The restaurants in Quito prove that Ecuadorian cuisine can be both deeply traditional and impressively refined. Across the country, chefs reinterpret regional ingredients, turning familiar flavors into elegant, contemporary dishes.
Whether set in historic mansions or modern glass-and-concrete spaces overlooking the city, Quito’s high-end restaurants offer a polished approach to Ecuadorian food without losing its soul.
Here are the 5 classy restaurants in Quito you should visit:
Zazu
4.6 ★ (TripAdvisor) · $$$$
Recommended for: Quito’s most internationally recognized fine-dining room.
- A member of Relais & Châteaux, the prestigious global hospitality group
- Real chef Wilson Alpala, trained in France, leads an 8-course tasting menu built on daily-sourced, sustainably caught seafood
- Wine cellar has earned a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence — a round, glass, 25-foot tower seating a restaurant of 70
- Featured in The New York Times, CNN, and Andrew Harper Traveler
- Open since 2007, consistently cited as one of the best restaurants in Ecuador, not just Quito
Quitu Identidad Culinaria
4.6 ★ (TripAdvisor) · $$$
Recommended for: ancestral Ecuadorian ingredients in a bohemian, intimate setting.
- Independently described by repeat Quito diners as “by far the best” of the city’s top-rated restaurants
- Located on “the most beautiful street in Quito,” in a traditional, bohemian neighborhood
- Every dish is fully customizable for allergies or specific preferences
- Degustation-format menu focused on native ingredients and modern technique
Zero Lab Fine Dining
4.9 ★ (TripAdvisor) · $$$
Recommended for: experimental, technique-forward Ecuadorian cooking.
- Run by a real father-son duo, the Gallardos, with head chef Juan Sebastián Gallardo
- Genuine focus on sustainability and seasonality — the menu evolves with what’s actually in season
- Tasting-menu format, modern and experimental, Ecuadorian ingredients at the center
- Extensive global wine list
URKO Cocina Local
4.6 ★ (TripAdvisor) · $$$$
Recommended for: a tasting menu built entirely around Ecuadorian biodiversity.
- Named “Best Restaurant in Ecuador” by the World Culinary Awards two years running (2023)
- Led by three chefs — Daniel Maldonado, Andrés de la Torre, and Cristhian Hernández — sourcing from the Andes, coast, Galápagos, and Amazon
- 10-course tasting menu, changing seasonally around “Los Raymis,” the Andean nature cycles
- Reservation required — walk-ins aren’t accepted
Restaurante Casa Gangotena
4.5 ★ (TripAdvisor) · $$$$
Recommended for: candlelit dining inside a genuine historic mansion.
- Set inside Casa Gangotena, a Conde Nast Traveler Top 20 boutique hotel overlooking Plaza San Francisco
- Real chef José Tamayo defines the menu as “Cocina Mestiza” — modern technique applied to Ecuadorian classics
- Signature dishes: ceviche de camarón, seco de cordero
- Curated selection of vintage wines
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Cook With Us
The restaurants in Quito offer a vibrant mix of Indigenous traditions, colonial influences, and modern flavors. If you are looking for a deeper understanding of Ecuadorian cuisine, join our Quito food tours and go beyond dining — cook, taste, and learn alongside local hosts who will share the flavors and stories that make Quito unforgettable.
Book your spot today and uncover the true taste of Ecuador.
