A Local's Guide to La Floresta, Quito's Most Chic Neighborhood

Named after the 1963 film by Federico Fellini, the Ocho y Medio Theater features three film salons of varying sizes plus programs of foreign, alternative, independent, classic and avant-garde cinema. It is one of the most popular bohemian hangouts in Quito, with a restaurant and tavern that operates from midday to evening.

There are many creatively designed pastry and gourmet coffee hangouts in La Floresta, but none are quite like La Cleta Bici, on Guipuzcoa between Sevilla and Cadiz, where all the furniture is constructed from bicycle parts, and where cycling as a theme is highlighted in the decor.

On Galavis between Católica and Andalucia, during daylight hours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, this is one of the prime locations where local farmers from outside Quito, sell fresh produce. There are fewer better places in the capital of Ecuador to sample the exotic fruits and vegetables grown in the country.

The late Trude Sojka was an exceptional woman with an extraordinary life story. Sent to Auschwitz when the Nazis occupied Czechoslovakia, she lost her child and most of her extended family to the camps. Afterward, she settled in Ecuador and became one of the best-known artists in the country. Her home on Coruña and Toledo, managed by her daughter, is now a museum showcasing a collection of her paintings and sculptures, much of it a haunting reflection of her personal experience during WWII. The rooms also showcase works by local artists.

The construction and design of this modern building, home to a local media corporation, has been universally praised by architectural journalists for its fresh modernism and ecologically friendly design. It’s worth a look if you are passing by Mallorca and Guizpucoa, though the interior is not open to the general public, except for the lobby, which has a charming fountain and some appealing sculpture.

Fine dining meets tradition at URKO, an Ecuadorian restaurant often ranked among the best in the country. Their year is divided into four ryamis (seasons), with a tasting menu for each showcasing the top seasonal ingredients. If you’ve got time, opt for the full experience – an eight-course tasting menu that should take around two hours. If not, there’s the lite experience – five courses that should be all wrapped up in around 90 minutes.

Botánica serves the La Floresta neighborhood with exceptional coffee amid a calm-inducing setup. Order a cup of freshly brewed cafe and enjoy it on the covered patio, perhaps with something sweet from the snack menu. The team also runs Cafe en Casa, a workshop that aims to demystify the basics of coffee and the art of making a good cup. You’ll need to message Botánica or check out their website to find when the next sessions are being held.