A Night at Quito’s Rooftop Bars

While Quito’s Old Town doesn’t necessarily evoke rooftop bar vibes, that is likely to change. The sector has begun to embrace a more eclectic identity (without compromising its old soul), and these two spots set the bar high — literally — for visitors’ nighttime experiences in the dazzling center of the city.

Most people explore Quito’s extensive historic center while the sun is out. Once it starts to pull down its curtain over the colorful architecture of this colonial hub, visitors flock to the north. They do so primarily because Quito’s La Mariscal area (Plaza Foch) is reputed to be the heart of the city’s nightlife. And in many ways, it is — especially if your idea of nightlife centers around pub crawls, dancing, and crowded bars. But there is more to Quito’s after-hours energy than the tourist-driven hubbub of the Foch.

In short, we think Old Town’s evening scene is underrated for a few reasons: 1) it caters primarily to the local, 2) people generally associate this part of the city with insecurity, and this is heightened after dark, and 3) the scene just isn’t mapped out yet — people aren’t sure what to do here. True to our travel ethos, Takiri wants tourism to best reflect the realities of the places that nurture the travel industry. So we want to share an experience that allows you to participate in Old Town’s evening flavor, beyond its churches and monasteries: with a view, and a drink in hand.

Vista Hermosa and El Santo Que Da Marido (atop Hotel Mama Cuchara) are Old Town’s only rooftop bars. They both deliver stunning views of the city, and while their menu offerings are very different, their drinks marry native Ecuadorian flavors with classic cocktails. Read more about our experience below, and then go check these two spots out for yourself. We hope the city greets you with a blood-orange sky!

VISTA HERMOSA

(Centro Histórico: Mejía street, between Venezuela and García Moreno)

First things first, don’t confuse this place with its sister location by Itchimbía Park. Their menu is the same, and even though Itchimbía also promises a breathtaking view, there’s nothing like being in the open-air terrace at the heart of Old Town. Our preferred location offers a bird’s eye view of the adjacent Plaza Grande, and the center’s busy streets below.

Here’s why we love it: Did we mention the view yet? With Plaza Grande to the south, the Basílica to the north, and the colorful concentration of colonial architecture extending into the mountainsides, you’ll be musing over more than what drink you should get. While the setup in their terrace seems to lend itself to diners rather than drinkers, you’ll notice that many others will just be enjoying the latter. The great thing is that, if you want a light appetizer or full dinner meal along with your drink, their menu has plenty of options — primarily traditional Ecuadorian food. So it might actually be the perfect opportunity for you to try some empanadas de morocho, or the locro de papa you’ve most likely heard about.

Now let’s talk drinks. You’ll find everything from the classic wines, beers, to non-alcoholic staple beverages such as fruit juices. But we highly suggest you spend most of your time looking at their cocktail menu, which features the drinks that’ll pair your view with the perfect signature classic or a regional favorite.

Takiri’s Picks: Margarita, Mojito (original, strawberry, or passion fruit), Pisco Sour

Drinks here are about $7-8, and we are crossing our fingers that a happy hour special is in their future. Stay tuned, but in the meantime, indulge yourself a bit and do visit!

EL SANTO QUE DA MARIDO ROOFTOP BAR

(Hotel Mama Cuchara: Rocafuerte street, between Antonio Salas and Luis Chavez)

El Santo Que Da Marido is a more lavish version of Vista Hermosa, and while its location is not as central, it is just as appealing. The bar is at the top of Hotel Mama Cuchara, one of Quito’s luxury hotels. On your way up to the roof you’ll catch yourself admiring the elegantly decorated interior. The hotel is part of a family-owned enterprise that sought out to restore some of Ecuador’s timeworn colonial homes, elevating their wear and tear into luxury modern design. Everything, including their rooftop bar, is simple, subtle, and gorgeous.

El Santo Que Da Marido is a small, intimate space. The perimeter is marked by tall glass panels that allow you to take the view in, but also stay warm on breezy nights (we appreciated that!). But you’ll get the best view when you take the small staircase that is almost immediately in front of the entrance to the bar. You’ll actually step over some large skylights that look into the hotel below, and have a panoramic view of Old Town’s southside. You might wonder, at such a chic and elegant spot, whether your dress code needs to fit the bill — we think casual works just fine.

The bar’s menu is simple, but varied and makes a point of highlighting Ecuadorian flavors. They offer all the classic spirits and have a wine list. But, again, we suggest their cocktail menu. Their six signature cocktails are all inspired by Quito’s appeal, Ecuador’s zest, some of the region’s staple fruits. The same goes for their snacks. In addition to some house specialties, they feature some bite-sized snacks from Ecuador’s different regions. Complementing their simple yet intricate menu, the soft music and warm lighting will make you feel comfortable enough to sit back and relax.

Takiri’s Pics: Quito Midnight and Ecuadorian Sour (also, you can never go wrong with house wine!)

The drinks (and snacks) here are almost twice as much as Vista Hermosa. Cocktails are $13, a glass of wine is $10, and other spirits are anywhere from $10-80. Was it worth it? We think so.

We suggest visiting both of these places in one night. Combined, they offer a nice range of options for food so you can squeeze dinner in. But if you have enough time in Quito, and want to check them out on separate days, be our guest!

For us, visiting both in one night ultimately elevated our night out to an original, intimate way of experiencing the city. We walked from Vista Hermosa to El Santo Que Da Marido, and saw and felt a different kind of magic to Old Town’s evenings. Seeing families enjoying dinner in comedores populares, and an array of energetic street vendors on Rocafuerte was a lovely slice of local life. Not to mention the sun setting on the picturesque architecture of Latin America’s most extensive colonial district. We hope you’ll opt The Takiri Way and do the same — but whichever way you choose, CHEERS!