93 Best Restaurants in Argentina

Picadas—assorted cured meats and local cheeses, accompanied by home-baked breads—are the star attractions here (try the smoked boar and trout). Although this deli and wine bar does get busy, the staff is generally friendly, and you can escape the bustle by retreating to the back terrace.  Wash down your meal with one of the hearty Los Morros-line reds, produced by Casa Moderna’s own small winery.

Exquisitely prepared Argentine plates, from pizzas and pastas to milanesas to vegetarian wraps (and don't miss their desserts!), are served here. It has a cozy, laid-back atmosphere with live blues music for dinner some evenings and an occasional poetry reading.

Easily one of the best microbreweries in Patagonia, this local Biergarten boasts a hearty German-inspired menu, with standout dishes such as smoked-trout-stuffed pretzels and goulash. The beers run from local IPAs to pilsners to hoppy ales, and there are hefty desserts if you've somehow managed to save room.

This lively beer hall claims it was the first brewpub in Argentina; true or not, its relaxed bustle hits the spot after a day on the slopes. Come in for an après-ski beer sampler, but stay for the pizzas, steak potpies, and other Anglophile dinner options. Don't miss the excellent bock beer, with a toasty coffee flavor, or if you prefer hard cider, the Fruto Prohibido.

Peruvian dishes at bargain prices have made a name for Chan Chan. The deep-fried corn kernels they bring while you wait are almost a meal in themselves.

Cozy and colorful, Dadá Bistró has a short but sweet menu, including risotto and gnocchi and also serves classic cocktails. An eclectic mix of locals and visitors pop in for dinner, a drink, or both. Perch at the bar or grab a booth at the back for extra privacy.

An enchanting Italian/Spanish lunch spot at the confluence of two waterways. Take a water taxi for freshly made pastas, seafood and, of course, beef, and later, enjoy a glass of wine on the lawn surrounded by nature.

At this single large restaurant with a large patio that's perfect for outdoor dining and with lively folk music, the primary menu includes well-prepared pastas, local fish, and meats. 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.

It's a hard name to live up to, but there's no doubt this casual café pulls it off, with super fresh sandwiches, salads, and smoothies, which you can eat in or pack into your picnic basket. A shot of espresso and a slice of cheesecake provide the perfect dose of caffeine and sugar to get you back in the sightseeing saddle.

Don't expect any frills here, just great steaks, and side dishes such as the papas fritas provenzal, golden french fries tossed in fresh parsley and garlic. Take a table in the cavernous dining room, or grab something to go—steak sandwiches and empanadas fly out the door as fast as they can make them. The portions are huge and the prices are reasonable.

With a prime location right in front of the Boca Juniors stadium, this bodegón is an institution not only for soccer fans but for the likes of movie director Francis Ford Coppola and chef Francis Mallmann. Owner Carlitos Zinola basically chooses your Italo-Argentine menu for you, which could be steak, pasta, tortilla, pascualina tart, or a combination of them all. The neighborhood is dodgy, particularly at night—take a taxi to and from this restaurant.

This place may resemble a neighborhood coffee shop where folks are just sitting, sipping coffee, and reading the newspaper. But check out the long and narrow dining room at lunchtime, when the kitchen turns out some of the best pasta and fish dishes in the barrio. The menu changes daily, depending on the chef's whims, but you can count on ravioli showing up in a stunning variety of styles. There are also some excellent stir-fried dishes. Don't pass up dessert, which may include a "deconstructed" take on the classic arroz con leche.

At this classic parrilla (steak house) the trimmings don't go beyond a mixed salad and fries, and surly waiters are part of the experience.

No frills doesn't mean no charm at this longtime porteño favorite. Steaks, pastas, and salads are the draw, but don't miss the papas soufflés, meaning puffed-up french fries. If you want to go full-tilt local style, order them à la provençal and they'll arrive at your table tossed with minced garlic and parsley. After all, this place and the other three branches around town (Palermo, Recoleta, and another in Centro) aren't called the Palace of the French Fry for no reason.

With three dining rooms, a patio out back, a location just yards from the central plaza, and well-priced regional cuisine, El Patio is one of Tilcara's most popular restaurants. Anita Ponce's menu is an unpretentious yet delectable mix of dishes using locally sourced ingredients such as llama fillet, quinoa risotto, and tamales, and service is friendly. Order beef empanadas to start, and slather in llajua spicy sauce.

Secreted away about 10 minutes north of town, on a stream known as Arroyo del Medio, this rustic country kitchen is the primo place to try the local delicacy known as cordero patagónico al asador (lamb roasted on a cross-shaped spit over a fire). Sizzling platters of beef and vegetarian options are also available. The parklike setting near Cascada Mallín Ahogado is as delectable as the food. From El Bolsón, take Ruta Nacional 40 north, getting off at the left exit for the Circuito Cascada Mallín Ahogado. You'll see signs marked "El Quincho"; the restaurant is 500 meters (1/3 mile) past the waterfall.

