Containers, Art And Gastronomy

GUAYARTE harmoniously fuses urban art, gastronomy and culture in very diverse manifestations. It is Guayaquil´s new iconic site. Visiting this Plaza is a must for national and foreign visitors while staying in town.

There is a silent story between two of the prominent murals of Plaza Guayarte: a young man, of urban appearance, with a flower, seems to be handing it over to a mestizo girl who is at his side. She has a pot from where a new city is born and carries an iguana that rests on her arm. The first is a mural by Quito´s urban artist Apitatán (Sebastián Aguirre), while the mestizo woman painting is a creation of Entes, a Peruvian artist, whose real name is Joan Jiménez. Both pieces are embodied in two metallic containers, which, arranged vertically, welcome those who visit Guayaquil´s new icon of tourism. In the center, the Plaza´s name stands out, GUAYARTE.

To enter Guayarte by any of its two accesses is to breathe and live art. The murals only represent a small portion of the artwork that is exhibited here. The space was built in an area of 7.000 square meters that connects Av. Carlos Julio Arosemena, with Urdesa through a zigzag bridge. Two universities (Catholic University and University of Guayaquil) are also connected through this Square that, from the inside and out, tells artistic stories with murals alluding urban culture. More than twenty pieces of artwork are added to other twenty or more illustrations, which are visible in its central square.

In the two floors that compose the square structure, visitors can enjoy an artistic atmosphere in various ways, not only with pictorial works. On the top floor one can find POP UP Guayarte, a theater-bar proposal, in which performances of no more than 10 minutes are offered and the intervals between them allow the enjoyment of good music, snacks, coffee and why not, a glass of wine!

Right next to this space, a gallery where small art exhibitions are periodically displayed stands out. Both the micro-theatre and gallery work within the containers that have been designed to give life to these spaces in a creative and different way.

On the same floor visitors will find a tattoo studio coexisting door to door with an adjacent “terrace”, a cozy spot to enjoy The Beatles songs, performed by a live band.

Guayarte offers a smooth walk among containers to enjoy an experience of music, gastronomy and cultural delight.

Guayarte: The experience

Guayarte is an experience all by itself. Murals, art, performance shows, origami figures than can be seen from the zigzag bridge that holds over the estuary, and music, make it a unique place full of colors and contrasts, sounds and flavors. Everything converges to convert the square in to an integral experience, in which artistic culture merges with gastronomic.

The Plaza holds a variety of restaurants and stores, 22 of them on Av. Carlos Julio Arosemena side and 24 on Urdesa. They have extensive offerings in culinary opportunities available to everyone: fast food, bowls with varieties of meat and vegetables prepared in healthy styles, pasta, grilled meats, etc. Costs can go from $5 to $10. It is a true delight for all palates.

From Sunday to Thursday facilities are open from 12h00 to 23h00, and Friday and Saturday from 12h00 to 00h00. For those who want to enjoy the morning breeze, cafeterias are open from 10h00 every day. Children events are offered on Sundays at 17h00.

Without a doubt the best moments are at night. The square shines between 19h00 and 22h00 when the lights are lit and visitors vibrate along with the music. Statues come alive and move to the rhythm of sound and light turning it into a festive atmosphere. The musical environment turns to the stage with shows and a variety of presentations. Martín Guerrero, Danilo Rosero, Nicky Mackliff, Jorge Luis Del Hierro, among others have already performed in this space.

Guayarte becomes the place to be at night, and although some consider it as a spot for a younger crowd, the truth is that it has lots of fun for all ages. It’s a multi-target experience with enough room to provide joy for the whole family. Among containers, art and gastronomy, this new space shows the city in a different way that seeks to connect citizens and urban art. Guayarte lights up the city so its visitors can see it through the eyes of the artists who participate in it, constituting it as a new icon.