Claroscuro Gastro Bar — Restaurant in Centro Histórico

We came across this wonderful gastro-pub as part of an Ecuador immersive cooking class - our chef (Josue) started us at the market where we experienced and learned about local fresh ingredients in a very local and natural way. The kitchen for cooking classes is open and spacious and all the ingredients incredibly fresh and locally sourced. Josue taught us techniques we could apply and home and modification suggestions for recipes to satisfy every need. We ended class with a scrumptious 3 course meal from the dishes we made that was award-worthy and more flavorful to the palate than the majority of meals we have tasted in Ecuador to date. The ambiance is so beautiful and unexpected (like the koi pond in the central atrium) and the people joyous. They also have a lovely bar and artist shopping for easy browsing. It’s a...

We had a cooking class with the chef while in Ecuador on vacation. We started at a local market where he walked us through various fruits and vegetables used in Ecuadorian cooking. We also sampled various beverages and local specialists. We then went to the “kitchen” where we learned how to cook several traditional dishes. The Chef finished off the dishes while we started to feast on the appetizer. The food was all so delicious and the overall experience was unique, educational and really fun. Our entire family, with kids ages 7-16, really thought this was a highlight. Chef shared the recipes with us so we can impress our family back home. I highly recommend the cooking class and/or...

During a grueling travel adventure home, with 4 layovers, we had 9 hours in Quito. Getting off of the plane to get into a car wasn't my first choice, but the food, cocktails, and atmosphere at the upstairs restaurant were absolutely supreme. This dinner was possibly the best meal of my life. My family is all pescetarian, with 2 of our 5 members also vegetarian, and we were still able to find delicious options. The meal started with potato soup, that sustained me for days. I am still dreaming about the "chocolate soup," which was more like fondue, with a wide variety of local fruits and absolutely amazing ice cream. 10/10 food...