The Mercado del Puerto (English: Port Market) is a gastronomic and cultural venue in the Ciudad Vieja neighborhood of Montevideo, Uruguay.[1] Originally built as a covered marketplace, it no longer functions as one and now houses restaurants serving traditional Uruguayan cuisine, with a focus on asado cooked over open-fire parrillas.[2]
Named for its proximity to the city's port, Mercado del Puerto is an important tourist site located in Montevideo's historic district.[3] The area also features live tango performances and displays of Uruguayan cultural traditions.[4] It is the site of an annual New Year's Eve midday celebration, where a large-scale street festival takes place featuring a traditional water and cider fight, drawing widespread participation from both local residents and international visitors.[5]
History
Mercado del Puerto in 1907
The Mercado del Puerto was established through the initiative of Spanish merchant Pedro Sáenz de Zumarán, who led a private company aiming to build one of the largest markets in South America.[6] The structure was designed by British engineers, with its iron components manufactured in Liverpool.[7] It was inaugurated on October 10, 1868, in the presence of President Lorenzo Batlle y Grau and his ministers.[8]
Market's interior
Established as a fruits and vegetables wholesale marketplace, it played a vital role in supplying both the port and the local population.[9] At the heart of its interior once stood a circular iron fountain, later replaced in 1897 by a four-faced clock, also imported from Liverpool, which remains a distinctive feature of the building.[10]
Over the course of the 20th century, the Mercado del Puerto underwent periods of both prosperity and decline. However, in the 1970s, it gradually shifted from a traditional market to a gastronomic and cultural hub.[11] The former produce stalls were replaced by restaurants specializing in traditional Uruguayan cuisine, alongside souvenir shops.[12] The building was designated a National Historic Monument in 1976.[13]
Since its refurbishment, it has become a renowned gastronomic complex and a major tourist destination in the city, surrounded by museums, artisan shops, and cultural institutions.[14] The Mercado del Puerto was the birthplace of the traditional Uruguayan drink Medio y Medio, a blend of sweet sparkling wine and dry white wine.[15] First created in the late 19th century at the Roldós bar, it became a popular festive beverage and continues to be produced today in various styles.[16]
References
↑ grupoweb (2010-06-15). "Padrón 2606 - Mercado del Puerto". inventariociudadvieja.montevideo.gub.uy (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2025-03-21. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
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