Zóe Restaurant Café Bar
Serving What Expats Like

Zóe Restaurant Café Bar (known to its regulars as Zoe's) is one of our favorite restaurants in Cuenca.

We enjoy dining at Zoe's because they serve meals that, for the most part, we just can't find anywhere else here in Cuenca.

The Friday Gringo Night is held there as well, so occasionally meeting with other expats is another good reason to visit Zoe's.

Paula Palacios is part owner and the manager. She and two friends, Felipe and Juan Carlos (who is now her husband) started Zoe's. Paula spent several years in Miami, so she knows what expats like in terms of food.

"We had an idea for something different, modern, fresh and new yet still keeping the feel of old Cuenca," she told us. "We rented the house and started renewing and restoring it two and a half years ago. And so far we have had great response. We have a wonderful chef who has developed our national and international dishes."

The chef is also a trained sushi chef, so Lulie's hoping that Paula and her partners will offer a sushi night special event. We know that it will be very popular with the expats (except Jeff!).

The Decor

There are three parts to Zóe Restaurant, which is located in a great old colonial that has been restored and wonderfully decorated.

The front area of the ground floor is the main dining area.

It's also where they have live entertainment, including jazz and/or blues starting at 10 p.m. on Fridays.

Low tables and comfortable sofas make eating there feel like you're enjoy dinner in your living room.

Upstairs, you'll find the bar. That's where Gringo Night happens (although this is changing). A comfortable room with low seating, it also has two balconies overlooking the street, where the smokers hang out.

At the back of Zoe's is a two floor bar area.

In the center of the first floor is a large bar, surrounded by bar stools. Dining tables and chairs line the perimeter of this room.

Upstairs are more tables and chairs, along with a stage. A railing protects you from falling over the edge into the bar below!

It's this back room where Gringo Night is moving, so that the smokers can have one floor and the nonsmokers the other floor (with food available on both floors).

The Food

The menu is great, with over 15 specialty items, including a variety of fine steaks, chicken, shrimp and lobster($8!!) dishes, all very nicely priced.

Lulie really enjoyed the salmon salad (the first time we ate there) and the sea bass stuffed with seafood (the second time). Don't forget the spinach/feta stuffed pastelitos or grilled brochettes (skewers of meat, vegetables and fruit).

There's a lobster bisque, onion soup and a whole range of salads you don't see anywhere in Cuenca. And of course, the hamburger, BLT and Philly steak sandwiches round it out for those who long for a few meals from home!

Wine, Spirits and Beer

The bars have a very large selection of drinks, including white and red wines, several beers (including Corona), and mixed drinks. Every Gringo Night has at least a few drinks on special.

Prices and Payment Options

As we mentioned, the prices are very reasonable.

Unless you each have a couple of drinks or glasses of wine (or a bottle of vino), you'll find it hard to spend more than $20 for dinner for two people.

If it's your birthday, let them know (you'll need ID). You'll receive a free bottle of wine with your dinners!

You can pay with cash (always!) or by credit card.

Location and Hours

Zóe Restaurant Café Bar is located in the heart of Cuenca's downtown, at Presidente Borrero 7-61 just south of Sucre (that is, towards the new part of Cuenca).

The phone number is 07-2841005 (drop the 07 if calling from a landline in Cuenca). A cellular number is 08-723-3882.

Evening hours are from 5. Since drinking hours in Cuenca end at midnight except for Friday and Saturday (when they end at 2 a.m.), you could find Zoe's open as late as midnight or 2, depending on how busy it is.

Gringo Night usually starts at 5 p.m. and goes until 7 or 8, when everyone has gone off to eat.

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