El Mercado del Puerto – Montevideo – Uruguay
The Port´s Market – Montevideo – Uruguay
This famous old market is located in the “old city” or Ciudad Vieja in Montevideo, Uruguay´s capital city, on the southern part of Uruguay. To get there just follow the Rambla 25 de Agosto de 1825 until you get to the corner with Perez Castellano. Or you can walk 13 blocks westward from the main Plaza de Armas to find the Mercado. This is not a typical market selling produce, instead it is a conglomeration of restaurants featuring grilled meats. These are Parrillas and they serve some of the best beef in South America. Most of the venues are simple large grills clearly visible to the passersby, and serving their food along bars with simple stools.
The first time we visited this market we became familiar with Tannat Wine. This wine is made with what they consider their national grape, the Tannat. Tannat was originally from France and then brought to Uruguay in the 19th Century. It is a red wine with fruity notes, very smooth and enjoyable. Other countries make the Tannat wine as well, but once you become familiar with Uruguayans, and after discovering how proud they are of their national products, there is nothing more to do than to recognize and support them as such producers.
This port market offers a wide variety of restaurants which is really a very difficult task to choose just one. At the same time it puts the five senses to work; one can see the delicious meats, and vegetables, and just by smelling the aroma of the grill it opens your appetite, you can hear the embers in action coming from different places and the noise of the people enjoying great food. It’s the sound of being in the right place. Once completing the difficult task of choosing a restaurant, relax and enjoy the food.
This place is actually an explosion of taste, color, smell, sound and touch. The prices are not expensive, providing an affordable great experience. Our favorite restaurant was “El Palenque” because they had the best sweet potato I have ever tried. They grilled the sweet potato and sprinkled it with brown sugar, delicious!
Here in The Port´s Market they also have seafood which I am sure is good. Also you can find local souvenirs shops, making this Mercado del Puerto high on our list of places to revisit. While here in the USA you can also enjoy a great Tannat from California.
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