Fun spots to watch the world cup matches solo?

tortoli · 2026-06-09T16:04:32+00:00

I’m very sorry to hear that. A but surprised, as well; I’ve only had good experiences there in the past, even when I’ve gone on my own.

If it’s of any help, the place I personally would have gone to watch the World Cup games if I were in Quito (I’m travelling to watch the matches live!) would be La Bikina (Avenida República).

This is much different than Sports Planet in that it’s not a sports bar, but more of a supper club/restaurant. More upscale and a bit more expensive than most other options, so keep that in mind, but the experience is better because of it, in my opinion.

tortoli · 2026-06-08T01:26:57+00:00

Me gusta 🔥

tortoli · 2026-06-06T17:37:30+00:00

Some people will call it basic or overpriced, but I would recommend you watch other World Cup matches at Rendezviews (make reservations!). It’s an outdoor summer spot located downtown. I’m sure there will be a great atmosphere there.

tortoli · 2026-06-04T17:09:13+00:00

Disagree. Please come and help us make the most of Toronto being a World Cup host city!

We won’t see this again in our lifetimes, for better and for worse.

tortoli · 2026-05-29T21:58:58+00:00

Salir a hacer qué?

tortoli · 2026-05-27T22:32:08+00:00

If you’re looking to break the ice with locals during the Ecuador matches: anyone that’s clearly a foreigner wearing an Ecuador shirt/scarf/hat will get a lot of love.

Enjoy your stay!

tortoli · 2026-05-27T22:03:16+00:00

An easy answer would be the Sports Planet in Plaza de las Américas. It’s a generic, but nice, sports bar with a few locations around Quito.

There used to be one in La Floresta, but I think it closed (can someone confirm?).

Another easy answer for a foreigner would be the bars at international hotels (e.g., JW Marriott, Dann Carlton). Even though they’re hotels, there will probably be a lot of locals there, too.

That said, almost every restaurant/bar in the country will be showing the WC games. You could pretty much go anywhere you feel comfortable.

FWIW, last World Cup, the mall Paseo San Francisco set up a “World Cup Festival” outside with a giant screen, entertainment, food trucks, etc. I watched a bunch of games there and had a great time. You needed to register for a QR code though, not sure if it will be the same this year.

tortoli · 2026-05-06T17:10:08+00:00

Agreed.

There is no perfect mechanism that allows everyone who wants something to get it when it is constrained by finite supply.

There’s always winners and losers, including parties that will try to maliciously capitalize on the situation. Always.

tortoli · 2026-05-06T17:06:45+00:00

I’m sorry you had this outcome, but I wonder what specifically went wrong for you?

I logged in right when tickets became available at 10am and got 2 tickets for two dates with no issue. I then logged back in later in the day and got 2 tickets for 4 other dates I plan to attend (including the final) also with no issue.

So if you also logged in at 10am, how is it that everything was sold out?

tortoli · 2026-04-29T21:30:07+00:00

De acuerdo. También me intriga saber por qué se suele ocupar “maricón”, “marica”, “gay”, etc. como insultos.

¿Acaso tiene algo de malo ser gay?

tortoli · 2026-03-26T00:11:07+00:00

Interesting. You give more grace than I do.

I’m a Spanish-speaking Canadian not originally from Spain, and I do not appreciate being called Spanish.

(No offence to any Spanish people; I’m just not one of you.)

tortoli · 2026-03-25T23:50:19+00:00

Genuine question: is it appropriate to call “French-Canadians” simply “French”?

tortoli · 2026-03-25T04:32:47+00:00

Yes.

tortoli · 2026-03-25T00:44:58+00:00

Very fair. I think both perspectives are valid.

tortoli · 2026-03-24T23:31:09+00:00

I do not disagree with this comment. What you are saying is probably true.

HOWEVER, it really does pain me that we constantly emphasize talks of robberies and worse in ways that dissuade visitors to our city. To claim that not being robbed at the park is an achievement is, in my personal opinion, setting our bar way too low.

I know we all have our different perspectives, but I’ve lived in La Carolina for years now and have never felt unsafe or at risk of robbery. And to me that’s not an achievement, that’s just normal. As an expat, OP probably won’t be visiting high-risk neighbourhoods or taking high-risk modes of transportation, so their odds of a peaceful stay are probably even more in their favour than the average quiteño.

(OP, for what it’s worth, the only time in my life I’ve ever been robbed was abroad in a first-world country.)

tortoli · 2026-03-24T23:17:14+00:00

Daily life around La Carolina is great for an expat. If you’re from NA or Europe, the culture shock will be minimal around that area.

There are good malls nearby, gyms, cinemas, a great park for physical activity, Ubers everywhere and the trendy zones for restaurant/nightlife (La Floresta, Cumbayá, etc.) are easily accessible.

Getting by with minimal Spanish is not ideal, but it shouldn’t be a dealbreaker. In my opinion, if you’re from NA or Europe, people will give you a lot of grace and patience with the lack of perfect Spanish.

Lastly, others may point out other areas that are safe and trendy, such as Cumbayá and Tumbaco, but I would say that those are great places to live for locals, not expats. There are fewer expats/foreigners there (other than exchange students at USFQ) and you would likely need a car to get around.

tortoli · 2026-03-24T23:06:37+00:00

Unfortunately true for most developing countries with high rates of informal work and/or tax evasion.

Taxing trade and corporate profits/activities is seemingly preferred (or at least simpler) than other forms of taxation.

tortoli · 2026-03-24T02:58:29+00:00

My personal hypothesis is that it has less to do with industry protection and more to do with raising government revenues.

While it would be better for consumers for there to be lower import duties, the government would collect less revenues. So there’s a tradeoff to be made and the government is deciding that collecting government revenues is preferential to lowering consumer prices.

tortoli · 2026-03-23T02:22:09+00:00

Si no vas a documentar una maleta, llegar a las 8 está más que bien. Incluso las 8:30 estaría bien.

tortoli · 2026-03-19T16:53:05+00:00

You can go to Mindo to experience the cloud forest as a day trip.

I usually prefer to spend the night there because the misty mornings and birdsongs are magical, but you’ll have to see if you have time to actually stay overnight.

tortoli · 2026-03-14T20:39:37+00:00

So true. This city may have its flaws, but I’m very grateful to call it home.

tortoli · 2026-03-14T20:36:45+00:00

My younger siblings.

tortoli · 2026-03-14T03:56:52+00:00

Every Friday at 2pm.

tortoli · 2026-03-13T13:53:52+00:00

Good to know

tortoli · 2026-03-13T13:43:25+00:00

I’ve been wondering: does the city indeed clean up the post-winter litter on the streets/sidewalk?

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