Discover Argentina’s Best Restaurants as chosen by top food writers. These eateries combine traditional flavors with contemporary techniques for an unparalleled dining experience.
Their menu and atmosphere offer the best of both French bistro dining and classic Argentine tavern fare, while they specialize in wine lists.
Palermo Soho restaurant named French Inspiration specialises in grilled seafood and meat as well as empanadas and yerba mate (the national drink). Be sure to try their ground beef “milanese” steak as well as their helado dessert!
1. Crizia
Buenos Aires is a melting pot just beginning to bubble, offering George Motz-style smash burgers and Tartine sourdough on menus while chefs explore alternative approaches to cuisine. Restaurants here showcase diverse ingredients that are revolutionizing Argentine cuisine while making dining out even more rewarding than before.
Confiteria Ideal stands as an epitome of modern-day Buenos Aires food culture, founded by the family of tango star Pedro Correa in 1938 and serving as both restaurant and cultural landmark. Visitors enter via an elegant glass atrium lined with trees and an intimate secret garden before sitting beneath its towering wooden ceiling where iron grills used for cross spit roasting are always busy roasting sides of beef or racks of lamb – an impressive sight indeed!
Chef Gabriel Oggero and front-of-house director Geraldine Gastaldo have put the seafront first since opening their restaurant in 2004, curating their menu around fresh seafood and shellfish (such as oysters from local cultivators) as well as Patagonian toothfish sourced directly from local fishermen – dishes like oysters rockefeller and seared tuna with black rice are enhanced by an impressive wine program.
2. Chila
Chila Restaurant stands as an elegant yet inviting dining destination that showcases Argentina’s diverse culinary history. Chef Pedro Bargero’s groundbreaking tasting menu is both artful and delicious, carefully designed to highlight seasonal ingredients for maximum flavor impact.
At Puerto Madero’s elegant riverside district, this restaurant’s elegantly appointed interior provides the ideal setting for their innovative interpretations of classic cuisines. Their attentive staff strives to offer world-class experiences from the moment they welcome guests until their last bite has been enjoyed.
As an ode to its location, each dish is presented on an exquisite small plate reminiscent of art itself. Take for instance Gran Dabbang: an imaginative blend of Indian and Argentine cuisines presented on an artful wooden box filled with individual trays that connect like puzzle pieces; inside you’ll discover mouthwatering treats such as wild aromatic Kirkina Chutney or Grilled Pacu River Fish Atop Roti!
As a tribute to its longstanding passion for grilling, many dishes are cooked over open flames. Be sure to visit Los Talas del Entrerriano, a campo eatery where dozens of cross spits slowly roast massive racks of ribs and whole pork loins; arrive early so as not to miss your seat at one of its cavernous wood tables!
3. Don Julio
Pablo Rivero had one goal in mind when opening Parrilla Don Julio in Palermo (an economically troubled barrios of Argentina in 2001), which he accomplished to great acclaim: to make Argentina’s finest steak. As it turned out, Rivero not only accomplished that but has since been featured on multiple world best-of lists with his signature asado serving up various cuts of meat including chorizos, chinchulines and morcillas – an essential stop on every visitor’s itinerary when in town.
Diners enter through a glass atrium that features open flame grills, clay ovens for baking empanadas, and massive iron griddles that smoke meats to perfection. This restaurant is unabashedly focused on meat-focused cuisine; serving grass-raised beef from La Pampa province alongside flank steak (vacio), lechon (roast pork) and ribs as part of their diverse offering before concluding the meal with homemade desserts from their dessert bar.
At La Terraza you will discover an outstanding selection of wines from Latin America. Don’t leave without trying some of their house-made condiments as well: salsa criolla is an irresistibly refreshing blend of chopped tomatoes and bell peppers dressed with oil and oregano; while chimichurri offers an herbaceous sauce made up of finely minced parsley, garlic, oregano with olive oil and red wine vinegar that pairs wonderfully with rich meat dishes.
4. La Caada del Rio de la Plata
Buenos Aires is a diverse melting pot, and the cuisine reflects this diversity. While chefs from around the globe come together in one city for creative culinary endeavors, most Portenos enjoy filling their bellies with tasty steak and Malbec-based meals at parrillas (Spanish for steakhouse).
As Uruguayan chef Luis Acuna began preparing spit-roasted chicken and pig for wedding banquets, he noticed that many Portenos enjoyed his dishes so much they wanted to purchase individual pieces – this led him to open his first restaurant called El Pobre Luis in 1986.
Acuna’s restaurant quickly found success and is regularly recognized in best-of lists. His vision and unfailing quality ensure that this venue remains one of the top choices in Palermo despite shifting tastes over time.
Pamplona, a classic Uruguayan specialty not found elsewhere in Buenos Aires, is the stand-out dish at this restaurant. Asado (barbecue) is also an incredible experience that brings families and friends together for delicious cuts of meat grilled over charcoal with salsa criolla being an accompanying salad made up of chopped onions, tomatoes and peppers dressed with oil and vinegar; while chimichurri adds extra flavor. Overall the cozy restaurant atmosphere makes this an excellent place for groups or families!
