9 Best Restaurants in Side Trips from Buenos Aires, Argentina

Airy and charming, this traditional eatery's classic Argentine fare is consistently delicious. You can snack on cheeses, olives, prosciutto, salami, and eggplant en escabeche (pickled). The bife de chorizo (sirloin steak), meanwhile, is perfectly juicy, tender, and flavorful, and all the more so when accompanied by wondrous french fries with basil. The country-store-meets-elegant-restaurant atmosphere is just right. No wonder locals and visiting porteños alike vie for tables—on weekends, reservations are essential.

About 100 yards west of the Estación Fluvial, this cozy eatery is seemingly miles away from the automobile and boat traffic. In a quiet quarter among a scattering of shops and cafés with bohemian flair, it's a great place to get away from the weekend crowds and enjoy a freshly made salad or sandwich. Aside from the tasty food and friendly staff, you'll be surrounded by freshly cut flowers, as the place doubles as a florist.

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.

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.

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.

An expansive terrace overlooking the river is the appropriate backdrop for Tigre's best fish dishes. The kitchen favors elaborate preparations: some are so packed with unlikely ingredients that the fish gets lost; others, such as the sole in lemon-infused cream, are spot-on. Land-based offerings like pork belly braised in beer are equally well executed. Both the terrace and the sunny, peach-colored inside room fill up on weekends, when harried waitstaff often take a long time to bring your order or the check.

This chic new open-air restaurant with a sleek, sexy bar that turns out great cocktails is most proud of their aged steaks, but everything from the picadas (cured meats and cheeses) to 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 a wine-and-spirits shop, should you wish to carry something back to your hotel.

Looking very much like an old saloon/general store, this restaurant is part of what makes visiting the town like going to a museum. A solid choice for lunch where the fare doesn't try to be anything other than honest and abundant. Very typical comida del campo (country food) ranging from meat, potatoes, and empanadas to picadas (charcuterie and cheeses), that's all served quickly and graciously even during busy lunches. Enjoy the antique curiosities while you're dining, and feel free to ask what they were used for.