Rocamadour, Guatemala City

This Uruguayan restaurant is part of a new wave of bars and eateries in the rapidly gentrifying Zone 4 of the Guatemalan capital.

For the uninitiated, Uruguayan cuisine is heavy on meat, and Rocamadour serves up a wide variety of sandwiches, pizzas and pastas, including the famous choripan. A classic of Uruguayan and Argentinian street food, the choripan is essentially a hot dog served with a house garnish that sets off the smokey flavor of the sausage. The cuts of beef on the grill are expertly cooked as you would expect, and each of the dishes I sampled showed good attention to detail.

Each of the dishes are available as a combo, with the option of a beer, a glass of wine or a soft drink. There are options for vegetarians and all of the food is simple but made with real dedication. Rocamadour prides itself on providing good music and a lively atmosphere, and on nights when there is not a live band, the manager exhibits his excellent taste in music. With many restaurants seemingly relying on Spotify’s Top 50, it makes a real difference to listen to more rarefied sounds as you eat.

The restaurant itself is situated on the second floor in an atmospheric space decorated in a fairly industrial style. It’s a great place to line your stomach before a night out in the bars of Zone 4, and comes highly recommended. A meal and a beer will set you back around $9, which is a very reasonable price for the quality of the food on offer.