Eat · Ciudad Vieja

Café Bacacay

A café beside the Teatro Solís: coffee and a pastry or a chivito before or after a theatre tour; sit inside for the room and outside for the street.

last order: unknownchairsCafeNot field-verified

Key facts

Per person: UYU 400–1,000; Cafe
Hours: unknown; see note below
Walk in: 09:00–11:30; easiest window
Seating: chairs
Card: yes
Getting there: Bacacay street, next to Teatro Solís; 5 min walk

Go now?

Open?

Day hours; closed some Sundays (check)

Busy this hour

Estimate by hour below

Easiest walk-in

09:00–11:30

Reservations

Walk-in, no reservation

Paying

Bring cash

Per person

UYU 400–1,0002026 estimate · check

DirectionsWhat to order ↓

Next to the theatre
Coffee and pastry
Chivito
Order: Coffee and a pastry
Table seating
Walk-in window: 09:00–11:30
Queue risk: 12:30–14:00
Bring cash

Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.

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Uruguay ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Uruguay's Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a Uruguayan consulate; ferry passengers from Buenos Aires clear both countries' immigration at the terminal.
Uruguay ↗Buenos Aires–Colonia and Buenos Aires–Montevideo ferries sell out on long weekends and in summer: book ahead.
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Montevideo ↗After dark, use a taxi or ride-hail car between clusters and to your bed; the old town is quiet and poorly lit at night.
Montevideo ↗Dinner starts after 21:00; book or plan an early snack, and do not count on kitchens at 19:00.

Actions

Map & directions

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Directions

From where I am

Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.

Plan

When you can walk in, what to order, how to pay

Walk-in windows

09:00–11:30: high12:30–14:00: risky

A walk-in lunch is only planned as primary when your arrival lands outside the “impossible” window.

Café-restaurant beside Teatro Solís (2026 desk description; check)

When to go, hour by hour

desk estimate · not live

Quietest listed hour: 09:00 (quiet).

09:00quietlittle or no wait
12:00busya short wait is possible
13:00heavyexpect a line
15:00lightlittle or no wait
20:00busya short wait is possible
22:00heavyexpect a line

Desk estimate on an ordinary weekday; weekends run one level higher. Not live data. No line length is on file, so waits are in words.

How to order here

The order of play at the counter or table, what to say, how much to order and how to pay.

1Sit where you like; ask for the menu and prices.

No shared language? Tap dishes in the order builder below and show the waiter the full-screen list in the local script. For a printed menu, translate a photo of it.

What to say

In English	Say or show	Sounds like
A coffee, please	Un café, por favor	oon kah-FEH por fah-VOR
The bill, please	La cuenta, por favor	lah KWEN-tah por fah-VOR
Vegetarian, please	Soy vegetariano/a	soy veh-heh-tah-ree-AH-no
How much is it?	¿Cuánto cuesta?	KWAN-to KWES-tah
Hello	Hola	OH-la
Thank you	Gracias	GRAH-see-as

Portions and sharing

Chivito: Big; share if needed.

Extras, condiments and what costs extra

Ask for tap water; it is safe in the city.

Paying and tipping

Sit-down restaurants: about 10%, less than the 15–20% US norm.

Order at the table; the waiter brings the bill when you ask (la cuenta).
Tip about 10% at sit-down places if not included.
Cards accepted at most tables; carry some pesos for tips and small bills.
Tipping: About 10% at restaurants; round up for taxis.
A cubierto (cover charge) may appear on the bill: check the menu.

At the table

Lunch 12:30–15:00; dinner after 21:00.Lunch 12:30 PM–3:00 PM; dinner after 9:00 PM.
Ask the price of grilled meat by the weight or cut before ordering.
Dinner rarely starts before 21:00; lunches are long.Dinner rarely starts before 9:00 PM; lunches are long.

