The Fasano family is famous in Brazil for their restaurants & hotels. Together with the Brazilian construction and real estate company JHSF Group, the Fasano family has established their first hotel and restaurant outside their home country. Fasano Las Piedras or simply Fasano Punta del Este opened its doors in late 2010 just in time for the short season in the region of just three months, however this place is not like the typical glitzy and glamorous hotels which can be found nearby.

Fasano Las Piedras is open all the year round so that is the first difference compared to most of the other restaurants and hotels in the region, but you will soon notice that there is no beach, not the typical parties the Uruguayan Riviera is famous for and a silence and calm in complete opposite to what you might expect. You will go from the high rises of Punta del Este and end up in the middle of nowhere in a farmland dominated by green plains just 20 minutes from the most popular beaches.

Architect and filmmaker Isay Weinfeld was given the delicate task to create something which looks like it is almost carved out of the landscape itself. The final result is impressive and the flagship restaurant simply called Fasano is located on a hilltop in an old farmhouse. The restaurant is inviting with wood panelling and walls of glass & stacked stones. You will have a breathtaking view of the open landscape and far away the ocean horizon.

Just like the original Fasano restaurants it is mostly Italian fare on the menu with all the best you can expect from all over Italy and of course home-made pasta and ravioli. Most of the ingredients come from organic producers nearby and the seafood specialties from Uruguay offer top class.

The humble Head Chef Juan Guizzo is doing a fine job in the kitchen, but we would have wished for more personality and distinct flavours in his cooking. The food can be too blend and mainstream. We like to see more of the Italian and Latino passion and lesser of the international typical dull cooking. Head Sommelier Pablo Caitano knows everything worth knowing about the fantastic wines from Uruguay so you should definitely focus your orders on local produce.

Fasano in Uruguay is still a young restaurant and improvements are needed to lift this restaurant to the same level as the great restaurants in Rio de Janeiro and especially the gem in São Paulo, but there is a potential so hopefully it will happen soon.

Written by Andy