Unique Guesthouse Montevideo: In memory of dear Mario 2020

Introduction

“Chez Mario & Solange” was a unique guesthouse Montevideo and one of those rare guesthouses that instantly made you feel at home. Perfectly located near Montevideo’s historic city center (Curiales 1534), it offered easy access to public transport, local grocery shops, and the main city attractions — all within walking distance.

The house had five guest rooms and one reserved for Mario, the owner. At “Chez Mario & Solange” guests shared a fully equipped kitchen, a cozy dining space, and a small lounge area in the hallway. The highlight, though, was the rooftop terrace — a big, welcoming space with a table, chairs, and a perfect chill-out spot to enjoy breakfast or watch the sunset over the city.

Rustic corridor with brick walls, vintage furniture, and tiled flooring leading to the guest rooms.

Mario was the heart of the place — always around, always smiling, always ready to help. His daughter Solange would visit on weekends, and his son-in-law Julien stopped by most mornings and evenings. It truly felt like staying with friends rather than in a guesthouse.

The house was full of thoughtful details — colorful touches, small decorations, and personal elements that gave it so much character. It was clear that Mario had put his heart into making it special.

2025 Edit: Sadly, Chez Mario & Solange is no longer open, but we decided to keep this story online — as a memory of Mario and one of the most heartfelt stays we’ve had in South America.

View from above of the hostel’s charming interior with exposed brick walls, vintage decor, and patterned floor tiles. — View from above of the hostel

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Collage of Montevideo highlights showing Pocitos Beach, Salvo Palace, a cozy guesthouse, and a woman looking out a window, titled “Best Things to do in Montevideo, Uruguay.”

Stay in Comfortable, Character-Filled Rooms

The guesthouse had five cozy rooms, each with its own charm and layout:

1 large double room with a balcony
1 smaller double room with a balcony (ours)
2 double rooms without balconies (no windows)
•1 twin room without balcony (no windows)

Cozy double room with white bed linen, rustic wooden furniture, and a handmade Uruguay flag wall art. — Cozy double room

We stayed in the smaller double room with a balcony, and it was perfect for us. The room came with a comfortable double bed, a small desk and chair, a wardrobe, and a fan — simple, functional, and with just the right touch of warmth.

Warm evening view from a room overlooking the stylish corridor and common area of Chez Mario in Montevideo. — Chez Mario in Montevideo.

Our Uruguay tips in your Google Maps?

Start saving time! All our favorite spots—restaurants, hikes, must-do’s, hidden gems, & more—are saved in one handy Google Map.

Shop all our maps

Visual of an iPhone mockup displaying a custom Uruguay Google Map, set against a beach scene with fishing boats on the sand.

Even though it was one of the smaller rooms, the natural light from the balcony made a big difference, giving the space a bright and cozy feel. It was the kind of place where you could easily unwind after a long day exploring Montevideo.

Comfortable bed with a motivational wooden headboard and minimalist decor inside Chez Mario in Montevideo.

Tip: We use the DJI Action 4 to film our vlogs — compact, durable, and perfect for capturing every adventure.

Enjoy a Homemade Breakfast & All-Day Snacks

Every morning at 9 a.m., breakfast was waiting for us — simple, fresh, and made with love. There was brewed coffee, hot water for tea, and freshly squeezed orange juice. On the table, we always found a mix of sweet and savory cakes, plus some oatmeal for those who preferred something lighter.

Warm and inviting common area with wooden tables, coffee corner, and a “Bon Appétit” banner. — Warm and inviting common area

What we loved most was that the cakes changed every day, so breakfast never got boring. And even better — nothing went to waste. Whatever was left from breakfast stayed available for guests to snack on throughout the day. At any time, you could pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea and grab a slice of homemade cake.

If you needed to leave early for a day trip, no problem — you could still prepare your own tea or coffee before heading out. It was one of those small, thoughtful touches that made the stay feel extra homely.

Breakfast setup with homemade cakes, tea, and coffee served on a vintage wooden table with cozy decor. — Breakfast setup with homemade cakes, tea, and coffee

We usually travel with Airalo eSIMs, but when we need unlimited data for work, we go with Holafly.

Relax in the Shared Spaces

The shared areas at Chez Mario & Solange made the stay even more enjoyable. The kitchen was fully equipped, and we cooked all our meals there during our four-day stay. We didn’t prepare anything fancy, but it was great to have everything we needed to make proper meals — and not just pasta with tomato sauce every night.

Small and functional kitchen with red and white cabinets, a stove, and homey details like hanging pots and a wine bottle. — Small and functional kitchen

Our favorite spot was definitely the rooftop terrace. In January, Montevideo gets pretty warm, but evenings were always pleasant with a nice fresh breeze. We often had dinner or a drink up there, watching the city lights come on.

Panoramic rooftop view over Montevideo’s cityscape with pastel buildings under a soft evening sky. — Panoramic rooftop view over Montevideo’s cityscape

Our Uruguay tips in your Google Maps?

Start saving time! All our favorite spots—restaurants, hikes, must-do’s, hidden gems, & more—are saved in one handy Google Map.

Shop all our maps

One really cool feature — if it got too hot inside the house, the roof could actually be opened to let the air circulate. It was such a clever and unexpected touch, perfectly suited for Montevideo’s summer heat.

Urban rooftop area at Chez Mario with rustic seating made of wooden pallets and city views in the background. — Urban rooftop area at Chez Mario

Read: Our complete 10-day Uruguay Itinerary

Meet the Hosts

The real heart of Chez Mario & Solange was without a doubt the hosts.

If you’re into old movies, music, or classic bands, you’ll absolutely love talking with Mario. He’s full of stories, knows an incredible amount about film and music history, and is always up for a good chat. Even though his English isn’t perfect, we managed just fine — and when words ran short, Tina’s Spanish came to the rescue. Those conversations on the rooftop with him were some of our favorite moments.

Then there’s Julien, Mario’s French son-in-law. He’s around in the mornings and evenings and speaks perfect English, Spanish, and French. He’s the one to ask for local tips — he’s the reason we discovered the Feria de Tristán Narvaja, one of the best local experiences we had in Montevideo.

Warm, genuine, and easy to connect with — Mario and Julien made us feel like part of the family. Great place, great people.

Traveler relaxing on the rooftop terrace surrounded by murals, plants, and an open sky view at Chez Mario. — Alex relaxing on the rooftop

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About the authors

We are Alex and Tina, a French-Serbian couple who met in China back in 2014. We spent three incredible years there before making France our home. Our shared passion for travel has been the heartbeat of our relationship for over 12 years, taking us across 44 countries and counting.

We launched TheDailyPackers in 2019 as a way to document our adventures. In 2026, we reached a major milestone by officially turning our blog into our full-time job. While we are still growing toward financial independence through this platform, every article we write is fueled by our mission to make your voyages easier through in-depth guides, honest advice, and the lessons we’ve learned from our own mistakes.

Our journey has not been without its storms. In 2023, our world changed forever when our first son, Poppy, was stillborn on November 25th. It was, and remains, the hardest chapter of our lives. In 2025, we were blessed with our second little boy, Milo. He has since joined our traveling tribe, and you’ll be seeing him—and the reality of traveling with a little one-on the blog more and more.

We hope to inspire you to explore the world with curiosity and resilience. Thank you for being part of our story.