Each week, Tommy-Maurice is going to a different restaurant in Asunción. This week, he has been to Lido Bar, a legendary restaurant that has multiple locations, the most important one being in downtown Asunción.
This week, I ate at a legendary restaurant in downtown Asunción, the Lido Bar. I first heard of this incredible establishment before my first trip to Paraguay. My first week in the country, I felt the need to go there. For those who do not already know, they say, “If you go to Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower, you have not been to Paris. If you go to Asunción without going to the Lido Bar, you have not been to Asunción.” Since that first time, I have been to Lido Bar on various occasions and at multiple locations. This restaurant has been an institution in the city for more than 70 years, and everyone in the country knows about it. Like they say, you need to go! Try it for yourself!
Lido Bar has existed since 1953 and serves typical Paraguayan food. You can get pizzas, pastas, and hamburgers, but also mbeju, empanadas, surubí soup, sopa paraguaya, vorí vorí, and many more items. The first time I ate there, I took an empanada with a cold Argentinian beer. It is not much, but at the time, I was still trying to figure out what was the proper portion size in Paraguay! Hint: almost all small Paraguayan portions are bigger than the regular ones in Canada! This week, I took one of my favourite Paraguayan dishes, the vorí vorí. It is a soup often with chicken in it, corn and cheesy balls, and vegetables in a chicken broth. A bread accompanied my soup with something to drink. As always, it was great! The vorí balls were flavourful, the broth was tasty, the vegetables fresh, and the chicken well-cooked. The bread was also delicious, made by people with years of experience. Having bakers in the family, I know this bread was great! The whole dish was a pleasure for my palate! Being close to Christmas and the New Year’s Eve, they might also have a special menu coming up!
It was a hot day, and everyone wanted to eat in the interior, it was packed. However, if you prefer, there is a part in the exterior. The service was really fast. It took less than 10 minutes to get greeted by the lovely employees, to get the order taken and be served. The place is super clean, and the tables are quickly recleaned before the next client arrives. The employees are fast and effective. It is also very safe, as someone is at the door acting as a security guard. Being an institution and legendary restaurant, it is family-friendly. The food is good for everyone!
The prices are great, but for sure, it depends on what you take. My vorí vorí with the chicken, the bread, and the cola cost me 37K Guaraníes, which is slightly under five American dollars, or around four and a half euros. Apart from the alcohol, the highest-priced items are around 70K Guaraníes, which is nine American dollars or slightly under nine euros. Considering that it costs us that much for a basic regular plate in North America, it is more than awesome! You can pay with your foreign cards as the machines (POS) have been changed in the last couple of years to accept more of them and get fewer compatibility issues.
They have two other locations besides downtown: San Lorenzo in Paseo La Catedral and Villa Morra in front of the British Embassy and the Canadian Consulate. For the location in Centro, as you are probably coming from the east, drive on Mariscal López directly to the place, which is just beside the Catedral. It was initially on Calle Palma but moved to this location years ago. There are some parking spots around. Do not forget to give a bit of change to the one helping you to park. You can also walk or cycle to the establishment, take Uber or Bolt, or take the bus downtown and walk the rest. As for the hours, it is open each day from 6:30 AM to 1 AM the next day. However, the opening hours might change for Christmas and the New Year’s Eve.
Lido Bar Opening Hours
Monday: 6:30 AM to 1 AM
Tuesday: 6:30 AM to 1 AM
Wednesday: 6:30 AM to 1 AM
Thursday: 6:30 AM to 1 AM
Friday: 6:30 AM to 1 AM
Saturday: 6:30 AM to 1 AM
Sunday: 6:30 AM to 1 AM
If you want to eat at a legendary restaurant in Centro, Lido Bar is the place for you! Check out Lido Bar’s website for more information.
Look next week for another article about a restaurant in Asunción!
