La Ronda in Quito is Calle Juan de Dios Morales, a restored colonial street in the Old Town lined with bars, cafés, food stalls and artisan shops. It is liveliest on Friday and Saturday nights after 7pm, when locals and travelers come for canelazo, empanadas de viento and helado de paila. It sits about a 10-minute walk south of Plaza Grande via García Moreno.
We are a social hostel in Quito’s Old Town, and La Ronda is one of the evening plans our guests ask about most. Here is how we suggest doing it: what to order, when to go, how to get there on foot and how to get home safely.
Quick answer: La Ronda at a glance
- Where: Calle Juan de Dios Morales, Centro Histórico, about 10 minutes’ walk south of Plaza Grande via García Moreno.
- Best time: Friday and Saturday nights; it gets busiest after 7pm.
- Hours (as of 2026): bars around 3pm to midnight, shops around 10am to 6pm.
- What to try: canelazo, empanadas de viento and helado de paila.
- Safety: stay on the main street at night and take an app taxi or registered taxi back.
What is La Ronda in Quito?
La Ronda is the popular name for Calle Juan de Dios Morales, a narrow street in the southern part of the Centro Histórico. The street dates back to the 17th century and has long had a bohemian reputation, which is still the draw today: music drifting out of small bars, painted balconies, and families and friends strolling with a hot drink in hand.
It is short and easy to walk end to end in a few minutes, so think of it less as a sight and more as a place to spend an evening. Most visitors walk it once to look around, then pick a bar or café and settle in.
If you want the bigger picture of the neighborhood around it, our guide to Quito’s Old Town covers the main plazas, churches and streets nearby.
What to eat and drink in La Ronda
La Ronda is a good place to try a few classic Quito snacks in one go. These are the three we tell everyone about:
Canelazo
A hot, cinnamon-spiced drink, traditionally spiked with aguardiente (sugarcane liquor). You will see it offered in doorways and on bar menus all along the street. On a cold Quito night it is exactly what you want, and most places can make it without alcohol if you ask.
Empanadas de viento
Big, puffy fried empanadas filled with cheese and dusted with sugar. The sweet-and-salty mix sounds odd until you try one. They are made to share and go well with a canelazo.
Helado de paila
Traditional ice cream churned in a large copper pan (a paila) set over ice. It is usually fruit-based and lighter than cream ice cream, which makes it an easy dessert after dinner.
For more dishes worth hunting down around the city, see our guide to Ecuadorian food in Quito.
Artisan workshops and shops
By day, La Ronda is calmer and more about browsing than drinking. Small workshops and shops sell handmade crafts, and the street is known for traditional artisan wooden toys, which make a light, easy souvenir to pack.
Shops generally keep daytime hours, roughly 10am to 6pm, so if the crafts are your main interest, go in the afternoon rather than late at night. A good compromise is to arrive around 5pm, look at the workshops while they are still open, then stay on for the evening crowd.
When is the best time to visit La Ronda?
For atmosphere, go on a Friday or Saturday night. The street fills up after 7pm, bars have live music and the whole block feels like a small party. Weeknights and afternoons are quieter, which suits you if you prefer a calm drink and space to take photos.
Quito sits at 2,850 meters, so evenings are cool: typical lows are around 9–10°C (48–50°F). Bring a warm layer even if the day was sunny. If you arrived recently, go easy on the canelazo, since alcohol hits harder at altitude; our altitude sickness guide explains why.
La Ronda hours (as of 2026)
| What | Typical hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bars and cafés | Around 3pm to midnight | Busiest after 7pm on Friday and Saturday |
| Artisan shops and workshops | Around 10am to 6pm | Best visited in the afternoon |
| Our rooftop: breakfast | 7:30am to 1pm daily | Open to non-guests |
| Our rooftop: dinner | 1pm to 10:30pm, Mon–Sat | Views of the Basílica and El Panecillo |
Individual venues set their own schedules, so treat these as typical ranges rather than fixed opening times.
