NEW GASTRONOMIC SPOT IN GUAYAQUIL

The food market concept is a growing trend around the world, materialized in a cozy space, which brings together several restaurants with multiple options of food, at more accessible prices tan common restaurants, and provides diners with the opportunity to discover different flavors, aromas and textures in one place.

Madrid was one of the first cities with the vision to promote this concept at Mercado de San Miguel, an example adopted by other cities that did not hesitate to immediately replicate this successful idea. Food markets of Seville, Florence, Rome, Lyon, Tokyo, New York, Guanajuato and Montevideo, do not only constitute a benchmark for their culinary identity, but have become an important tourist attraction.

Guayaquil, always at the forefront and in synchrony with international trends, opted for this concept and created Mercado del Río, a space that brings together 24 restaurants, 2 bars and 3 wheelbarrows distributed in two wings called: El Carmen and El Astillero. Located in the city´s most acclaimed spot, Malecon 2000, facing the mighty Guayas River, this is the place to go for good food, a variety of drinks and lots of fun.

Restaurants are classified into three categories: traditional, innovation and influence, where visitors can choose from around 550 varieties of preparations that go from local food to gourmet dishes created by renowned chefs. Options for all palates, even for those most difficult to please, are found.

Most of the traditional local restaurants at Mercado del Rio have existed for generations, and have kept homemade recipes with the authentic taste of old times. Visitors can enjoy a delicious shrimp ceviche, a substantial stew, a tasty corviche, crabs with sweet plantain or exquisite empanadas in the place of their choice: Arbolitos del Río, Gust Conchas, Manaba House, Puerto Maní, La Empanadería, Señor Fréjol, among others.

Innovative restaurants fuse various culinary styles and ingredients from different locations to achieve interesting and exquisite creations. These dishes surpass expectations, and visitors can find them at any of the following restaurants: Latina Mandala, La Pizzarra del Rio, Balandra Express or Green Life.

Influential restaurants bring the world´s flavors to your table in Guayaquil. Touring the premises you will find Chinese food in Queen’s Dim Sim, Lebanese in Paradise Persian, Spanish in La Tasca del Rio, and Italian in Pizzallini. La Cantina and La Cava will serve the drink that strikes you: a cold beer, a refreshing gin and tonic, aromatic mojitos or a fruit wine that combines with the food of your choice.

The gastronomic experience is not complete without dessert. Sorbetto will delight you with fine pastries and delicious creamy ice cream, and Kawka Coffee Shop & Bakery with unique waffles. In addition, small carts sell caramelized apples, mousse, fig candy and other typical sweets.

Any time of day is perfect to visit Mercado del Río, but nothing compares to the view you get from this beautiful cosmopolitan city at dusk, when the city lights slowly illuminate the horizon, or at night when the music and party atmosphere invades Malecon 2000.

The cozy and comfortable facilities will provide a wonderful experience filled with amazing flavors, tradition, music, and above all, a good atmosphere. To complete the fun, add to that the multiple activities such as live music shows, wine tastings, art exhibitions and cooking demonstrations carried out by renowned chefs, that you could enjoy.

Mercado del Río is a wonderful showcase that presents Ecuadorian gastronomy at its best and reinvents the concept of entertainment, with a modern and avant-garde place that offers everything for young people, children and adults.