Budget Restaurants in Montevideo

By Amanda Massello

One can find food for all palettes and all budgets in Montevideo. Most nicer restaurants are located in the affluent neighborhoods of Pocitos and Punta Carretas, though Ciudad Vieja also hosts a handful of quality dining establishments. For atmosphere and a taste of Uruguayan culture, the Mercado de la Abundancia and Mercado del Puerto are the best dining options the city has to offer. Cheap eats can be found throughout Montevideo at diners, empanada dives and pizzerías. Hot dog kiosks are also available on every third corner along 18 de Julio, should you become hungry after a long night of drinking and partying in the Ciudad Vieja.

Nightlife

Montevideo’s principal bar district centers around the Peatonal Sarandí in Ciudad Vieja, extending north and east towards the port. Nightlife is not limited to this area, however. Some of Montevideo’s best bars and clubs are not located in the Ciudad Vieja, such as the electronica-heavy W Lounge in Parque Rodó and the rowdy Bar Tranquilo in Punta Carretas. Pocitos has a small bar district as well. Nonetheless, most travelers choose to go out in the Ciudad Vieja where nightlife is varied and bar-hopping made easy. Start the night off at one of Montevideo’s abundant tanguerías for an introduction to Uruguayan tango, then head back to Ciudad Vieja for some clubbing, where electronica, pop and Latin beats predominate. If dancing’s not your thing, there are also few alternative venues on Ciudadela towards the rambla, where eclectic playlists cater to hipsters and music snobs.