Menu and prices

2026 estimate

Coffee with milkCafé con lecheStandard.UYU 120–220if hungry
Croissant or medialunaMedialunaSweet or plain.UYU 60–120if hungry
ChivitoChivitoBig; share if needed.UYU 550–900order
Milanesa with friesMilanesaReliable.UYU 500–850if hungry
SaladEnsaladaLight.UYU 300–500if hungry
DessertPostreFlan with dulce de leche.UYU 200–350if hungry

2026 estimate per dish in Uruguayan pesos; check the menu.

Build your order

Tap + on what you want, or let Voykit suggest a starting order.

2 people

Coffee with milk
Café con leche
UYU 120–220
Contains (from menu notes, check): dairy
0
Croissant or medialuna
Medialuna
UYU 60–120
0
Chivitoorder
Chivito
UYU 550–900
0
Milanesa with fries
Milanesa
UYU 500–850
0
Salad
Ensalada
UYU 300–500
0
Dessert
Postre
UYU 200–350
0

Food and drink

Nothing picked yet.

Menu prices are 2026 estimates (check the board or menu on the day).

Split the bill 2 ways

Pick dishes to see each person's share.

Sit-down restaurants: about 10%, less than the 15–20% US norm. Local custom: About 10%. Tipping calculator

Pick at least one dish to make the full-screen list.

Price and paying

Typical spend: UYU 400–1,000 per person (2026 estimate)

Paying

Cashyes

Useful for small bills.

Cardyes

Accepted at most tables.

IC cardno

No transit card here.

QR walletsome stalls

Phone payments at some places.

Diet and allergies

Yes means there is something for you; ask means possible with care; no means go elsewhere.

Vegetarianask
Salads, pasta and tortilla; many menus are meat-heavy.
Veganask
Limited; ask.
Halalask
Not confirmed (check).
Gluten-freeask
Ask; bread and pastry are standard.
Nut allergyask
Tell the waiter in Spanish.

What is in the dishes

Coffee with milkCafé con lechedairy

Read from the menu names and notes; recipes vary and cross-contact is not tested. Check with the kitchen.

Make an allergy and diet card for Montevideo →

Who it suits, booking, closures

goodSolo — Counter or small table.

goodKids — Simple dishes.

okStroller — Depends on the room.

cautionGroups of 5+ — Book ahead.

cautionWheelchair — Access not confirmed.

How to book: No bookings needed.
How far ahead: Not needed
No-show / cancel fee: Not applicable
Dress code: None; smart-casual is fine.

When	Status	Note
Sundays	check before you go	Old-town cafés often close.
Public holidays	check before you go	Confirm.

On the ground

Hygiene and comfort

Seating: Chairs at tables
Kids: kids' menu: ask · stroller: ok · Simple dishes on request
Access: step-free: check · Not confirmed; ask when you book

Hygiene

Choose busy places with fast turnover.
Carry hand wipes; wash points are not always available.

Facts

Reservations: Not taken — Walk-in.
Capabilities: food · seated_rest
Getting there: Bacacay street, next to Teatro Solís · ~5 min walk

Cons

Hours vary; check before you go.
Cash helps at small places.

Deep dive

Questions, nearby food and sources

Questions and answers

answered by Voykit editors · dated

Do I need to book?

Not for lunch on a weekday; book for weekend dinners.

Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk

Is it near the theatre?

Yes, right beside the Teatro Solís.

Is it good for breakfast?

Yes.

Is it open on Sundays?

Check; old-town cafés often close.

Do I need cash?

Cards work; carry a little cash.

Answers come from Voykit editors, not from other travellers.

Nearby alternatives

walk minutes · estimate

If it is closed or the line is too long

Go to Fun Fun, about 6 min on foot (straight line × 1.3); no reservation needed.

Places without an authored walk are ranked by straight-line distance × 1.3 at 5 km/h3 mph.

All places to eat in Montevideo, with filters →

Nearby

Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.

Used as a seated rest node in Montevideo in 4 days.

Sources

secondaryWikivoyage — Montevideo