Uruguay Features

Canelones is Uruguay’s main wine region and it is right on the doorstep of the country’s capital, the buzzing city of Montevideo. Get the travel essentials for visiting these two memorable Uruguayan destinations in our travel guide to Canelones and Montevideo.

How to get around Montevideo & Canelones

Montevideo

Within Montevideo, buses are plentiful and fares can be paid in cash. Taxis are also reasonably easy to summon in the street, and Uber is also available; although walking is also perfectly pleasurable in a city of this size.

Canelones

To get around Canelones, look into a rental car, chauffeur-driven car or join a wine tour (try Wine Explorers or Borravino Wine Tours).

Where to eat & drink

Montevideo

There are a feast of restaurants in Montevideo. Some of my favourites include Primuseum (Pérez Castellano 1389, Old Town), which offers tango with steak on the side; Alquimista (Avenida Bolivia 1323, Carrasco) — a B&B-turned-restaurant tucked away in a handsome old house serving innovative contemporary cuisine; and the fantastic fish restaurant Es Mercat (Colón 1550) right by the port. The Mercado del Puerto should also be on every carnivore’s bucket list. Visit the bustling market at lunchtime and your eyes will water at the sight of so much asado (BBQ) — and that’s before the smoke hits.

As far as wine bars go, Madirán (Mercado Ferrando) is one of my favourites, with an eclectic list served in a hip, urban market, and Montevideo Wine Experience (Piedras 300, Old Town) offers much more than just wine by the glass — including tutored tastings and late night live music.

Canelones

In Canelones, I’d recommend eating at the winery restaurants or at Lo de Porro (Batlle y Ordóñez 664, Las Piedras) — a typical bar of yesteryear, where wine is served by the jug and pasta is freshly rolled each day.