Villa Sumaya

Eating

Café Sumaya is a friendly 5-table restaurant with a chef who is dedicated to serving fresh and healthy fare in generous portions. It's situated by the little courtyard with its tinkling fountain, and is open all day.

There's a choice of desayunos (breakfasts): tipico means eggs, beans, cheese and plantains, while the omelette and the wholewheat pancakes with fruit and macadamia nuts are among the best I have ever tasted. The speciality of the house is hot chocolate with ginger - a delicious confection.

For almuerzo (lunch) you can get your mouth round a substantial sandwich, bursting with grilled chicken or a tuna-mayo-dijon mix; or a lovely salad, such as Chinese marinated tofu with sesame dressing and shredded vegetables, which we lapped up. There's also a daily soup, a grill, a pasta and a dessert.

Dinner includes fresh fish from the lake, chicken, beef, tamales and pasta. Ours was a 3-course set menu, as the staff had to get home across the lake before dark! We enjoyed a lovely tomato and red pepper soup, followed by grilled chicken with an impressive array of vegetables, and cake for dessert. Service was relaxed and professional. Groups can opt for a vegetarian buffet.

The bar is tiny but well-stocked with soft drinks, smoothies, several Chilean wines, 3 kinds of beer and various cocktails concocted from rum, vodka, whisky, tequila and kahlua.