The Scene:

Located in the rolling hills just west of Punta's La Barra, this acclaimed French dining institution is often touted as one of the best foodie-sanctuaries in South America. It's the only Relais & Châteaux-member restaurant in Uruguay, a haute travel chain whose other member restaurants include Guy Savoy and French Laundry. The restaurant interior is cutesy cozy, with a bi-level dining room of raw oak furnishings, unremarkable tile floors and arched dark-stained widows. With a few too many ruffles and gold-framed artwork for our taste, it's the type of restaurant where bloated tourists flock with NY Times clippings in hand and camera in the other. A far-quainter patio is located adjacent to the main building in a garden of lavender and rosemary, perfect for private parties and more-intimate gatherings.