I just arrived home from a rainy but enchanting weekend in Colonia del Sacramento, a small riverside town in Uruguay, just a couple of hours by ferry from Buenos Aires.
Juan and I used the long weekend in Argentina to explore a nearby country. The quickest and most peaceful option was a short trip across the Río de la Plata to Colonia, a town of roughly 40,000–50,000 residents known for its charming historic architecture and warm, hospitable people.
We reached Colonia on Saturday afternoon, tired from an early start and eager for a good meal. We stopped at Pasiva restaurant on the main General Flores Avenue and ordered the national Uruguayan sandwich, the chivito.
Chivito is Uruguay’s iconic sandwich: a thin slice of filet mignon or churrasco beef served in a bun with mayonnaise, olives, mozzarella and tomato. It commonly includes bacon, fried or hard‑boiled egg and ham, and is typically accompanied by french fries. Other variations can contain beets, peas, roasted peppers or cucumber slices, depending on the region and the chef.
Chivito Completo (beef, cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato & a fried egg).
The chivito made for a satisfying first meal of the weekend, paired with thin french fries and a Pilsen beer — a fitting start to our visit to Colonia.
Beyond the food, I want to share photos of Colonia because the town’s nostalgic charm captured me. Its cobblestone streets, colonial facades and quiet waterfront feel timeless, and for a few moments I even toyed with the idea of living there. This post includes more non-food photos than usual, but Colonia is simply too photogenic not to show.
Walking through charming Colonia
The main avenue, General Flores:
Scenes from the historic neighborhood:
Having tea at Amada Café, one of the prettiest cafés in the neighborhood:
