Montevideo: Puentes Destination Guide

Both the capital and largest city of the country of Uruguay, Montevideo offers the amenities of a big city while maintaining a relaxed, more low-key vibe than Buenos Aires. The city has a population of about 1.3 million people, which makes up one-third of the entire country! The city was established in 1724 by Spanish soldier Bruno Mauricio de Zabala during a dispute between Spain and Portugal. Nowadays, Montevideo offers a vibrant culture and delicious food and is a huge hub in the entrepreneurial and technological space. Don’t miss the great beaches that surround the city, where most Argentines flock to during the summer months!

HOW TO GET THERE

While it’s certainly possible to fly, the easiest and most efficient way to get between Buenos Aires and Montevideo is by ferry. Buquebus is your best bet, with direct ferries that take around 2.5 hours, and one-stop ferries that go through Colonia first. Prices vary depending on the route you choose. Buquebus has a terminal in Puerto Madero. We recommend 2 to 3 days for your stay in Montevideo.

WHERE TO STAY

As Montevideo is the capital city of Uruguay, you’ll find a plethora of options at a wide range of prices. Here’s a few we recommend:

WHAT TO DO

Thanks to the manageable size of Montevideo, you’ll be able to see most of what the city has to offer in just a few days. Here are some highlights you won’t want to miss:

  • Walk along the Rambla, a 14 mile stretch of gorgeous waterfront sidewalk.

  • Hit the beach! Playa Ramírez and Playa de los Pocitos are two of the largest and most central choices. Check out this article for information on these and 8 other lovely beaches nearby (hint: some are great spots for kite-surfing).

  • Stroll around Plaza Independencia, Montevideo’s most important plaza that connects the Old City with the downtown area.

  • Eat the day away at the Mercado del Puerto.

  • See what’s happening at the Teatro Solís, a prominent theater that offers shows, concerts, and guided visits.

Fantastic museums to check out:

  • Andes 1972: Rincón 619. In 1972, a plane carrying a team of Uruguayan high school rugby players crashed into the Andes mountains, stranding them in snow and ice in a remote part of Argentina. Those stranded would not be rescued until 72 days later, after three of the survivors had braved a perilous mountain trek to find help. The museum pays tribute to the 29 people who died as a result of the crash and extreme weather, as well as the 16 who survived

  • Museo del Tango: Plaza Independencia 846. Take a half-hour English-language tour to learn more about the birth of tango in the River Plate area (Argentina and Uruguay), as well as the tango’s influence on global pop culture, from Tom and Jerry to Harry Potter. After the tour, have a drink in the cafe and enjoy a live performance of a tango dance duo.

  • Museo Nacional de Artes Visuales: Av Tomas Giribaldi 2283. The Museo Nacional de Artes Visuales (MNAV) holds one of the largest collections of art in Uruguay. Comprised of both national and international artists, see the works of Goya and Henry Moore, as well as Juan Manuel Blanes and Pedro Figari.

  • Castillo Pittamiglio: Rambla Gandhi 633. Located on the Rambla, Pittamiglio Castle was the former abode of the eccentric, esoteric architect Humberto Pittamiglio. Here, Pittamiglio experimented with alchemy in his quest for eternal life and was said to have hidden the Holy Grail somewhere in the labyrinth of narrow hallways, stairs to nowhere, and 54 rooms he was constantly remodeling.

  • Espacio de Arte Contemporáneo: Arenal Grande 1929. The EAC is a space dedicated to the production and exhibition of contemporary art works and projects, reflection on their context, and research. The space was once a prison but now is a meeting space for artists, curators and very diverse audiences.

  • Palacio Salvo: Plaza Independecia 848. Located on the corner of Plaza Independencia and Av. 18 de Julio, at the beginning of the city center, it is one of the sites of greatest cultural, historical, tourist and architectural interest in Montevideo. It was declared a National Historic Monument in 1996 and continues to be one of the tallest buildings in the city. With almost 100 years of history, it is synonymous with the tradition and identity of Uruguay for both foreign and national visitors.

WHERE TO EAT

Breakfast/Brunch/Merienda

  • Cultural Alfabeta (Pocitos): This café and bookshop is located inside Life Cinema, a cinema that only shows latin american, european and independent movies. They also have a wide variety of books. Food is also good but it can take a while until you get a table (it’s always crowded). Great choice to eat something before watching a movie.

  • Sucrè Salè Bistro MVD (Pocitos): They offer Uruguayan pastries with a French twist, great for lunch or merienda. It’s close to the Alianza Francesa de Montevideo, where they host language courses and language exchange sessions. They share a common patio so we recommend you to check if they have any cultural activities.

