Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
you ca
n't afford t
o stay here, you can at least pretend: public use of the modest pool is a mere
Bs25.
Bs500 ($71)
EATING AND DRINKING
Try the
market
, two blocks south of the plaza, for
masaco
, a deep-fried mixture of mashed
plantain or yucca and dried meat. Another local speciality is
pacumutu
, great chunks of meat
and chicken marinated and grilled on a skewer.
El Balcón
Av 6 de Agosto and Traija 03 4641621.
The newest, trendiest restaurant-bar in
town with a roomy, vaguely colonial feel and an outside deck often filled to capacity as the
night draws on. Alongside burgers, snacks and sandwiches, they also do
ceviche
and tradi-
tional standbys like
pique macho
(spicy beef, sausage and potatoes) and
sillpancho (breaded
steak with rice and eggs) for around Bs30
-40.
Daily 7.30pm-2am, with food served until
11.30pm.
Carambar
Av 6 de Agosto, between Santa Cruz and Villavicencio 03 4626097.
With
its scattering of alfresco tables, reggae soundtrack and authentic crêpes cooked
en plein air
,
this recently opened French-run place is a very welcome surprise amid Trinidad's somewhat
staid eating scene. Savoury crepês will set you back Bs12, sweet ones a very reasonable Bs6.
Wed-Sun 5-11pm.
La Casona
Plaza Ballivián 03 4622437.
As one of the few places on the plaza to offer
outdoor seating (covered by a fancy awning no less), and to open right through the day, every
day,this Trini institution is always busy,andalife-saver onSunevenings when everyone else
has shut up shop. Along with the obligatory almuerzos, they also serve up relatively pricey
(Bs40-80) steak, fried river fish and
brochetas
.
Daily 8am-midnight.
Palo Diablo
Av Santa Cruz 385, between Av 6 de Agosto and La Paz 03 4627254.
At-
mospheric little hole-in-the-wall bar with a tiny stage for its pub-rock cover bands, playing
anything from Pink Floyd to classic Chicano rock. It's worth stopping in just to admire the
handmade table-tops, filled with various types of dried seeds.
Daily Mon-Sat 5pm-4am.
Restaurante Brasileiro Av
18 de Noviembre, between Av 6 de Agosto and Antonio Vaca
Diez 7096 2368.
While the interior is strictly no-frills, this Brazilian-style
por kilo
place is
a little oasis for hard-pressed vegetarians and a real bargain. At Bs45/kilo, you can heap your
plate full of veggies, salad, grains, yucca and banana (though note that the rice and beans are
both cooked with meat) and still pay much less than half ofthat, with a drink, soupand
postre
(dessert) thrown in.
Daily 11.30am-3pm.
Taverna Ranchera
Av 6 de Agosto, between Santa Cruz and Villavicencio 03 4628505.
A brightly painted if rather spartan little Mexican restaurant serving all the usual enchiladas,
burritos and tacos for Bs15 a pop, though veggies should note that the beans are prepared
with meat. They also serve some of Trinidad's best pizza. Be sure to sample their non-alco-
