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RESTAURANTS IN SANTA CRUZThere are many excellent restaurants in Santa Cruz but sometimes having too many options or just being unfamiliar with the area or local cuisine can make deciding where to eat difficult. This is not meant to be a directory, but simply a fun, alternative way of presenting some of the best cuisine and hospitality
Santa Cruz
has to offer. You can also also contribute to our
Restaurant Review.
And remember, by Santa Cruz we mean the entire department of Santa Cruz, Bolivia so you don't have to limit your comments to the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra (yes, that's our city's whole long name). Our readers want first-hand recommendations and depend on us and you!
Because Bolivian social life revolves around eating and there are so many different types of restaurants to choose from, I've categorized them by the type of food they specialize in. If you're just traveling in Bolivia you won't have time to try them all, but if you live in Bolivia I encourage you to expand your horizons and your palate. With the bounty of delicious and colorful tropical fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices available right here in Santa Cruz, chefs in Bolivia are true food artists. By the way, some of them really ARE food artists - they work with caterers to make events beautiful with truly amazing edible centerpieces and decor.
The city is well-known for its steakhouses and outdoor environments. Cruceños love grilling and socializing out in the open and the traditions of “serenading” and “people watching” date back to the colonial times when entire families would take to the city plazas on Sunday afternoons for a lazy stroll to see and be seen. Today, the custom of parading about is well-ingrained in society here, as is the more modern version of “cruising” up and down and around and around the main social thoroughfares (you’ll see this on Monseñor Rivero and in Equipetrol, the city’s two main avenues for socialization, where you'll find eateries, bars, cafés and discoteques one after the other.) Its tea houses (salones de té) are also very popular. Bolivians are accustomed to taking tea at about 4 or 5 in the afternoon. At that time the salones de te are very full and busy. Because we usually indulge at tea time, dinner (usually a lighter meal than lunch) is usually served around 8 or 9 p.m. Most salones de té double as bakeries and vice versa, so if you're looking for a great place for tea and pastries, I've included tea houses under my section on bakeries. There is really no such thing as “typical” Bolivian food. Flavors, spices and cooking styles vary greatly from one region to the next. In the Andean region foods tend to be very hot and spicy. In the tropics where Santa Cruz is located, there is a strong Brazilian influence, lots of European and Asian restaurants, and because this is the nation’s cattle ranching area, many many steak-inspired meals. In addition, fruit and vegetables abound and are incorporated into most of the region’s cuisine. The climate has also had a great influence on what we eat, and how often. Ice cream parlors are always brimming with locals and tourists alike, as are tea houses. It’s not uncommon to take tea in the late afternoon and eat dinner late at night (around 9 or 10 pm). Because Bolivians still enjoy their siesta time (when businesses and stores close at midday anytime between 12 and 3) lunch is usually the largest meal of the day. No power lunches here! Sometimes the heat takes your appetite away. The city tends to be less busy midday when many people go home to rest and have lunch with their families. But at night, when it's cooler, they are bustling and busy. Dinner is when we socialize! Be sure to check out my section on etiquette in Bolivia before you go! I'll add more categories as the need arises, but please feel free to add your favorites to our
Santa Cruz Restaurant Review.
Be sure to take a look at my
Bolivian Food and Recipes
section for additional information on typical foods, ingredients, spices, desserts and other meals, as well as recipes so you can learn to cook what you liked most. Return from Restaurants to Home Page
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