- one of the few in Urdesa.

El Colonial Rocafuerte, at Imbabura, Zona Rosa. A tradi-

tional Peñas bar with Ecuadorian specialities and live

music at weekends.

Diva Nicotina La Escalinata, Las Peñas. At the bottom

of the steps of Las Peñas, you can catch some great live

music here - from Cuban Habanera to jazz - accompanied

by whisky and cigars.

El Galeón de Artur's La Escalinata, Las Peñas. With

its maritime decor and live music at weekends, this is

a good place for a drink and a light meal.

Liverpool Av Las Monjas 402, Urdesa. Bright, vibrant

café-bar packed with Beatles memorabilia. Live music

Tues-Sat.

Ojos del Perro Azul Panama, at Padre Aguirre. The

name alone (eyes of the blue dog) make this worth a

visit. It's a good place to catch live rock and latin music

at weekends.

Ì La Paleta Numa Pompillo Llona, Las Peñas. One

of the city's most aesthetically pleasing watering holes

with a bohemian atmosphere, cosy corners and bars on

two floors.

Quimbita Galeria La Escalinata, Las Peñas. At the bottom

of the steps, this art gallery doubles as a café-bar with live

folk music at weekends.

comfortable r oom s with a/c, cable TV and hot water. Break-

fast included. $35

Rizzo Clemente Ballén, at Chile T 04 232 5210. Adequate

rooms, some wi th s mall balconies, ideally situated next to

Parque Bolívar. $44

Hostal Suites Madrid Quisquis 305, at Rumicacha

T 04 230 7804, W hostalsuitesmadrid.com. Not the best

location but certainly one of the best-value options in the

city, with colourful decor, patterned bedspreads, spacious

rooms, background music, a fe ast o f artwork covering the

walls and very friendly service. $25

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EATING AND DRINKING

Guayaquil has a wide range of restaurants spread around

the city. Downtown, there are plenty of cheap, basic places,

while restaurants attached to hotels are overpriced. Las Peñas

is the most pleasant area to eat, with a cluster of traditional

cafés. An alternative is to take a taxi ($2-3) to the fashionable

neighbourhood of Urdesa, where there's a wide range of

restaurants along the main street Victor Emilio Estrada.

Las 3 Canastas Velez, at Chile. This colourful, informal

café specializes in pastries, fruit salads, ice creams and

traditional Ecuadorian meals. It's cheap, clean and portions

are big (mains $3-4). There's a smaller sister café on Pedro

Carbo, at Clemente Ballen.

Ì Aroma Café Jardines del Malecón 2000. The best place

to eat on the Malecón, with a wide selection of Ecuadorian

specialities ($5-8) served in the cool, shaded atmosphere of

the botanical gardens.

Arthur's Café Numa Pompillo, Las Peñas. Dramatically

located restaurant perched over the river. The open windows

make for a fresh, breezy experience and the menu offers local

staples such as grilled fish, ceviche and fried pork chops for

$6-9.

La Española Junín, at Boyaca. Excellent bakery with

a wide selection of delicious cakes, pastries, sandwiches

and big breakfasts for $1-3.

Frutabar Malecón, at Martinez. Misshapen tables, surf-

boards, tropical murals, a huge selection of batidos (fruit

shakes) and imaginative burgers and sandwiches make this

the perfect repose after a hard morning's sightseeing. $4-6.

El Hornero Estrada 906, Urdesa. Delicious pizzas baked in

a large clay oven. Portions from $2.

Manantial Estrada 520, Urdesa. Large, popular café with

benches, serving a wide range of Ecuadorian specialities

(mains $5) and pitchers of beer. Service is a bit surly.

La Parillada del Ñato Estrada, at Laureles, Urdesa.

Treat yourself to a huge plate of barbecued meats in this

enormously popular Urdesa institution. There's a branch in

the centre at Luque, at Pichincha. Mains $5-12.

Tasca Vasca Ballén 422, Parque Bolívar. Beautifully laid-

out Spanish restaurant with a cosy cellar-like ambience

and waiters in traditional dress. Large menu of tapas and

Spanish specialities with mains at $6-10.