  • Camomila pastelería (Pocitos): A café with a bakery with really good pastries and sweets. Good meriendas and delicious alfajores. Not really big so not recommended for big groups, but an excellent place to have a nice conversation with a friend while eating something delicious.

  • Brownies Luis (Pocitos): Best brownies in town. They have different types of brownies and cakes, a must if you like chocolate.

  • Bulka café (Punta Carretas): This place is run by a Russian family who moved to Montevideo some years ago. They offer Russian and Uruguayan pastries and cakes. Also a meeting point for foreigners in Montevideo. Delicious and completely worth a visit.

  • Ibarra Brunch Bistro (Palermo): Ibarra is a must - both for dinner and brunch. The atmosphere is quiet and ideal for small groups. They offer a great selection of dishes from different parts of the world, while keeping it simple at the same time. They have a nice patio and provide excellent service.

  • Café Gourmand (Cordón): They offer the best benedict eggs and cinnamon rolls in Town. They also offer pastries like macarons and carrot cake. They speak English and French. People usually go on Sundays, and sit outside in the sun close to the vereda to have long conversations with friends.

  • Patrimonio café (Cordón): Patrimonio gained a lot of attention in a short period of time, and it is well deserved. They offer both brunch, almuerzo and dinner options. They have great pasta and amazing milanesas. The atmosphere feels homemade and trendy at the same time.

  • Macoco Café (Parque Rodó): Speciality coffee and amazing alfajores. This café with a patio is great for working, reading or just making a pause in the middle of the day. Not recommended for big groups.

  • Escaramuza (Parque Rodó): Books, coffee, simple dishes and a patio. Escaramuza has it all. If you are looking for a delicious carrot cake and an interesting book to read that you couldn’t find anywhere else, just stop wasting your time and go to Escaramuza. Tip: they also sell books in English.

  • OBRADOR Social Club (Parque Rodó): Cool and classic uruguayan-relaxed atmosphere with rustic dishes that will never disappoint you. It’s the classic café frequented by young uruguayans, as it’s close to many universities.

  • che.co.ffee (Ciudad Vieja): European-style café serving dishes (mainly) from eastern Europe. It’s owned by a Czech couple who has been living in Uruguay for many years now. They also host events for the LGBT+ community in the city.

  • Sometimes Sunday (Ciudad Vieja): Exotic dishes with a mix of international and Uruguayan cuisine. Cool atmosphere. Not many dessert options.

  • Cafe La Farmacia (Ciudad Vieja): An old pharmacy turned into a café. It keeps its classic old-tango atmosphere while offering both modern and classic options. Great if you want to have an idea of how the city used to look some years ago. A must if you’re around Ciudad Vieja, or if you ever thought about traveling back in time.

  • Cinemateca Uruguaya (Ciudad Vieja): Cinemateca is a cinema that only shows Uruguayan and independent European movies. They always have film festivals located to specific directors or countries. There is also a café where you can get something to eat before a movie. Movies usually have English subtitles.

  • Flora (Centro): A must if you are looking for a place where you can work comfortably or meet with friends in a more formal environment. They have lunch and merienda options, including gluten free and healthy options. The place itself is very instagram friendly.

  • Franca (Centro): It’s a café ideal to work, study and eat something simple but tasty. Franca is the first non-profit café in the city, meaning that they use the money for social-impact projects. At Franca, you get to eat something delicious while causing a positive impact in a local community

  • El Vivero (Prado): El Vivero is a restaurant, a bar, a café AND a great choice if you want to buy flowers or like gardening. It’s a restaurant for people who like plants, patios and flowers. Plus, they have great meriendas during the afternoon and tasty burgers at night. 

  • Jesusa Almacén (Prado): Jesusa is a classic Uruguayan bakery combined with a café and a small restaurant. It’s simple but so cool. Their food is excellent as they really care about the quality of it. They serve Uruguayan/Spanish/Italian food like pasta, cannoli, tortillas, milanesas, alfajores, and small salads. Even if you don’t live close, it’s worth the visit.

Restaurants/Bars

  • Milajó (Pocitos): Pasta, olives, wine, parmigiano and mamma mia!. Do one thing and do it excellently. Milajó has the BEST pasta in town.They only serve pasta, they only prepare pasta and they have one obsession: pasta. In case you didn’t get the reference: a great place to eat pasta.
    A tip: if Milajó is too full (life is hard sometimes) and you really want to eat Italian food, there is a place around called La Bottega. They also have amazing food with a greater variety of dishes and delicious cannolis.

  • HUGO SOCA - cocina casera (Pocitos): They serve homemade italo-uruguayan food. Probably one of the best in town. They don’t have many options and it’s not that cheap but completely worth it if you like good quality food.

