While Buenos Aires is best known for its tender steaks and fine bottles of Malbec, there's more to the local cuisine than first meets the eye. Highly influenced by the great influx of Italian immigrants who arrived in Argentina in the 19th century, Buenos Aires is littered with handmade pasta shops, gelato joints and pizzerias all offering an authentic slice of culinary heritage. In the last decade, a number of exciting contemporary restaurants have opened too, many of them starting out as puertas cerradas, or closed-door restaurants, which became popular after the economic crisis when enterprising chefs would open their homes to dinner guests. In trendy Palermo, restaurants serving international cuisine are widespread, with everything from sushi to Peruvian-Japanese fusion up for grabs, while San Telmo has a generous sprinkling of traditional cafes and old-fashioned parrillas (grill houses). Be sure to reserve a table no earlier than 10pm to really experience mealtimes like a local.
The Buenos Aires restaurants below have been hand-picked by our guide author and are grouped into three pricing categories:
Expensive (over US$150)
Moderate (US$60 to US$150)
Cheap (up to US$60)
These Buenos Aires restaurant prices are for a three-course meal for one, without wine. A service charge usually isn't added to the bill, so a tip of around 10% of the total is appreciated.
Expensive
Aramburu
Cuisine: Modern ArgentineanSerious food lover will be wowed by this culinary hothouse of innovation helmed by legendary chef Gonzalo Aramburu who serves an elaborate and artistic 12-course tasting menu to a handful of diners in his small, intimate eatery. Those with less cash to flash can try Aramburu Bis, a more casual kitchen but with a similar market-to-table ethos.
Address: San Telmo, Salta 1050, Buenos Aires,Telephone: +54 11 4305 0439
Website: http://www.arambururesto.com.ar
La Bourgogne
Cuisine: FrenchThe plush interior of Alvear Palace Hotel flows flawlessly into the exquisite La Bourgogne restaurant. Chef Jean-Paul Bondoux delights gourmands with a refined blend of French classics and Mediterranean cuisine, or diners can opt for meats cooked on the rotisserie grill. The dress code is smart, the service flawless, and there's even a wine-tasting room for larger groups.
Address: Recoleta, Avenida Alvear 1891, Buenos Aires,Telephone: +54 11 4808 3857
Website: http://www.alvearpalace.com
i Latina
Cuisine: Latin AmericanHelmed by a pair of charismatic Colombian brothers, this once closed-door restaurant is now one of the city's most sought-after dining spots thanks to its reputation for creative prowess and flawless service. In an intimate space, diners take an adventurous tour of Latin America with a seven-course tasting menu that adds up to an unforgettable culinary experience.
Address: Villa Crespo, Murillo 725, Buenos Aires,Telephone: +54 11 4857 9095
Moderate
Don Julio
Cuisine: ArgentineanAt one of Buenos Aires' most highly rated parrillas (grills), Don Julio serves huge and succulent steaks from a flame grill that takes pride of place in the dining room. Walls are decked out with vintage bottles while the list of Argentine wines on offer is vast. Booking is essential in order to nab a table after 9pm when the locals pile in.
Address: Palermo Viejo, Guatemala 4691, Buenos Aires,Telephone: +54 11 4832 6058
Website: http://www.parrilladonjulio.com.ar
El Obrero
Cuisine: ArgentineanFor a taste of old-time Buenos Aires, try humble steakhouse El Obrero (meaning The Worker) in La Boca which has been churning out big, juicy cuts since 1910 when it opened to cater to the many Italian immigrants arriving in the district. Not much has changed in terms of decor since that era, and walls are plastered with old pictures and football memorabilia, adding to the restaurant's rustic charm.
Address: La Boca, Augustin R, Caffarena 64, Buenos Aires,Telephone: +54 11 4362 9912
Florería Atlántico
Cuisine: ArgentineanFollow the floral scent to this restaurant and lounge set beyond a secret doorway at the back of an unassuming flower shop in the Retiro district. The subterranean cavern takes inspiration from local immigrant history to divide its cocktail list by country (Italy, Spain, Poland) and serves delicious sharing plates combining Argentine and foreign flavours - think grilled octopus with black olives and classic morcilla blood sausage.
Address: Retiro, Arroyo 872, Buenos Aires,Telephone: +54 11 4313 6093
Website: http://www.floreriaatlantico.com.ar
Cheap
Artemisia
Cuisine: Vegetarian / NaturalEven carnivorous Buenos Aires is not without its vegetarian offerings. This bohemian eatery serves simple, homemade cuisine including pasta, rice and soup dishes that come accompanied with delicious homemade bread. The menu changes seasonally, while the dining room catches loads of natural light during the day making it a great spot for a long lunch.
Address: Palermo, Costa Rica 5893, Buenos Aires,Telephone: +54 11 4773 2641
Dadá
Cuisine: ArgentineanThis artsy little eatery in Retiro only has a few tables and the odd space at the bar. Its menu is small, but the food has garnered a reputation for being among the best valued in the city. It's a spot that has that slow town feel, with daily specials scribbled on a chalkboard, dusty posters and a bar serving cocktails that are a splash generous.
Address: , San Martín 941, Buenos Aires,Telephone: +54 11 4314 4787
Il Nonno Bachicha
Cuisine: ArgentineanSet in the heart of San Telmo, Il Nonno Bachicha is a great place to try out Argentinean meat without leaving your holiday budget in a state of disrepair. The setting is resolutely old school, with a basic vibe that'll make you feel as if you've stepped back into the Argentina of old.
Address: , Defensa 963, Buenos Aires,Telephone: +54 11 4361 7019
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