Baños Central Market
Mercado Central
An indoor market canteen in the town center where you can get potato cakes, roast pork and fresh juice for about three dollars. Locals come here every day.
Located on Eloy Alfaro Street in the town center, where half a building is taken up by cooked-food stalls. It is where locals go for breakfast and lunch. The most famous dish is cheese potato cakes (llapingachos), served with fried egg, sausage, avocado and salad, for about $3. There is also roast pork, fried pork with corn, ceviche and a range of fresh juices, and roast guinea pig on weekends. The set lunch (soup, main course and juice) costs about $2.50–3.50 and is served from 12:00 to 14:00. Stalls vary in quality, so choose one that locals favor. Cash only; no reservations needed. Lonely Planet and several local guides list it as the first meal to have in Baños.
Opening hours
Daily, about 7:00–18:00 (some sources say 6:00–20:30); lunch peak 12:00–14:00
Nearby sights
- Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Agua Santa
- Baños Town Center
- Termas de la Virgen
- Puente San Francisco Bungee
- Mirador La Cruz de Bellavista
- Mirador de la Virgen
- Termas El Salado
- San Martín Canyon & Inés María Waterfall