La Paz, Bolivia: A Culinary Adventure

La Paz, Bolivia's de facto capital, is a foodie's paradise. From street food to fine dining, the city offers a variety of culinary delights that showcase the country's agricultural diversity and cultural heritage. With influences from both local and international cuisines, La Paz has something to tantalise every taste bud.

The city's street food scene is bustling, with thousands of stalls serving up delicious and affordable treats. Salteñas, a quintessential Bolivian breakfast pastry filled with meat, vegetables and a sweet sauce, are a must-try. For those feeling adventurous, anticucho, a flame-grilled cow's heart kebab, is a popular late-night snack.

When it comes to restaurants, El Pueblito and Coroico en Sur offer a great Bolivian lunch experience with reasonable prices and generous portions. For those seeking international flavours, Marrakech, a Moroccan restaurant, and New Delhi Curry Lounge, an Indian restaurant, are excellent choices.

La Paz also boasts innovative fine dining establishments like Gustu, which showcases Bolivian ingredients and cultural diversity. Claus Meyer, the Danish celebrity chef and co-founder of Noma in Copenhagen, put Bolivian cuisine on the map when he opened Gustu in 2013.

So, whether you're a street food enthusiast or a fine dining connoisseur, La Paz, Bolivia, has something delicious to offer.

Street food: Salteñas, Choripan, Anticucho, Sandwich de Chola, Tripa

La Paz, Bolivia, is a city that eats on the go. Street food is a popular choice for locals and travellers alike, with thousands of street stalls throughout the city serving up delicious, low-cost food.

Salteñas

A quintessential Bolivian breakfast pastry, Salteñas are a great way to start the day. They have a wholesome filling of meat, peas, carrots, potatoes, and sweet sauce, all cooked inside an oven-baked pastry. The trick to eating a salteña without making a mess is to take a bite out of one end and drink the juice before devouring the rest.

Choripan

As the name suggests, choripan consists of chorizo (sausage) in pan (bread). This tasty snack is served day and night and is typically accompanied by lettuce, tomato, onion, and a generous dose of llawja (spicy, tomato-based Bolivian sauce). The top floor of Mercado Lanza has a number of excellent choripan eateries.

Anticucho

Anticucho is a mouthwatering, flame-grilled, cow's heart kebab accompanied by potato and a spicy peanut sauce. Those who don't usually enjoy organ meat should still give it a try—it's surprisingly succulent. Anticuchos are inexpensive and date back hundreds of years. They are particularly popular with the late-night drinking crowd, so keep an eye out for a cholita (indigenous woman) with a portable barbecue waiting outside the club at 2 a.m.!

Sandwich de Chola

This traditional sandwich got its name because it's typically served by a cholita. It comes packed with pulled roast pork, pickled carrots and onions, fresh tomato, a dash of garlic, and a variety of herbs and spices. La Paz's best can be found at Parque de las Cholas and they go down well with an ice-cold Paceña (local beer) while soaking up the afternoon sun.

Tripa

Tripa is perhaps best left to the adventurous eater. This dish of fried cow intestine has a slightly chewy texture and a somewhat bitter, intestinal taste. However, some people love it, and the only way to find out is to give it a try!

Restaurants: El Pueblito, Coroico in Sur, El Vagon Del Sur, Villa Serena, MagicK

El Pueblito, Coroico in Sur, El Vagon Del Sur, Villa Serena, and MagicK are some great restaurants to visit in La Paz, Bolivia.

El Vagon Del Sur is a popular choice for locals and tourists alike, serving up classic Bolivian cuisine in an elegant and spacious setting. The restaurant offers a variety of typical Bolivian dishes, including Picante de Camerones, a Bolivian take on the classic Peruvian dish, and a range of spicy chicken options. It also has outdoor patio seating and indoor seating. While the restaurant usually accommodates large groups well, there have been some negative reviews about the staff's handling of reservations.

Villa Serena is known for its modern Bolivian and Andean cuisine, with visitors praising the restaurant's romantic and chic atmosphere and its art gallery on the second floor. The restaurant also has a bar downstairs that hosts live music events. However, some reviews mention that the food is expensive and not very tasty.

MagicK, a cafe-cultural venue, offers an eclectic menu based on Bolivian produce, cultural events, and a great place to work or socialise. It has received positive reviews for its food, coffee, and friendly owner. It is also noted for being LGBTQIA+-friendly.

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Markets: Mercado Camacho, Mercado Lanzo, Mercado de las Brujas, Mercado Rodriguez

Mercado Camacho is one of La Paz's main food markets, selling fruits, vegetables, juices, dairy products, breads, and canned foods. You can also find stalls selling sandwiches, soups, salteñas (filled pastry shells), empanadas, and full meals.

