The Mercado San Francisco is a working neighbourhood market in the heart of Quito's old town, a short hop from its namesake plaza and church. Unshowy and thoroughly local, it is where quiteños come for their fruit and vegetables, herbs and flowers — and, crucially for a visitor, for some of the most authentic, best-value food in the historic centre.
Upstairs the food stalls are the draw: hearty set-lunch almuerzos, bowls of soup, hornado (slow-roast pork), fresh tropical-fruit juices and Andean specialities served to a mostly local crowd. Downstairs it is a riot of produce, cheeses, spices and traditional remedies — a colourful, sensory introduction to Ecuadorean everyday life.
Local tip: Go at lunchtime and eat where the queues of locals are — a set almuerzo costs just a few dollars. Order a fresh jugo, bring small change, and keep an eye on your bag in the busier aisles.
Good to know
- Where: Old Town, Quito
- City: Quito