Pocitos

Montevideo, Uruguay, Uruguay

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Pocitos is an upscale seaside neighborhood in Montevideo, Uruguay, bordering Buceo to the east, Parque Batlle to the north, Tres Cruces, Cordon and Parque Rod6 to the west, and Punta Carretas to the south.

The neighborhood is named after the "little holes" (pocitos) that household slaves dug near a fresh water stream in the 1800s to wash clothes, letting them dry on the white sandy beach. It emerged as a seaside resort in the 19th century and was formally inaugurated in 1886 under the name Nuestra Senora de los Pocitos.

Pocitos is characterized by high-rise apartment buildings facing the Rambla (coastal promenade) and main boulevards, along with old neoclassical and eclectic mansions, making it an affluent area chosen by Uruguay's middle and upper classes. The neighborhood contains Playa Pocitos, the most popular and famous beach in Montevideo, not because of water quality but due to its dense surrounding population, and it becomes especially crowded in summer when finding a spot is difficult.

Pocitos has approximately 70,000 inhabitants and is the most densely populated neighborhood in Montevideo, with the largest selection of apartments in the city. It features a vibrant commercial and gastronomic scene with numerous restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs, and parrilladas, plus two large shopping centers and excellent international and Uruguayan cuisine options.