Barrio Escalante is completely transformed following the boom of new restaurants. Long known for upscale restaurants, the district is now expanding and exploring a commercial identity beyond the restaurants.
Dozens of houses have been taken over and turned into restaurants, some even split into multiple restaurants to help owners cover the fixed costs of such an exclusive area. Renting a garage can cost $4,000 a month.
More and more gastronomic flavors are found there, adding to the artisanal beers and great burgers we know and love. There are three new Asian restaurants, for example. Even as we see growth, some restaurant owners have had to close with more competition and a shaky economic environment that leaves people afraid to spend.
The neighborhood is becoming home to shops and businesses and is less residential every day. A chamber of commerce is being created to help make the community a destination. Apart from its gastronomic offer, there are bookstores, specialty shops, services, doctors, and educational institutions.