How do you walk to La Ronda?
La Ronda is about a 10-minute walk south of Plaza Grande. From the plaza, follow García Moreno south and you will reach the street. It is a straightforward route through the historic center, and a nice walk in daylight past colonial facades.
- Start at Plaza Grande, the main square of the Old Town.
- Walk south along García Moreno for about 10 minutes.
- Turn onto Calle Juan de Dios Morales (La Ronda) and walk the full length before choosing a spot.
From our hostel on Pedro Fermín Cevallos y Olmedo, walk to Plaza Grande first and follow the same route. If you prefer public transport for part of the way, the nearest Quito Metro station to the historic center is San Francisco.
Is La Ronda safe at night?
La Ronda itself is busy and well lit on weekend evenings, and a night out there is a normal plan for locals and visitors. The practical rules are simple:
- Stay on the main street. Once you leave La Ronda, the Old Town gets quiet after dark, and empty side streets are where you want to avoid wandering.
- Get a ride back. Use Uber, Cabify or InDrive, or a registered taxi. In-city app rides usually cost around USD 2–5, and the taxi minimum at night is about USD 1.75 (as of 2026).
- Keep valuables low-key. Carry only what you need, keep your phone in a front pocket and bring small bills.
- Go as a group if you can. It is more fun anyway, and our hostel events are an easy way to find people to go with.
For a fuller picture of neighborhoods, scams and getting around after dark, read our guide on whether Quito is safe.
How to plan an evening: walking tour, rooftop, then La Ronda
Here is the evening we suggest to guests who want to see the Old Town properly and end the day in La Ronda:
- Join the free walking tour. Our sister agency Community Adventures Ecuador runs a free walking tour of Quito that leaves from the hostel. It is the easiest way to get your bearings in the historic center before you head out at night.
- Dinner or a drink with a view. Head up to our rooftop bar and restaurant, which looks out over the Basílica and El Panecillo. Dinner runs from 1pm to 10:30pm Monday to Saturday, and it is open to non-guests.
- La Ronda for canelazo and music. Walk down via Plaza Grande once it is dark, grab an empanada de viento and settle into a bar for live music.
- Ride home. Order an app taxi from the street rather than walking back through quiet blocks.
If you want more views before or after, we rounded up the best options in our list of rooftop bars in Quito’s Old Town. And if La Ronda is just the warm-up, our Quito nightlife guide covers bars and clubs across the city.
Stay a short walk from La Ronda. Community Hostel Quito is in the Old Town, 2 minutes from the Mercado Central, with a rooftop bar, 24-hour reception and nightly community dinners. On Saturdays our bar crawl is an easy way to meet people before a night out.
Frequently asked questions
Where is La Ronda in Quito?
La Ronda is Calle Juan de Dios Morales, in the southern part of Quito’s Old Town (Centro Histórico). It is about a 10-minute walk south of Plaza Grande along García Moreno, which makes it easy to combine with a day exploring the historic center.
What night is best to visit La Ronda?
Friday and Saturday nights are best if you want atmosphere. The street is busiest after 7pm, with live music in the bars and plenty of people out. Weeknights are quieter, which is better for a calm drink or photos without crowds.
What time does La Ronda open and close?
As of 2026, bars and cafés typically open around 3pm and close around midnight, while artisan shops keep roughly 10am to 6pm hours. Each venue sets its own schedule, so treat these as typical ranges rather than guaranteed times.
What is canelazo?
Canelazo is a hot, cinnamon-spiced drink traditionally spiked with aguardiente, a sugarcane liquor. It is a classic on cold Quito nights and is sold all along La Ronda. Many places can prepare it without alcohol if you ask, which is handy if you have just arrived at altitude.
Is it safe to walk back from La Ronda at night?
We recommend staying on the main street while you are in La Ronda and taking Uber, Cabify, InDrive or a registered taxi back. The rest of the Old Town gets quiet after dark, and a ride usually costs only a few dollars within the city.