Celebrating 60 Years of Copacabana: A Bolivian Gem in Pike Place Market

Have you tried Bolivian food? Well, Washington State’s only Bolivian Restaurant is right here in Pike Place Market, and this year, it is celebrating its 60th anniversary. With its balcony overlooking Pike Place and peekaboo views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, having lunch at Copacabana should be on everyone’s Pike Place Market bucket list.

Read on to learn about the Peláez Family and why they’ve called Pike Place Market home for the last 60 years.

Copacabana was founded in June 1964 by Ramón and Hortensia Peláez, political exiles who immigrated to Seattle from La Paz, Bolivia. They first opened Copacabana in the Sanitary Market, naming it after the revered Our Lady of Copacabana shrine, Patron Saint of Bolivia. It symbolized hope and courage for the Peláez family.

They quickly realized the significance of Pike Place Market in Seattle’s cultural fabric, and Copacabana became a gathering place for friends to come, eat, and socialize.

After Ramón and Hortensia passed away, their daughter Martha and her husband Michael Morrow took over the business. Today, Copacabana remains a family-operated restaurant run by Michael and his daughter Vivian Almagsusi. The informal and friendly atmosphere that defined Copacabana’s early days continues to thrive, creating a welcoming environment for all who visit.

In 1976, Copacabana moved to its current location on the second floor of the Triangle Building. The balcony, a brainchild of Martha, offers diners a unique vantage point above the bustling Pike Place Market, adding to the restaurant’s charm and appeal.

Bolivian cuisine, with its distinctive flavors and homestyle comfort, is the heart of Copacabana’s menu. One of the standout dishes is the salteña, a savory pastry filled with beef, potatoes, peas, carrots, raisins, egg, and olives.

“When it is fresh from the oven, it has an extremely juicy broth interior – almost soup-like,” Morrow told the Edmonds News. “Salteñas are Bolivia’s version of a quick handheld lunch item.”

There’s nothing quick about this staple. These pastries take two days to prepare.

Morrow and Almagsusi describe Bolivian food as “homestyle comfort food,” adding that it is not considered “fine dining” like French, Italian, or typical North American cuisine.

Copacabana also offers a variety of Bolivian cocktails made from Singani, Bolivia’s national spirit. Made from grapes grown at high altitudes, Singani has a floral, smooth, and peppery taste, perfectly complementing the restaurant’s dishes.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Pike Place Market (@pikeplacepublicmarket)

The restaurant’s llama logo and llama holiday decorations are a nod to the significance of llamas in Bolivian culture.

“They are perfectly suited to the high altitude and are used for work purposes to carry heavy loads,” Morrow explained to the newspaper. The llama fur is used to make clothing, rugs, and pillows, reflecting Bolivia’s rich artisanal heritage.

This summer, Copacabana has introduced churros to its menu.

As Copacabana celebrates its 60th anniversary, the family plans to honor this milestone with special food and drink offerings all summer. The latest addition to their menu is churros.

Join us in celebrating this incredible journey of Copacabana. Come for the authentic Bolivian cuisine, stay for the warm, familial atmosphere, and enjoy one of the best patios in Seattle.

Here’s to many more years of Copacabana at Pike Place Market!