Quito's La Mariscal: 10 Things to See And to Do

The wide open space of the Plaza Mariscal Foch and a ready-made audience of tourists make this a natural hang out for musicians and dancers. Concerts are also held periodically.

The Plaza also brings out artists and handcraftsmen, many of them from outside Ecuador. They sell goods such as designer candles, hand-made jewelry, or hand-carved picture frames.

The Magic Bean Café, located on Juan Leon Mera and Mariscal Foch, may not offer superior food or coffee to that of its competition in the Mariscal, even though it is more than adequate, but it doesn’t matter. It is simply the go-to place to hangout for both locals and visitors alike. The walls are plastered with Gary Larson’s cartoons from back when The Far Side was trendy, and they have remained, cultivating a relaxed, homey aura comparable to revisiting one’s former college dormitory.

Called “the best Irish bar” in Quito, complete with Shepard’s Pie and Irish Stew, Finn McCoolshas a long-established reputation as a congenial party tavern, featuring two-for-one specials every day. It can be found on Diego de Almagro.

This Swiss-owned bar located on Pinto, between Reina Victoria and Diego de Almagro. Occupying a small space, the venue features an avant-garde ambience and offers wine, good coffee and great cocktails, including the “Dirty Sanchez” – a Baileys, Kahlúa and tequila combo in a tall shot glass. A roll of a pair of dice lets you know how much ($6) or how little ($1) you pay.

Many people don’t know that the glossier and more tourist-oriented restaurants closer to the Plaza overcharge by double for natural fruit juice. But by simply walking a few blocks to 6 de diciembre and Wilson, La Fruteria will offer you fresh carrot juice, orange juice, beet juice, and more, for a fraction of what other businesses charge.

Saucisa, located on Avenida Amazonas and Veintimilla, is by far the best music store in Quito for travelers who want to familiarize themselves with authentic local music and musical instruments. Against all odds in the age of digital piracy, Saucisa has remained open and continues to sell the largest selection of original Andean folklore CDs, along with pan flutes, cymbals, and more, for professional musicians and/or collectors.

The artesan market on 6 de diciembre and Jorge Washington offers the largest concentration of folkloric clothing and gift items, from ponchos to jewelry and much, much more. As is the custom in Ecuador, the vendors will negotiate a price with you.

Like La Fruteria, this is a little bit away from the Plaza, on Vincente Roman Roca and Reina Victoria, and well worth the walk; for as little as three dollars you can have a full-course Ecuadorian lunch, featuring seco de chivo and other items, and experience Ecuador as the locals do.

This quiet plaza on 9 de Octubre and Carrión, a few blocks walk from Plaza Foch, features a creatively designed water fountain popular with children, and is surrounded on all sides by buildings whose facades have been turned into large, colorful murals.

Explore Ecuador’s hidden facets with these thoughtfully selected activities; its wonders go far beyond its well-traveled routes. Discover speakeasy-style pubs hidden behind unmarked doors, sample traditional Andean cuisine reinvented by creative chefs, and tour modern art galleries situated in colonial houses in Quito’s bustling La Mariscal neighborhood. Continue on to indigenous marketplaces where Otavalo weavers discuss generations-old methods or cloud forest lodges where hummingbirds rush through mist. These experiences showcase Ecuador’s vibrant spirit, whether you’re looking for off-grid wildlife encounters or urban cultural immersion.