7 Best Restaurants in Side Trips from Buenos Aires, Argentina

Locals are thrilled: finally, a date-night restaurant in Puerto Iguazú. Although the high-ceilinged split-level cabin seats too many to be truly intimate, the owners make up for it with well-spaced tables, discreet service, and low lighting. Softly gleaming timber from different local trees lines the walls, roof, and floor. Local river fish like surubí and dorado are the specialty: have them pan-fried, or, more unusually, as pasta fillings. Forget being romantic at dessert time: the chef's signature dessert, caayucayari, with almonds and yerba mate, is definitely worth keeping to yourself. Reservations are essential on weekends.

The city's finest and largest churrascaria does a killer rodizio (all-you-can-eat meat buffet). The picanha (beef rump cap) stands out among the dozens of meat choices, but pork, lamb, and chicken find their way onto the metal skewers they use to grill the meat. Never fear, vegetarians—the salad bar is also well stocked. The dining room is bright and cheerful, and bow-tied waiters serve your food.

A single large restaurant with a large patio that's perfect for outdoor dining with lively folk music. The primary menu includes well-prepared pastas, local fish and meats, but there are separate menu pages for pizza, East Asian, and burgers, all of which they take seriously. The fresh pasta is especially good, maybe because the couple who own the restaurant are from Italy. The children's menu covers a lot of bases, but it's a little pricey.

This parrilla is so popular that it starts serving dinner at 6 pm—teatime by Argentine custom. The local beef isn't quite up to Buenos Aires standards, but La Rueda's perfectly cooked bife de chorizo is one of the best in town. Locally caught surubí is another house specialty, but skip the traditional Roquefort sauce, which overwhelms the fish's flavor. The surroundings stay true to the restaurant's rustic roots: hefty tree trunks hold up the bamboo-lined roof, and the walls are adorned by a curious wooden frieze carved by a local artist.

A chic new open-air restaurant with a sleek, sexy bar that turns out great cocktails. The restaurant is most proud of their aged steaks but everything from the picadas (cured meats and cheeses), fish and salads is perfectly turned out. The wine list is solid and has some great whites—not common in Iguazú—that pair well with lighter dishes and warm nights, and beer drinkers will enjoy the local craft brews. There's also a well-stocked gourmet market and wine and spirits shop, should you wish to carry something back to your hotel.

Open, sleek, and comfortable space for terrific pizzas, freshly-made pastas, and grilled meats. The brick ovens are impressive, and the dishes are fresh and tasty. Pizzas start at R$100 and mains at R$70. The bar offers a good selection of well-made and rather strong cocktails, and the wine list is impressive.

If you're not traveling as far as Salvador and the state of Bahia, you can at least check out its flavors at this busy restaurant. It specializes in northeastern fare like moquecas (a rich seafood stew made with coconut milk and palm oil). The version here is unusual for mixing prawns with local river fish. Spicy pan-fried sole and salmon are lighter options. The flavors aren't quite so subtle at the all-you-can-eat seafood buffets served several times a week. At R$60, it certainly pulls in crowds.