The best bars and cafés Ecuador

Timetable

Please note that many bars and cafés are closed on Sundays. They usually open at 8am and close quite early (6pm) outside the big cities. During the day, Ecuadorians in the big cities like to take a break and drink a good local coffee, bearing in mind that the country is a major producer of this wonderful fruit.

Happy hour is a very common practice in Ecuador, but is usually limited to local drinks or certain cocktails. It usually starts around 5pm and lasts until 8pm.

Budget & Tips

Expect to pay between US$1 and US$2 for a coffee, US$3 for a beer in a bar and between US$6 and US$12 for a cocktail. Wine is quite expensive, and it's hard to find a bottle for less than US$20 in a bar or restaurant.

Age restrictions

It's forbidden to drink alcohol under the age of 18, so be sure to bring your ID if you look very young!

What's very local

When drinking with friends, if you don't finish the first shot in one go and leave a little alcohol at the bottom of the glass, you may hear your friends shouting"gota doble!" and you'll have to drink a second one straight away!

In recent years, craft beers have flourished everywhere and have become THE drink to share with friends. But as soon as you get away from the big cities, particularly in the Andes, you'll be offered a variety of canelazos, a hot alcoholic drink made withaguardiente (a strong local rum-like spirit) and cinnamon. Variations include orange juice, passion fruit juice and other local fruit juices.

Beware: if you ask for a national beer (often a Pilsener), it may come in a 1-liter bottle... please inquire beforehand.

Smokers

Most bars have an area reserved for smokers, on the terrace, as smoking is normally prohibited indoors.

Tourist traps

Beware of fake happy hours with restrictions in very small letters that generally exclude what you've chosen...