7 Best Restaurants in Southern Bolivia, Bolivia

This tiny, hole-in-the-wall spot with a few mismatched blue tables promises only one thing: salteñas (Bolivian empanadas). And it delivers! Few will disagree that these are the best in town, and plenty may agree that they are among Bolivia's best. They come out in massive batches between 9 and noon, piping hot, spicy, juicy, and tomato rich. If there aren't any in sight, wait for the next batch—it's worth it. These salteñas may be the best thing to eat in Potosí. There is no name outside, so just ask around, or keep an eye out for a small wooden sign hanging by the door that simply says, "Hay Salteñas."

Set in a beautiful building right on the main plaza, this is the perfect spot to warm up after a day of visiting churches. Stop in for a glass of wine and a snack, or coffee and cake. The service is not great, but the food and drinks are above the rather low standard set in the city. Prices are in line with the very tourist central location.

The best views in the city belong to this little café just below the Recoleta mirador. Stop in for a cold beer or sandwich to help you while away an hour or so while taking it all in. Surprisingly, the prices aren’t much higher than any other place in the city, but the Mirador doesn’t quite escape the curse of unfulfilled potential. The tables outside and the garden could use a little more TLC, and the service is not stellar. The menu is average, but the pastas and sandwiches are decent. Inside, there is Wi-Fi and a little counter by the window with board games, perfect for a bottle of wine and a sunset (closes at 7:30 pm).

Decent Wi-Fi and breakfast are pretty much all this little coffee shop has going for it, as service has slowed to a painful crawl over the years and the decor is almost completely without personality. If you go for breakfast, order the pancake stack or a healthy bowl of muesli. Some of the sweet cakes and desserts are tasty, so you might also stop in for a mid-morning snack and a cup of refreshing mate de coca (herbal tea).

As the name suggests, this is a young, lively bar catering mostly to a student and backpacker crowd, making it one of the best choices for a sociable night out—probably involving shots—near the plaza. They also run mountain biking and hiking trips, which can be organized in the office next door. The food won't change your life, and it is a bit pricey, but the tapas do the job and they offer a great range of beers. Grab a seat on the patio or in the upstairs lounge where films are shown every evening.

Just inside the city's central market, this stall is a must for street-food lovers. Grab a fresh juice from one of the neighbors, then head over to Las 7 Lunares and order one of the legendary fried chorizo rolls (the chorizo is a thin local version of the Spanish-style spicy sausage). It's safe and tasty; just grab a little stool in front of the stall and tuck in. Open from morning until the early afternoon.

As in every Bolivian city, there’s plenty of debate about who really makes the best salteñas in town, but many would point to El Patio—and add bonus points for its sunny interior patio. Prices are more than reasonable, so order one of each and find out which is your favorite. You’ll have to skip your hotel breakfast if you want to get the full experience and go for the typical 9 am salteña start to the day. The service can be slow during peak lunch hours. If you aren’t in the mood to wait in line, head over to their equally good neighbor, Salteñeria Flores, or, on the other side of the plaza, El Paso de Los Abuelos.