Fine DiningLast verified July 14, 2026
What time should I get in line at Contramar to avoid the wait?
The short answer
Be in line by 12:45 for a 1:15 seating. Show up at 2:00 and you're waiting 60–90 minutes. The room turns once at 1:00 and again around 4:00 — those are the two windows that don't require patience.
Where our team sends you
What locals actually do
Contramar's official 'no reservations for lunch' policy hides a real structure — the room fills in one wave at 1:00 and holds for 2–3 hours. If you're in the first wave you're seated in fifteen minutes; if you miss it you're waiting for the room to turn. Locals arrive early with the newspaper, order a beer at the bar upstairs, and let the wait happen before the meal instead of during.
If you only have one
Weekday, 12:45 in line, tuna tostadas the moment you sit, pescado a la talla ordered before the first drink arrives. Out by 3:30.
Practical notes
- 01The upstairs bar takes walk-ins for drinks while you wait — sit there, not on the sidewalk.
- 02Fridays and Saturdays add 20 minutes to every estimate.
- 03Dinner service (Thu–Sat) takes reservations and is much easier than lunch — but the room is designed for daylight.
Good to know
- ✗Arriving at 1:30. You've missed the first wave and haven't reached the second.
- ✗Assuming the hostess is negotiable. She isn't — it's a genuine list, not a tip situation.
- ✗Ordering the whole menu when you sit down. Two starters, one fish, one dessert per two people is the correct order.
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