Portoviejo (Ecuador) Joins The Food Capitals Network, Strengthening Global Culinary Collaborations
Portoviejo, capital of Ecuador’s Manabí province, is a city of over 300,000 residents and a key economic hub driven by commerce, agriculture, and transportation. Shaped by the Portoviejo River, it has grown into one of the country’s most important urban centers.
Renowned as the “Gastronomic Capital of Ecuador,” the city is the heart of Manabita cuisine, an Intangible Cultural Heritage known for its richness and diversity. Portoviejo is also Ecuador’s only member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in Gastronomy.
Benefiting from fertile lands and proximity to the Pacific, its cuisine blends abundant seafood and local produce with ancestral techniques like wood-fire cooking and earthen ovens. Iconic dishes include viche de pescado, corviche, tonga manabita, and distinctive coastal ceviches.
Today, Portoviejo leverages gastronomy as a pillar of sustainable development, promoting culinary tourism, innovation, and local economic growth while preserving its cultural and environmental heritage.
Check back soon for more information about Portoviejo! Read the full press release here.
Photo credits: © Gobierno Autónomo Descentralizado Municipal del Cantón Portoviejo
Through collaborative projects, annual gatherings, study tours, and continuous exchanges, our network fosters a dynamic community where cities learn from each other, share best practices, and co-create innovative solutions for the future of food and gastronomy.
We invite cities that share our commitment to food-driven urban transformation to join us in shaping a better food future.
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