The Mas Puro Verso Bookstore is located in a historic building once owned by Pablo Ferrando. It’s just a stone throw from the Old Fort gate and facing Peatonal Sarandi, the main pedestrian street of Cuidad Vieja, Montevideo’s old town. Pablo Ferrando’s name is still at the front of the building.
It’s one of Montevideo’s landmark building and is also Montevideo’s version of a Barnes and Noble. Inside you’ll find books, music CDs, board games, souvenirs, writing materials and posters. On the second floor is the restaurant serving coffee, dessert, cooked food and wine.
Three aspects stood out inside Mas Puro Verso. One is the old caged elevator. The other is the stained glass windows with a vintage clock. The third is the magnificent staircase that looked like it belonged in a palace.
The restaurant on the second floor offers plenty of comfortable seats and tables decorated with table runners. Some seats are by the ceiling-to-floor windows with views of the pedestrian street and Teatro Solis (the historic theatre in Montevideo). The restaurant serves freshly brewed coffee and dessert. The wait staff is always on standby to help in case you have any questions. It was a quiet place to relax with a cup of coffee. The menu also listed a variety of salads, sandwiches and hot cooked meals.
We were there on a rainy day. It was a perfect place to get away from the rain and warm up with a cup of coffee. Or enjoy an afternoon full-service tea at 5 pm with scones, sandwiches, cakes and more. If you prefer wine, there are always a variety to choose from including Uruguayan domestic wine.
Most of the books in Mas Puro Verso were in Spanish. You won’t find too many English books there.
If you are in the Cuidad Vieja area go to Peatonal Sarandi 675. You must stop and take a look inside or perhaps linger on with a cup of coffee. It is located only a few blocks from Teatro Solis and halfway between Plaza Independencia and Mercado del Puerto, two of Montevideo’s important landmarks.
The place will remind you of old European places. Have you been to Montevideo Uruguay? If you need more information check out this eBook: Traveling to Uruguay for just $2.99.
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