The Best Restaurants in Sucre, Bolivia

I ate a lot of delicious food during my time in Sucre. Firstly, I was thrilled to be feeling better after a week-long food poisoning in La Paz. Secondly, just because this city has fantastic restaurants and cuisine, whatever your budget.

Nice dinner restaurants

If you like fancy food, you get fantastic value in Bolivia. I think the meal that cost me £20 at Nativa would have cost well over £100 in the UK!

Here are my top picks for nice, sit-down restaurants where you can take your time and enjoy a few drinks in ambient surroundings.

Proyecto Nativa

If you have time for just one dinner in Sucre, this is my number one pick. I’m amazed by the value you get with this 9-course tasting menu, served with nearly as many drink pairings.

Mentioned by the World’s 50 Best, I knew Nativa would be good hence I made it my mission to get a reservation. I went in at 6pm and they told me to return at 9pm which I did. However, I’ve since read that you can WhatsApp them via the number on their Google pin. It’s open from 6pm.

I’m sure dishes change regularly, but I’ll share what I ate to give you a flavour:

• Amazonian fish broth
• Rice bread and fermented peanut butter
• Wild mushroom gyoza, cheese & quince empanada, trout & avocado tostada
• Pea pod cream with kefir
• Chili, cheese and potato infusion
• Fish with tree tomato and spicy mango
• Aged beef tataki
• Filo pastry with tarwi cream and black sesame
• Seaweed ice cream with avocado cream.

Drinks

• Watermelon gin cocktail
• Banana rum cocktail
• Pineapple sours cocktail
• Red wine / white wine
• Citus shot.

Everything was delicious and creative. I loved how everything is locally sourced and linked to Bolivia. Even the different alcohols are made here.

Note for solo travellers in Bolivia – I didn’t feel awkward dining alone here. In fact, about half the guests were solo travellers!

Tierra

This was my second favourite restaurant in Sucre serving pescetarian and vegetarian food. Tierra mixes Bolivian flavours with global cooking styles to create unusual, creative dishes.

I liked the gnocchi with huancaina, a tasty sauce I also tried in Peru, featuring cheese and chilli. I also tried the fish tacos as a starter. Both dishes were delicious.

Muso Vinoteca

After spending the previous night on a bus from La Paz, I was craving a treat. Pizza at Muso Vinoteca was it!

I had a fantastic wood-fired pizza here and upgraded to add a ball of buratta. Although I didn’t try it, wine is the main focus of this venue (as you might guess from the name ‘vinoteca’). You can order it by the glass or bottle.

Whether you’re craving a full pizza or just nibbles and wine, this is the best place in Sucre for a sophisticated evening out.

Casual eats / quick lunch restaurants in Sucre

Here are a few places to grab a quick but tasty lunch in between sightseeing. Also, if you’re on a budget, these places are cheaper than those above…

Bienmasabe

I think arepas are my all-time favourite South American food! These stuffed corn pockets are technically from Colombia and Venezuela but there’s no reason not to eat them in Bolivia, too.

The best place to eat arepas and cachapas (a variation) in Sucre is Bienmasabe. Pick the fillings you want, or choose from the combos. As well as beef and chicken, there’s plenty for vegetarians like my bean, cheese, fried plantain and avocado feast above.

Also on the menu are patacones (slices of fried plantain with toppings), sandwiches and snacks. They also serve a wide range of cocktails.

Salteñas (various places)

You can’t leave Bolivia without trying salteñas! These tasty morsels are similar to empanadas. They’re baked and stuffed with ingredients such as beef, chicken and vegetables.

I tried them at Flores, or there’s the more famous Salteñeria El Patio next door, boasting incredible decor. Salteñeria Mary on the edge of town also looks legit.

Central Market – the large daytime market in the centre of Sucre is another place to experience the food culture, for example by sampling exotic fruits you’ve never seen before. Even though I thought the fruit was fresher in Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, you can still buy some tasty things here.

Coffee, brunch and sweet treats in Sucre

I’m a coffee addict so you better believe I sniffed out the best places in town…

I first visited Typica Cafe in La Paz and got hooked on the halloumi buns and apple pie. I’m not the only one who’s a fan; the 100 Best Coffee Shops publication gives them a mention.

I was thrilled when I discovered there’s a Typica cafe in Sucre, too. They have a beautiful garden with coffee-themed murals and a cosy inside room with retro decor. They’re open ’til 9pm.

Expect breakfast dishes, sandwiches, salads, speciality coffee and other drinks including my favourite from Argentina, submarinos (basically a mug of hot milk with a chocolate bar served on the side for you to melt in).

Kaffa Bun

I never made it to Kaffa Bun because they were always closed when I tried to visit. It may have had something to do with the 200 years of independence celebrations, which were big in Sucre given that the declaration was signed here.

Anyway, they have great reviews so swing by if you’re a coffee snob like moi.

Me Gusta

This is another great coffee shop in Sucre with inside and outside seating. At Me Gusta, I just had a cortado but I hear good things about the chocolate brownies.

Nano is another cute coffee bar in central Sucre. The coffee and empanadas are great, but my only complaint was that everything was served in takeaway packaging, even to eat in. Hopefully, this changes.

The most famous chocolate brand from Bolivia is Para Ti. You’ll see them around the country in bus stations and airports, but the original cafe is here in Sucre.

There are countless chocolate types to choose from including nuts, salted caramel, fruit flavours and regional ingredients like dried quinoa and amaranth. I suggest trying as many as you can!

I was meaning to try the hot chocolate but didn’t get around to it… Please do the lord’s work and let me know in the comments how it is!

Cafe Mirador San Miguel

For the best sunset views in town, you have to visit Café Mirador San Miguel. They serve everything from breakfast to coffee and even pizza, but unfortunately, I can’t comment because I just bought some tea so I could sit and enjoy the views.

You order and pay at the bottom, then climb the steep staircase to the bell tower where the staff deliver your order. Visit 30 minutes before sunset to bag a seat!