Uruguay combines generations-old farming practices, diverse cultural influences, and a long Atlantic coastline to produce a concentrated, high-quality food culture. Small geography enables rapid farm-to-plate sourcing and many lodges and ranches operate on-site production of wine, olive oil, gin, fruits, vegetables, and meats. Luz Culinary Wine Lodge produces wine, olive oil, and small-batch gin while Posada de Campo Martín Pescador focuses on garden vegetables, orchard fruits, and locally sourced meats like boar. Social dining rituals such as sharing yerba mate emphasize hospitality and connection. Montevideo’s Mercado del Puerto exemplifies the country’s relaxed dining ethos and access to fresh regional ingredients.
Small and unassuming, Uruguay has long been overlooked as a foodie destination. Generations-old farming traditions, diverse cultural influences, and a long Atlantic coastline combine to create the ideal environment for a world-class food scene. The late chef and television host Anthony Bourdain even deemed Uruguay, "easily one of the top under-appreciated travel destinations on Earth." Below, why Uruguay deserves to be on your radar, and what to know about its cuisine before you go.
For that reason, Luz Culinary Wine Lodge, in the southeastern fishing village of Jose Ignacio, is a must-visit. Not only do they make their own wine, olive oil, and small-batch gin on the premises, but their dedication to local, seasonal ingredients highlights the best of Uruguayan cuisine. Another standout in southern Uruguay is Posada de Campo Martín Pescador, a family-run ranch in the Sierras of Maldonado region.
Uruguayans are famous for their laid-back nature-something that's mirrored in how they eat, drink, and connect. There's no better example than yerba mate, an herbal tea made from a native South American plant species. More than just a drink, mate is a ritual woven into the social fabric of Uruguay; the infusion of yerba leaves in a gourd gets passed from person to person in a single cup and straw, symbolizing connection and hospitality.
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