Fervor has high-quality, homemade pastas and incredible sourdough pizzas that leave any pizza aficionado content. Dine in a warm atmosphere with good food at reasonable prices. 

Homemade pastas are the specialty here, but locals also tuck into hearty dishes of grilled steak, pork, and chicken at this lively restaurant with exposed brick, low lighting, wooden booths, and a traditional pub-like atmosphere. Some come just for a beer, while others come to dine.

When Iñaki first opened its doors, it was one of the city's more expensive Basque eateries. Over time it's kept the price increases to a minimum, and today it's one of the most reasonable spots to enjoy this spectacular Spanish cuisine. Killer paella and fried calamari—not the usual battered version, but a much more elegant dish dusted in herb and pepper flour and flash fried—are among the must-try choices. If you want something a little spicier, order raxo, a delicious pork dish in a red chili sauce that's paired, strangely enough, with french fries. The service is cheerful and helpful.

It's an honest little restaurant in Seclantás, with some fine old photos on the walls and good, oven-baked empanadas. Other attractions include a delicious goat stew, corn-based dishes, regional breads, and a warm welcome from your host, Alejandro Díaz.

A great-value restaurant on a bustling downtown corner, Jovi Dos has several airy, high-ceilinged rooms with wood beams and plate-glass windows. Noteworthy starters include marinated eggplant and baked beef empanadas while grilled meats, seafood, pizza, and pasta have equal billing on the overly long menu. Dishes such as the ravioles mixtas (ravioli filled with spinach and cheese, then topped with a creamy sauce) are big enough for two people. The waitstaff is attentive, and the wine list is solid.

Cozy dark-wood tables and booths, a friendly staff, a chalkboard listing tempting specials—these are good building blocks for a restaurant. Order the smoked-meat plate with venison, boar, trout, salmon, and cheese as a starter; then try the Patagonian lamb al asador (on the open fire). Assorted parrilla classics are paired with a fine wine list.

A blast from the past, this historical café is one of the best spots in Recoleta for people-watching and celebrity-spotting. For the most part, it's a place to linger over coffee and a pastry, or perhaps a savory sandwich at midday, but there's also a full menu of local specialties, and it's open until 1 am. When the weather cooperates, locals and tourists mix and mingle at the outdoor tables—this despite the fact that there's a higher charge for the privilege. That leaves the dining room dominated by a local crowd.

The specialty at this lively family eatery is the milanesa napolitana, a gut-busting plate of breaded steak topped with ham, mozzarella, and tomato sauce; tack on an order of papas a la provenzal (garlic-and-parsley fries) and you can easily feed two. The pastas and trucha (trout) are equally recommendable. Go early for both lunch and dinner: lines here can sometimes stretch down the block.

Serving a buffet of salads and starters followed by a main course straight from the grill, La Juntada updates the classic pulperia (tavern) atmosphere with a good wine list and a fresh lick of paint. Go hungry for the typical Argentine fare such as grilled goat kid that's well-prepared.

This bustling spot is where locals go for their pizza joint fix, thanks to the typical Argentine-style pizza of thick crust and layers with stringy cheese. Their empanadas are just as good—pick up a few and you have the perfect pastry pick-me-up during a long day of exploring. With two branches on the main strip (one with a kids' playground and the other for more Patagonian-style dishes), the secret is out, but stick with the original pizzeria, as the locals do. If it's not crowded, you're in the wrong one.

A family-run and family-friendly Italian trattoria of the sort you might find in any big city, La Parolaccia stands out for its excellent homemade pastas—particularly good are the hand-rolled fusilli. And don't overlook the three-course lunch specials, which can be a great deal. The staff is happy to prepare half portions of pasta dishes for kids. You'll be greeted with a complimentary cocktail and sent off with a digestif of limoncello at the end of your meal.

Slotted neatly into the tiny Plaza Peloc, La Picanteria’s streetside setting makes for a great lunch spot to watch people come and go about their business. You can, of course, also dine inside, and enjoy the simple yet cozy aesthetic. There’s a brisk business for those after the three-course lunch menu, which might include spicy vegetable soup, llama escalope with salad or delicious handmade pasta. Dinner consists of a decent pizza—and pizza only—menu.

This casual, family-run restaurant has been hamming it up in the valley for 30 years, serving pork cooked in every way imaginable. A surprising number of vegetarian options are also available, and all the wines offered are from local bodegas. A small shop on-site sells artisans' items, such as hand-knit sweaters, blankets, and artwork.  If you like this place so much you don't want to leave, check into a reasonably priced cabañas behind the restaurant.

Empanadas, llama dishes, and other hearty regional specialties dominate the menu at this eatery on the main square. Take a seat by the window and watch the scene at the market stalls outside while enjoying jujeño staples such as picante de pollo (spicy chicken) or regional stews, or avoid the bustle on the airy back patio.