Lunch: Mercado del Puerto
The Mercado del Puerto is a few blocks northwest of Plaza Constitución, at the waterfront end of Ciudad Vieja near the port gates. The building opened in 1868 — an iron-and-glass structure prefabricated in England and assembled here in three years, designed to reflect Montevideo's ambitions as a modern port city. It no longer functions as a market in any practical sense; what it houses now is a collection of parrillas, their open-fire grills filling the space under the vaulted ironwork with wood smoke from late morning until mid-afternoon. Order the asado de tira (short ribs), the ojo de bife (ribeye), or a full parrillada to share — and drink whatever the waiter suggests, though medio y medio, the market's signature blend of dry white wine and semi-sweet sparkling, is the traditional choice. The atmosphere — noisy, crowded, fragrant, slightly theatrical — is as much the point as the food. Budget two hours.