5 Best Restaurants in Southern Bolivia, Bolivia

Hanging out in Condor Café is a little like getting a big hug from a stranger: the vibe is chilled and smiley, and the food is delicious and abundant. Order a tucumana, a hand-size meat-and-vegetable-filled pastry that comes with a fresh, crispy green salad and some punchy salsas. The breakfast options are healthful, fresh, and homemade, and the lunch menu is one of Sucre’s best bargains. If you're vegetarian, you'll find yourself returning again and again. The café is part of Condor Tours, a 100% nonprofit tour organization that is the best option for exploring the city’s surrounding areas—while helping to support the communities you pass through.

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."

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.

Hidden down a short alley off Calle Sucre, Roberts is a lunch spot that fills up daily with local businessmen who know that this is simply the best bargain in town. The bright yellow decor is a bit harsh, but the service is great—friendly and with a touch of old-school class—and the food is really good, particularly considering the price tag for the lunch menu, which consists of a salad bar, soup, a main, and dessert. The soups tend to be substantial local vegetable or fish, and the mains are standard home-style fare such as fried trout, grilled chicken, or a meat-and-potato stew. Get in early before the salad bar gets demolished.

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.