8 Best Restaurants in Punta del Este, Uruguay

A shaded terra-cotta terrace gives way to a breezeway with arched windows at this restaurant, considered one of Latin America's finest, and opens onto a large split-level dining room with antique sideboards. French chef Jean Paul Bondoux is at the helm, and the food, served by impeccably clad waiters, is prepared with only the finest and freshest ingredients. Breads are baked on the premises (an adjoining bakery sells them by the loaf), while the herbs and berries are grown in the backyard garden. The desserts are sublime—choose the sampler to try them all.

People flock to this classic Punta spot at all hours for their piping-hot medialunas, which are crescent moon–shape pastries that taste like fluffy croissants and come brushed with a sweet syrup. Many patrons profess they're the best medialunas to be found anywhere. You can sit down or grab your medialunas (and other food, such as chivitos) to go.

Huella means footprint, and this now-legendary restaurant certainly has left its mark. Built right on the sand, La Huella takes beach dining to an unrivaled level with exquisite grilled seafood and meats—the octopus is not to be missed—as well as fresh sushi, pastas, and pizzas. The restaurant epitomizes the best of beach culture and spirit, and while celebrity sightings are common, everyone seems to be relaxed and easygoing. Because the place is wildly popular, reservations in peak season are necessary.

Bearing the name of its founder, this small restaurant on the Rambla Artigas, the oceanside promenade, offers fine dining at moderate prices—its successful recipe for attracting clientele for more than 40 years. You can't beat the view, and in the summer you can appreciate the excellent service while enjoying the sea breeze. They are famous for their spinach and cheese soufflés; their grilled meats and fish also are exquisite.

Set inland from Barra's center on an expansive, rolling property is the upscale, rustic Narbona restaurant. The property is so tranquil and removed from the Punta frenzy that the restaurant provides GPS coordinates as their address. Tour the vineyard or opt to taste the wine right with your meal—the cuisine has a strong Italian influence—at your sunny table, perhaps on the veranda, overlooking the bucolic surroundings.

It's a bit hard to believe a place as low-key and affordable as this traditional Uruguayan steak house exists in chic Punta del Este, but it does—and that's precisely why locals love it. Your best bet is to stick to steak and sides to share, including the platter of mini provoleta (grilled cheese) with a bottle of wine to wash it all down. Expect to wait for a table at prime mealtimes, but the friendly and fast waitstaff will have you feasting in no time.

In peak season this laid-back, Americana-style diner serving up classic Uruguayan fare in La Barra is open 24 hours a day to accommodate everyone's beach and partying hours. The atmosphere is lively no matter when you come, and the fried calamari and chivito—they claim to have the best in town—are popular menu items.

Loved by locals, this small eatery has a great view of Isla Gorriti. The menu includes a bit of everything, but the specialty is seafood. Perennial favorites are brotola à la Roquefort (baked hake with a Roquefort sauce) and pulpo Provençal, likely to be the most tender octopus you've ever eaten.