Where can you find the best brunch in Quito?
The best brunch you can find in Quito, Ecuador is available every Saturday and Sunday at Casa Gangotena in the city’s beautiful historic center, along the southwest corner of the popular San Francisco Plaza. This boutique hotel’s excellent restaurant welcomes visitors and locals to the finest multi-course brunch in the capital.
Just as the term brunch combines two favorite meals in one, weekend brunch at Casa Gangotena combines international and regional favorites into one fascinating gastronomic experience. For breakfast lovers and lunch fans alike, there is so much to enjoy and celebrate! Taking your time, savoring every bite and every morsel in an elegant yet impactful setting makes it even more special. So, just why is this the best brunch in Quito? Let’s break down all the reasons.
Multiple Courses, a Cornucopia of Flavors
One other thing to keep in mind is the concept of a “fixed” menu. Think of the selection of dishes as a sample collection of Casa Gangotena’s most popular breakfast and lunch dishes. Remember, our chef and their team are constant innovators, creating new variations to include and feature among the dozen courses. So, for repeat brunch-goers—and there are plenty—there are always some exciting new treats to savor.
Working with seasonal ingredients to create the most delectable dishes means carefully selecting those ingredients that are primed ready to consume. If an ingredient isn’t in season, the chef’s team focuses on one that is. And, since Ecuador has such a wealth of fresh vegetables, fruits, grains, and proteins, there is always an abundance of fresh and flavorful options!
Let’s look at some of the items you might encounter as part of weekend brunch at Casa Gangotena.
Breakfast Champions
For many people, the day really doesn’t begin until they’ve had their morning cup of coffee. For others, tea seems to get their day started off on the right foot. As part of weekend brunch at Casa Gangotena, guests are greeted with the charming aroma of Ecuadorian coffee and a lovely selection of caffeinated and decaffeinated teas and herbal infusions. Add to this a natural juice or soft drink of your choice, plus a special alcoholic (or non-alcoholic) beverage, and voila: thirst quenched!
Now, let’s talk about bread. Ecuador’s capital city is famous for having some of the most wonderful bakeries in all of South America. Ecuadorians tend to enjoy fresh bread throughout the day, but one type of bread is relatively new and fiercely devoured by fans of oven-baked goodness—brioche! Casa Gangotena does their brioche right, and you’ll get the chance to enjoy it with butter and jam, just how it should be!
Depending on the menu on offer, your eggs may be over-easy or over-medium. You may even get to taste some incredible deviled eggs!
Of course, this is just scratching the surface. Let’s talk about how to balance out your breakfast with a sample of some additional favorites you may encounter on the menu.
Nutritious and Delicious!
One of the items you may come across on the menu is avocado toast! Avocado trees are quite common in Ecuador. These green favorites have tremendous nutritional value and contain healthy fats and fiber. Slices and chunks of avocado are combined with chopped walnuts and served over a perfectly toasted slice of locally baked bread.
Another really healthy dish you will likely get to taste is the ever-popular ceviche. Imagine freshly prepared shrimp or octopus bathed in a lime-based sauce with other ingredients like tomato, pepper, and cilantro, just to name a few. Newcomers to this dish may just fall in love with ceviche, as so many visitors have.
And, how about a salad? Envision a bed of fresh greens mixed with grilled pear and brie cheese, or maybe some yogurt bites and sliced raspberries. Eating right never tasted so good!
It Came from the Sea!
For some, seafood may sound like an odd thing to incorporate into a brunch, but rest assured, it’s more exciting than you could possibly imagine! The international and regional inspiration behind the weekend brunch menu at Casa Gangotena offers the opportunity to explore delicious options like tuna tartare, steamed mussels, and shrimp tacos! Tuna, mussels and shrimp are all sourced from Ecuador’s rich coastline.
Speaking of Locally Sourced Ingredients…
For meat lovers, you may come across some of the most delicious tenderloin steak you’ve ever tasted! The cognac sauce that accompanies these delicious morsels of perfectly cooked steak is simply to die for.
And, to go with this dish, one item that is both a local favorite and a perfect complement, is the choclo (maize) with fresh farmer cheese.
Just Desserts!
No meal is complete without a little something sweet! As part of the 12-course weekend brunch menu at Casa Gangotena, you will certainly receive dessert. Some items you may come across include a coconut and raspberry fruit bar, a scrumptious apple crumble, or a popular Latin American favorite, arroz con leche. So, yeah, you may want to ask your server to top off your coffee just before you hit this final course.
Important Note
The images shown in this blog are examples of menu items that may or may not appear on any particular weekend. They are meant to be references and examples of the variety of ingredients and haute cuisine-inspired offerings available as part of Casa Gangotena’s weekend brunch. For more information about the 12-course brunch tasting menu, please contact one of our sales associates.
Location and Hours
As always, should you elect to drive to Casa Gangotena, the concierge will be more than happy to assist you with information about where to park. The hotel also has a very convenient Valet Parking service that allows guests to enjoy their meals without worrying about parking.
Here is a map of Casa Gangotena’s location, in addition to some coordinates you can input into your navigation app of choice.
Weekend brunch is served every Saturday and Sunday between the hours of 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Brunch consists of a 12-course meal, plus three beverages (two soft and one alcoholic) We have a full-service bar, from which you can order any additional signature cocktails or beverages. (Keep in mind that these are extra and not included in the fixed price for brunch.)
It is a good idea to make a reservation to guarantee a table for you and your party. You can reserve your spot by clicking on the link below.