In a destination where the average bill can be scary, La Despensa is the lovable exception: a general store and café in the Casa Grande complex, on Ruta 10 at km 182.5, on the corner of Los Lobos. The offer is deliberately simple: milanesa napolitana, milanesa sandwiches, fresh salads and daily specials, at prices reviewers single out as among the most reasonable in the whole area.

The place looks good without trying too hard: tidy aesthetics, warm service and a patio where lunch stretches on unhurried. It works just as well for a mid-morning coffee as for a casual lunch on the way back from the beach, and it is the kind of spot that people staying several days in José Ignacio end up returning to. Ideal if you are travelling as a family or want to eat well without any ceremony.