Mercado Lanza is another of the city's principal food markets. Located in a building on Plaza Mayor, it's a great place to sample local specialties. Start with papa rellena, a potato stuffed with meat, or a delicious avocado sandwich. Order a fruit shake to wash it down—mora (blackberry) is highly recommended. You can also try api with pastel, a purple drink made of corn and cinnamon, usually served hot with pastel, a fried pastry filled with cheese. If you're still hungry, try the multivitaminico, a shake made with fruit and grains that's popular among Bolivian students as a meal substitute.

Mercado Rodriguez is one of the biggest farmers' markets in the world. It's mostly along Calle Rodríguez but also spills over onto Max Paredes and Avenida Illampu. Many of the stalls are run by Cholitas, or indigenous women wearing traditional dress. You can find produce, meats, fish, bootlegged DVDs, and clothing. A local tip is to visit on the weekends when more goods are brought in from the countryside. Mercado Rodriguez is also a great place to find giant corn, dehydrated potatoes, and over 200 varieties of potatoes.

Mercado de las Brujas, or Witches' Market, is where you can find all kinds of magical remedies for everyday life, including love potions and medicinal plants. You can also buy objects used in traditional Bolivian rituals, such as dried llama fetuses. According to Aymara culture, the fetuses are used as offerings to Pachamama, often buried under newly constructed houses for good luck.

Traditional dishes: Milanesa, Churrasco, Llauchas, Saice, Pique a lo macho

La Paz, Bolivia, is a city brimming with street food. With thousands of street stalls across the city, you won't struggle to find a delicious, low-cost bite to eat. Traditional dishes include Milanesa, Churrasco, Llauchas, Saice, and Pique a lo macho.

Milanesa

A popular fast-food option in La Paz, Milanesa is a type of sandwich. One place to try it is Milas Bolivia, which offers a range of Milanesa sandwiches, including the Milas Texas, which contains bacon and barbecue meat.

Churrasco

A traditional grilled meat dish, Churrasco is often served with a fried egg on top.

Llauchas

Llauchas is a type of bread, similar to a croissant, that is filled with cheese and baked.

Saice

Saice is a traditional Bolivian dish made with minced meat, potatoes, and spices. It is a simple dish to prepare, which has made it popular across the country.

Pique a lo macho

Pique a lo macho is a dish from the Cochabamba region of Bolivia. It was created in 1969 by the owners of the "El Prado" restaurant in Cochabamba. The story goes that they had a group of regular customers who were pilots for an airline and wanted a dish they could all share that would help them continue drinking and socialising. So, the owners served up large plates of chopped meat with french fries, tomato, boiled egg, and slices of locoto peppers. The dish was so spicy that it was deemed "a spicy dish for machos", and the name "pique a lo macho" was born.

Drinks: Chuflay, craft beer, quinoa beer, craft cocktails

La Paz, Bolivia, has a thriving nightlife scene, with plenty of options for those looking to sample the local drinks. Here's a guide to some of the unique beverages you can enjoy during your visit:

Chuflay

Chuflay is a traditional Bolivian cocktail and one of the most popular drinks in the country. It is made with Singani, a wine brandy distilled from Muscat grapes of Alexandria, ginger ale, lime, and ice cubes. Singani is the national liquor of Bolivia, often compared to cachaça in Brazil or pisco in Peru and Chile. The origin of Chuflay dates back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries when English expatriates working on the railway lines in Bolivia would drink gin with ginger ale. As gin was scarce, the locals replaced it with Singani, and the cocktail was born.

Craft Beer

La Paz is home to a growing craft beer scene, with several breweries and bars offering unique and innovative brews. DT Brew House, for example, is known for its incredible range of craft beers, perfectly paired with their food offerings. Vicio's, a trendy fast-food spot, also offers a solid variety of craft beers, including the crowd favourite American Pale Ale from Cervero.

Quinoa Beer

While in La Paz, you can also try the local quinoa beer. Flor de Leche y Restaurante Chalet Flor de Leche is a dairy lover's paradise that offers delicious lunches on weekends, featuring local wines, beers, and quinoa-based dishes.

Craft Cocktails

For those who enjoy creative cocktails, La Paz has several options. +591 Bar, located on the seventh floor of the Atix Hotel, offers cocktails inspired by Bolivian flavours, cultures, and stories. Try the San Mateo, made with vodka, grapefruit soda, cherry juice, lemon, and bitters, or the Singani Sour, a combination of lemon, sugar, bitters, and egg white. Diesel Nacional, a funky pub in the heart of La Paz, is another great spot for craft cocktails made with local ingredients.

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