Cuenca Restaurant Tips by MalenaN Top 5 Page for this destination

Pumapungo

After visiting Museo del Banco Central Pumapungo I had planed to eat lunch at El Maíz, which is a recommended restaurant nearby. But on the way I passed Pumapungo, which had a sign outside advertising lunches for $2.00 (July 2011). So I decided to go inside and have a look. The restaurant is on the other side of a small courtyard and I decided to eat there. For $2 you get a soup, a main plate, a desert and a juice. The first time I ate here I also got a bowl of Mote de Maíz and the second time I had lunch here (yes, I came back another day) I got a bowl of popcorn.

Many of the lunch costumers seem to be people working in the neighbourhood, and there were no tourist at all, which I liked. Even though there are many lunch guests it is a quiet place.

Address: Calle Larga

Comparison: least expensive

Directions: Near Museo del Banco Central Pumapungo, on the other side of the road.

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 0

Theme: Other

Café Austria

I came here to have a good coffee and sit down reading for a while. The cappuccino I ordered was good and the atmosphere was relaxed. I also had a fruit salad with yoghurt. It is not a cheap place and I paid $5.25 for the cappuccino and fruit salad (July 2011).

At Café Austria you can have breakfast, lunch, dinner, sandwiches and cakes, different coffees, teas, juices and also alcoholic drinks in the evening. There are newspaper and magazines to read and there is also free wi-fi. There is a mix of tourist and locals at the café.

Address: Benigno Malo 5 - 95

Comparison: more expensive than average

Phone: 07 - 284 0899

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 0

Theme: Other

Raymipampa Café and Restaurant

Raymipampa is a popular café and restaurant on the west side of Parque Calderon. It opens at 8.30 in the morning and stays open until late every evening. When I was here I had Locro de Papa (a typical Ecuadorian soup with potatoes, cheese and avocado) and a small beer to drink. The soup was good and was also served with two pieces of fresh bread. Soup, beer and IVA was $3.49 (July 2011).
Other meals on the menu are among other things ceviche, crepes, humitas, meat and fish dishes.

Address: Benigno Malo 8 - 59 y Sucre

Directions: On the west side of Parque Calderon.

Phone: 07 - 283 4159, 282 4619

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 0

Theme: Other

Heladeria Tutto Freddo

In the north western corner of Parque Calderon there is a very popular ice cream place, Tutto Freddo. All tables always seemed to be occupied when I passed so I decided to try it as well. I ordered a big Copa Mokka for $3.50 (July 2011). Usually I like ice cream and could easily eat one as big as this one, but this time it was just too much and the sauce was too strong, so I didn’t finish it. I should have taken a plain, smaller ice cream instead.

At Tutto Freddo you can also by coffee, cake, milkshake and pizza.

Address: Mariscal Lamar 24 - 205 Av De Las Americas

Directions: North western corner of Parque Calderon

Phone: 072820300

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 0

Theme: Ice Cream

Zona Refrescante

It was already dark when I arrived to Cuenca. I was very hungry and didn’t want to go too far from the hotel. I walked along Gran Colombia and turned right at Benigno Malo, towards Parque Calderón. I soon passed Zona Refrescante and it seemed to be a place where I could get a quick meal.
I ordered a papaya juice and a recommended plate called Tablita de la Zona de Res. It turned out to be a lot of meet and a big portion. Besides the meet there were also French fries, plantains and a salad. It was a lot, but I almost ate everything and it tasted good.
For the food and juice I paid $7.90 (July 2011).

Address: Benigno Malo 9 - 55 y Gran Colombia

Directions: Old Town

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 0

Theme: Other