THE GUIDE - The Rough Guide to Bolivia - page 281

however, are esse ntially windowless cells . Lau ndry facilities are available, but no breakfast.
Private bathroom Bs120 ; shared bathroom Bs80
Hotel del Sol Sucre 782 04 6665259, [e-mail] . This stylish city-centre
hotel, just across from the central market, is the best bet in its price range. The slick r ooms
have modern bathrooms and flatscreen TVs, and there's free internet access. Bs350 ($50)
Hotel los Ceibos Av Las Américas and Madrid 04 6634430, hotellosceibos.com . Lux-
urious hotel with warm, spacious and well-appointed rooms with TVs and wi-fi access: each
one has a private balc ony overlooking the large swimming pool. There's also a restaurant, bar
and gym. Bs560 ($80)
Luz Palace Hotel Sucre 326 04 6635700, [e-mail] . A lovely faintly
Moorish-style courtyard is the focal point of this reliable business hotel. The en-suite rooms
- with minibars, TVs and phones - are brig ht and comf ortable rather than stylish. Rates have
risen recently, but it remains a good choice. Bs450 ($64)
Victoria Plaza Hotel MadridandSucre 046642600. Thisgrand,old-fashionedhotelover-
lookingthemainplaza feelsasifitisslowlyfadingaway. Thero oms,however,remain lavish
and well equipped. There's a café-bar and internet access. Bs250
EATING AND DRINKING
Tarija's strong Argentine influence is particularly evident in its restaurants; good-quality
grilled beef features strongly and is ideally accompanied by a glass of local wine. There are
alsosomegreatspicy-sauceddishestotry,including ranga-ranga (tripewithpotatoes,onions
and yellow chilli), saice (meat in a red chilli sauce) or chancao de pollo (spicy chicken); the
best place to sample these is in the Mercado Central . A particular local speciality is sopa la
poderosa , a rich soup made with a bull's penis - considered, unsurprisingly, to be a powerful
aphrodisiac. Nightlife involves sitting around outdoor tables with a bottle or two of wine un-
til late at night. On the weekends, local youngsters congregate around Plaza Sucre to indulge
in billiards, pizza and beer.Most restaurants and bars open daily except Sunday from 8-10am
to around 10pm; exceptions are noted in the reviews themselves.
Cabaña Santa Cruz Av Las Americas, between Campero and Trigo. No frills local restaur-
ant with a good-value almuerzo (Bs15-20) that includes a starter, salad, main meal and salad.
Dishes might include sopa de maní (peanut soup) and grilled beef.
Café Mokka Plaza Sucre. In a great people-watching spot, this busy café has a lengthy menu
featuring 22 types of coffee (Bs9-19) and Argentine-style submarinos (hot chocolate), as
well as cocktails and beer. Food-wise the breakfast and snacks are good, but the mains are a
bit overpriced.
La Candela Plaza Sucre. Cosy bar-café with a bohemian atmosphere - it attracts a lively
young crowd who come here for wine and snacks (Bs10-30) in the evening.