Zazu is consistently regarded as one of the best restaurants in Quito — a sleek, modern dining room in the northern part of the city that focuses on Ecuadorian ingredients prepared with technical precision. The menu changes seasonally but typically features seafood from the Pacific coast, Amazon ingredients (hearts of palm, chontaduro, yuca), and high-altitude Andean produce in combinations that would not look out of place in a Lima or Buenos Aires tasting menu.
The cooking is ambitious without being pretentious, and the service is professional. Prices are high by Ecuadorian standards but modest by international fine dining comparisons. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends. The wine list has a good Latin American selection, and the cocktail programme makes intelligent use of Ecuador's pisco, aguardiente, and specialty spirits.