  • La Giraldita (Pocitos): Classic old-fashioned Uruguayan restaurant. A must if you want to get to know more about uruguayan culture. Great for individuals or big groups. The menu has a decent variety and food is just great.

  • La Commedia (Pocitos): Pasta, ravioli, lasagna, gnocchi: La Commedia means real Italian food. Great for big groups and families, ideal for long almuerzos. A bit crowded on Sundays, but a really nice patio.

  • Cantina Obligado (Pocitos): Simple homemade food restaurant, run by young people. A good place to eat something fast if you’re around and don’t want to spend too much time waiting and deciding. 

  • Polo Bamba (Pocitos): Polo Bamba is THE PLACE to be. Located inside the five star Hotel Montevideo The Leading, this bar became one of the most trendy places in a short period of time. They have both a café and a restaurant with a terrace, cool drinks and designer furniture. Overrated? Maybe. Worth it? Completely.

  • Gallagher's (Pocitos): This Irish pub located in Pocitos is open until 2-3 AM during the weekends. They have good beer, many drinks and loud music. There are many good restaurants around. If it is too full (which definitely happens) there is a place called Birra Brava around 3 minutes away from Gallagher’s.

  • Moderno Bar - Hyatt Montevideo (Pocitos): Moderno is a restaurant and bar located inside the Hyatt Hotel Montevideo. Although they close quite early (probably around midnight), it’s a great place to have dinner or some drinks before going to a different bar or restaurant around, like Burlesque or Patagonia.

  • Bar Tabaré (Punta Carretas): A classic Uruguayan restaurant to eat asado, milanesas, chivito and meat. Classics never die and Tabaré is a classic old-fashioned restaurant but reinvented. A great choice if you’re feeling curious about uruguayan food culture.

  • El Berretín (Punta Carretas): El Berretín is just cool. A must for dinners with a big group of friends. They have a patio, excellent service and delicious food, from bbq to vegetarian options. Most importantly: while they were building the place, they found the tunnels that prisoners from Punta Carretas shopping used to escape from there when it was a prison. El Berretín decided to keep the tunnels and have a floor made of glass instead, so you get to see the tunnels while having dinner.

  • Wantan (Punta Carretas): Wantan has the best Chinese food in town. They also have beautiful decorations and a great patio. An excellent place to have dinner while feeling in Asia.

  • Negroni (Punta Carretas): Negroni is a great choice for a Friday dinner. Delicious burgers, good sushi, and great tapas. Cool drinks. Best risotto in town. Negroni has something for everyone.

  • Hostia RestoBar (Palermo): Hostia offers classic BBQ and Uruguayan meat, drinks, as well as some Spanish-Uruguayan style dishes. It’s not fancy and doesn’t have many options, as it is the classic Uruguayan restaurant to go for lunch on Sundays.

  • CandyBar (Palermo): Good dishes and great drinks. Not really big but ideal for small groups. The best time to visit is on Fridays at night (keep it mind it closes around 1 AM). 

  • Enriqueta (Parque Rodó): Enriqueta is a restaurant, bar and café located right in the middle of Parque Rodó. They have a patio shared with the park. They have simple options and finger foods. Cool place to visit with friends on a friday night or a sunday evening. 

  • Plaza de Chueca (Parque Rodó): If you like Spanish tortillas and places decorated with azulejos, this is your place. They also offer delicious pintxos, croquetas and many other spanish dishes. Worth a visit.

  • Misión Comedor (Parque Rodó): Misión is a trendy place (and maybe a bit overrated). However, the place is nice and a good option to meet with big groups of people. It’s open during brunch time but they are better at cooking finger foods or dinner options. A tip: There is a bakery on the other side of the street called BRAVA which has great alfajores.

  • República Rotisería (Cordón): They sell classic Uruguayan fast food including bruschettas, sandwiches, and quiches. Recommended if you need to eat something fast but home made and nutritious.

  • Pacharán Taberna Vasca (Centro): A classic meeting point for the Basque community, one of the biggest in our country. They offer classic dishes from northern Spain and some Uruguayan options including meat. It is family-friendly and a great option for long Sunday almuerzos.

  • Los Yuyos (Prado): Los Yuyos is a must if you are looking for a restaurant to have dinner around Prado. It's not fancy, not pretentious, and yet one of the most famous restaurants in Montevideo. The secret? Keeping a simple menu with traditional dishes and quality food. A place to feel at home.

  • Restaurant Orfilia (Prado): Orfilia is famous for its salmon, beef and good quality chivito. They also have salads, burgers and delicious desserts. Great choice for a Sunday lunch.

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