Wandering the cobbled streets of the historic district of Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay, one senses that the past is tangibly present.

One of the most unique restaurants lining the tree-covered plazas is El Drugstore, easily recognizable by the yellow 1950s Morris car permanently parked under the trees. El Drugstore is located on a corner across from the Iglesia Matriz, near Plaza de Armas. The restaurant is a resting spot for several vintage automobiles. Along a side street sit a 1920s Ford and an antique Citroën, which sprouts trees through its decomposing shell. The Ford is set up as a private “dining” car with a small café table decked with a bright red tablecloth—its door has been removed for easy access. Both the Morris and the Ford still have their original motors.

The interior of the restaurant is a bit funky and reminiscent of San Francisco’s Haight-Asbury district. It is a riot of color with bright blue, red, and yellow walls covered with eclectic posters and tables donning polka-dot cloths. Weather permitting, most guests choose to dine or share a bottle of wine under the trees. For dinner, beef barbecued on a traditional Uruguayan grill is a favorite. During lunch and dinner they offer live music, often a lady reprising Sinatra and other old-time American songs. El Drugstore is a place to enjoy the tranquility of Colonia on any afternoon or evening.