One of the favorite destinations for Brazilians who go to Uruguay The Colonia del Sacramento It is about a three-hour drive from Montevideo — or a one-hour boat ride from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The charming city, stage of dispute between Brazil and Argentina for decades, it was founded in 1680 and is one of the oldest in Uruguay, even older than the country itself. In its historic center, it preserves architectural details from those times.
Walking around there you can see part of the wall or excavations that belonged to that time. historical city It has a romantic feel and, although it is common for many visitors to only spend the day, it is a pleasant region to extend the trip a little longer.
What to do in Colonia del Sacramento
Some of the activities for those who visit the place with time are walk at night through the quiet cobblestone streets It is rent a bike and go down the coastal road bordering the River Plate and regions that form freshwater beaches. In addition, taking advantage of good hotel options to rest in an idyllic, safe and timeless place is also worth it.
For those looking for cultural programs, a good option is to visit the Bullring . Opened in 1910, the arena was built at the time to hold bullfights. The construction has a Moorish inspiration typical of Spanish buildings, but with the use of iron frames, as in English buildings designed for railways.
Currently, recently restored, it houses a cultural center, where shows and parties take place — the schedule can be found at Instagram. The city is also home to the Municipal, Tile, Indigenous and Portuguese Museums, the Historical Archive, the Spanish Museum, the Nacarello House and the Paleontological Museum.
The region has a wide variety of accommodation options. From hostels to guesthouses with extremely good taste and comfort, or from apartments available for rent through booking platforms to designer hotels, just choose your style, bearing in mind that, for those who are further away from the city center, it is necessary to have a car.
Also located an hour away is the city of Carmelo, famous for its wineries and which deserves a chapter of its own.
Below, check out tips for where to stay and where to eat in Colonia del Sacrament O:
Tips for resting and enjoying good meals
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Charco Hotel and Bistro
Located in the historic center, next to the Rio da Prata, with accommodations that combine rustic country style and modern style, the accommodation at Puddle has an average daily rate of US$ 200 (around R$ 1,131). The restaurant is open daily to the public, from breakfast to dinner, and is among the best in the city.
With a small but varied menu, there is always at least one option of pasta, beef, pork, lamb, fish and vegetarian dishes. The restaurant is located in a pleasant space with a view of the Rio da Prata. Make sure to make a reservation.
Charco Hotel and Bistro: From San Pedro 116, 70000 Colonia del Sacramento, Colonia Department, Uruguay / Reservation and more information at site.
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Comarca Las Liebres – Barrio Restaurant Hotel
For those looking for tranquility with comfort and privacy, the The Loves located on a large property about 10 minutes by car from the center, is another great option.
With spacious, comfortable and tasteful accommodations starting at US$ 180 (R$ 1,018), the hotel also has a private vacation home, an organic vegetable garden that supplies the restaurant and a vineyard that has already started producing grapes for its own wines.
The restaurant, which is open daily, became famous for having Hugo Soca as executive chef. The zero-kilometer concept, with a preference for local products, permeates the menu from breakfast to dinner. The establishment also has an extensive list of Uruguayan wines.
With the restaurant’s recently expanded capacity and a pleasant outdoor area, it is often a family outing for those who live in the area as well.
Comarca Las Liebres – Barrio Restaurant Hotel: Continuación, Zapican 645, 70000 Colonia del Sacramento, Colonia Department, Uruguay / Reservations and more information at site.
To eat while getting to know the city
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Albertine Bread and Coffee
O Albertine Bread and Coffee It’s one of those delicious, cute places with a cozy atmosphere and high-quality coffee, delicious cakes and top-notch bakery. In fact, the house’s breads are made by Juliana Pedro, who was already a baker in Brazil and who moved with her husband and business partner to Uruguay during the pandemic.
The house where Albertine is located was uninhabited for 20 years, so it needed a major renovation. The pandemic gave the couple enough time to do the repairs and also to build a loyal clientele, even in the times of take awayfor the naturally leavened breads that were new on the scene.
Today, Juliana assures that Uruguayans’ favorite bread is their cheese bread, and it’s no wonder, even in Brazil I’ve eaten very few as good. Sandwiches and other snacks are also part of the menu, but I was very happy with the perfect lemon and yogurt cake.
Albertine Bread and Coffee: 18 de Julio 233, 70000 Colonia del Sacramento, Colonia Department, Uruguay / Opening hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 9:30 am to 7:00 pm.
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Bohemia Bistro
Colonia del Sacramento is a city that lacks good restaurants, after all, proportionally, there are not enough places to have a nice meal. Among the highlights, there is certainly Bohemia Bistro with a cuisine which they define as “honest”.
Bohemia offers well-executed reinterpretations of traditional Uruguayan dishes, such as grilled ojo de bife (steak), baked boniato (orange sweet potato) with salad, wood-fired meat empanadas and meat milanesa. The restaurant also has a good selection of local wines and a pleasant outdoor area with views of the river and the grill.
Bohemia Bistro: De San Pedro 142, 70000 Colonia del Sacramento, Departamento de Colonia, Uruguay / Opening hours: lunch from Monday to Sunday, 12:00 pm to 3:30 pm; dinner from Thursday to Saturday, 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm.
To drink wine
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Winery Los Cerros de San Juan
The closest winery to Colonia del Sacramento, about a 30-minute drive from the center, is The Hills of San Juan being the oldest winery in Uruguay. Opened in 1869 by the Lahusen family, which is no longer in charge today, and after having passed through several hands, Los Cerros finally seems to have got back on track.
Its structure has undergone modernization reforms without leaving aside important historical marks of the winery, such as a mechanical refrigeration system from 1860 and an old warehouse with period furniture. winery tour is a journey through time . In addition to visiting the site and tasting wines, lunch can be booked on the website. Winery tour packages range from US$20 (R$112) to US$150 (R$840).
Winery Los Cerros de San Juan: Ruta 21 Km 204, 70000 Cerros de San Juan, Departamento de Colonia, Uruguay / Opening hours: Thursday to Sunday, from 11 am upon prior reservation by site.
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Colonia Wine Cellar
A Colonia Wine Cellar has grown and now has two branches. One at the entrance to the historic center and another larger one, right in the center. With an extensive wine list, you can find labels from all over the country and also from small wineries in the region.
To accompany the meal, cheese and cured meats from local producers and good empanadas are good options. It is also a good option for those who want to buy wine to take home.
La Colonia Wine Cellar: Gral. Flores 111, 70000 Colonia del Sacramento, Colonia Department, Uruguay / Opening hours: every day, from 11:30 am to 10:30 pm.
*The texts published by Insiders and Columnists do not necessarily reflect the opinion of CNN Travel & Gastronomy.
About Giuliana Nogueira
Giuliana Nogueira is a Brazilian psychologist, photographer and communications consultant. She is not an oenologist or sommelier, but she is an oenophile, especially passionate about Uruguayan wines and Uruguay. She maintains the Instagram @Instatannatspeaking more about Uruguayan wines than the Uruguayans themselves. Whenever he can, he travels to the land of our neighbors, who know how to welcome people very well.
Source: CNN Brasil
Johanna Foster is an expert opinion writer with over 7 years of experience. She has a reputation for delivering insightful and thought-provoking articles on a variety of subjects. Her work can be found on some of the top online news websites, and she is currently lending her voice to the world stock market.
