223 Best Restaurants in Argentina

Buenos Aires is home to a large Basque immigrant population, and if there's anywhere in town to turn to for Basque cooking, it's this place. You can expect friendly, efficient service from waiters who know their stuff as they work the antiques-filled dining room. Although the extensive menu may look pricey at first glance, it's really not at all. Most of the plates are big enough to share, and many can be ordered in half-size portions. Top recommendations include the various stews, particularly the spicy cazuela de mariscos (seafood casserole). Another don't-miss option is the gambas al ajillo (large prawns in garlic and chili sauce).

The heart of Catalán beats at this popular tapas bar. Grab a seat at the counter—this one of the few food bars in the city—or snuggle in at one of the cozy, romantic tables. Tancat features Spanish cooking at its best: simple, well-flavored, and expertly cooked. The stars here, besides the array of tapas, are the paella and other stellar seafood dishes. Best yet, this is one of the most reasonably priced Spanish restaurants in the city, especially for the quality.

A favorite of the local Indian community, Tandoor is a destination for embassy officials who want a food fix from home. It's no surprise that it's also a winner with American expats, many of whom are looking for something a little spicier than the local fare. When the place first opened the chef went full tilt on the picante, but he eventually toned down the spices a bit to appeal to a local clientele. You can always add in more chilies, available on request. The room is chic and sleek, and the service is polished. At lunch there's an inexpensive prix-fixe menu option.

When you step behind the red velvet curtains you'll feel like you've wandered into a carnival, because that's kind of where you are. Part restaurant, part cabaret, part sideshow, this exotic place is designed to distract your attention and separate you and your cash—although it's all in good taste and good fun. Bizarre names for dishes meant to invoke sexual situations are just a smokescreen for creative and interesting-sounding ideas—they don't always live up to the billing. The cabaret shows, a mix of sleight of hand, a teasing level of stripping, and sometimes even puppetry, are fun, but expect a modest charge on your bill.

On the street that runs right along the Beagle Channel, Tia Elvira is a good place to sample the local catch. Garlicky shellfish appetizers and centolla are delicious; even more memorable is the tender merluza negra (black sea bass). The room is decked out with nautical knickknacks that may seem on the tacky side for such a pricey place. The service is friendly and familial.

Legend has it that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid once stayed here—search long enough and you might find them among the old photos cluttering the walls. This cavernous old confitería (café) was founded in 1895, and became Chubut's first hotel in 1926. The hotel's rooms are too shabby to recommend, but a toasted sandwich and a coffee or beer here is tantamount to a trip back in time.

Casual style, fantastic service and atmosphere, and a prime location in Palermo Botánico make this a preferred Italian restaurant. Open for lunch and dinner, try the Argentine spin on surf and turf of gamberi e animelle (perfectly grilled prawns and sweetbreads), or guanciale (braised pork cheeks). The multilayered house lasagna is also fantastic. There's a great wine list too.

Founded in 1974, this traditional Welsh tearoom caters to tourists with its delicious cakes, desserts, and homemade bread. Located in a warm house reminiscent of a chapel, every object has a story to tell: paintings and embroidery by local artists and tablecloths with recipes and words in Welsh. It is a veritable showroom for the family's antiques, including a wood-burning stove surrounded by utensils used by Welsh settlers to cook and heat the home.

The matriarch who presides over the kitchen here, Mirna Jones, is a proud descendant of the first woman born in Gaiman. Her ivy-covered teahouse on the main square looks like a knickknack shop: it's stuffed with doodads and hung with crochet, and there are gramophones, carriage lamps, and antique radios on display above the four original chimneys, which date to 1890, although Formica paneling detracts slightly from the old-world style.

This elegant downtown bistro takes you on an odyssey through the pleasures of Italo-Argentine cooking. The sirens sing loudest when it comes to artisanal pastas like sorrentinos (large, puffy ravioli) filled with smoked trout or seafood standbys like cebiche or pulpo a la gallega (Galician-style octopus). If you're feeling truly heroic, there's also a bevy of belly-busting desserts before you navigate your way home. Prices are incredibly reasonable for food this good.

A giant king crab sign beckons you into this red-tin-walled restaurant, where the maritime bric-a-brac hanging from the ceiling can be a little distracting. The name means "return," and it succeeds in getting repeat visits on the strength of its seafood; the culinary highlight is the centolla, which comes served with a choice of five different sauces. Newspapers from the 1930s line the walls in this century-old home, and the service is friendly and relaxed.

One look at the frozen margarita machines and bags of supermarket corn chips and you'll know what you're in for at this colorful dining room. But strangely enough, this is where you'll find some of the city's better Mexican food—it's reasonably authentic and comes truly spicy if you request. Don't expect to be wowed, but an ice-cold beer with a plate or two of quesadillas or the delicious tacos al pastor (stuffed with sliced pork) may just hit the spot.

The warm service, wooden tables and chairs, cane roof, and stone walls all suggest tradition. Yet Yacón's kitchen shows some innovation by serving up llama meat on skewers and a shepherd's pie made with quinoa. It's just a block from the main square, and doubles as a cute lodging as well.