La Mariscal is Quito's main traveller and expat district, in the northern part of the city about 3 km from the Historic Centre. Parts of it are called "Gringolandia" by locals — a mixture of affection and irony — because of the concentration of hostels, language schools, travel agencies, international restaurants, and bars that have built up around the tourist infrastructure.
Beyond the backpacker scene, La Mariscal has good cafés, some of the better restaurants in the city, and a concentrated nightlife strip around Plaza Foch (Plaza del Quinde, officially). The Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana, which houses several museums and an auditorium, is at the neighbourhood's southern edge. La Mariscal is the right base for most independent travellers: it's well-connected to the Historic Centre by the Trolebús and has ATMs, pharmacies, and tour agencies within easy walking distance.