Information
Landmark: Mercado del PuertoCity: Montevideo
Country: Uruguay
Continent: South America
Mercado del Puerto, Montevideo, Uruguay, South America
Overview
Mercado del Puerto stands as one of Montevideo’s most beloved landmarks, buzzing with the scent of sizzling asado, the hum of lively chatter, and a deep sense of history woven into every corner.You’ll find it in Ciudad Vieja, the Old Town by Montevideo’s port, where the salty air drifts in, and it draws crowds of both locals and visitors.History and Architecture The market opened on October 10, 1868, at the height of Uruguay’s economic growth and the city’s steady spread of cobblestone streets.Spanish architect Juan Antonio Capurro designed the building, using mostly iron and glass, a style echoing the bustling iron-framed markets of industrial Europe.They brought the materials over from Liverpool, England, then pieced them together in Montevideo, a sharp reminder of the city’s bustling trade with the wider world.When it first opened, Mercado del Puerto bustled like a classic food market, with stalls piled high with bright tomatoes, fresh-cut meats, and glistening fish for Montevideo’s growing crowd.As the city grew more modern, the market slowly transformed, turning into a lively food destination filled with smoky parrillas and the rich, savory flavors of traditional Uruguayan cooking.These days, if you want to taste Uruguay’s famous barbecue in Montevideo, head to Mercado del Puerto, where the air is rich with the smell of sizzling meat.safeThe smoky scent of sizzling beef, lamb, and sausages drifts through the air, making the whole place feel warm and impossible to walk past without stopping.At Mercado del Puerto, visitors can dig into Uruguayan favorites like asado-tender beef grilled low and slow over glowing wood embers.Chorizo and morcilla-classic Uruguayan sausages, with morcilla’s deep, earthy flavor coming from rich, spiced blood.Pulpón and Ojo de Bife-tender, flavorful steaks that locals savor, often still sizzling from the grill.Pamplona-tender meat wrapped around cheese, smoky ham, and sweet bell peppers, then seared over a hot grill.Provoleta-grilled provolone that melts into a golden crust, often finished with fresh herbs and a drizzle of olive oil.Milanesa is a thin cut of meat, coated in crisp golden breadcrumbs and fried, much like a schnitzel sizzling in a hot pan.Medio y Medio is a well-known Uruguayan drink, a mix of white wine and sparkling wine, often sipped with a plate of fresh grilled fish at the market.Mercado del Puerto is packed with great parrillas, both inside the bustling hall and spilling out onto the sunny streets.Among the favorites is El Palenque, a legendary steakhouse that’s been serving sizzling cuts and fresh seafood for decades.Cabaña Verónica draws both locals and travelers with its sizzling grilled meats and the warm, easy chatter that fills the room.La Chacra del Puerto serves up traditional asado, sizzling over open flames, with a wide range of meats and cuts to choose from.Estancia del Puerto is famous for its open-grill “parrilla a la vista,” where you can watch the grill masters turn sizzling cuts of meat over glowing coals.Beyond its sizzling grills and the smell of fresh chimichurri, Mercado del Puerto buzzes as a lively hub of Uruguayan culture and tradition.On weekends and holidays, you might catch dancers twirling to tango, hear the deep rhythm of candombe drums in the street, and browse stalls where local artisans sell handmade treasures.Around lunch, the market fills with locals swapping stories over steaming bowls of soup, and the place hums with energy.You’ll find it at Piedras 237 in Ciudad Vieja, Montevideo, Uruguay, open every day from about 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.-though a few restaurants keep their doors open well into the evening.The best time to drop by is during lunch, between noon and three, when the place hums with chatter and clinking glasses-especially on weekends.So, why make the trip to Mercado del Puerto, where the air smells of sizzling meat and fresh bread?Mercado del Puerto isn’t just a place to grab a bite-it’s a living museum where the scent of sizzling asado carries the story of Uruguay’s food, culture, and history.Whether you’re craving the city’s best asado sizzling over charcoal, curious about local traditions, or just want to soak up the market’s lively buzz, this historic spot is a must on any trip to Uruguay.
