7 Best Restaurants in Bariloche, The Lake District

From ojo de bife (ribeye) to entraña (skirt steak), carnivores will find a delectable range of perfectly seasoned cuts to devour at this homey steakhouse. Platters are family-sized, so order a half portion if you're flying solo. The menu also includes pork, trout, lamb, and a superb plate of grilled vegetables, and you can ask to visit the ample wine cellar to select an accompanying vintage. The outdoor patio, shaded by leafy ash trees, is heaven in the summer.   The restaurant now boasts a twin location near Bariloche's train station.

At this quiet rural retreat, chef Mariana Wolf combines seasonal ingredients—many from the garden out back—in beautifully presented dishes that are both elegant and comforting. Standout confections like prawns with rosehip relish, barley, and ginger can be savored while gazing out on the tranquil shores of Lago Gutiérrez. Husband Ernesto helpfully recommends perfect wine pairings from the restaurant's impressively stocked cellar.

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.

Leather placemats, calfskin menus, and the smell of wood-grilled asados leave no doubt regarding what's cooking at this popular steak house. And indeed, El Boliche has some of the best bife in Bariloche. Grilled steaks, chicken, lamb, and chorizo all arrive sizzling on a wooden platter, accompanied by empanadas, provoleta (fried provolone cheese), salad, fried potatoes, and chimichurri sauce (be sure to slather some on the bread). There are three locations: those at Elflein 158 and Villegas 347 specialize in barbecue dishes, while the one at Elfein 143 also does pastas.

Staff at this cozy but elegant candlelit house on the Circuito Chico near Llao Llao boast, "we don't serve lunch because preparing dinner takes all day." It's hard to argue after you sample the exquisite Italian menu, which changes weekly. Look for pumpkin ravioli or tortelloni stuffed with wild boar (the cooks also have a way with fresh trout). Friendly, bow-tie-wearing waiters provide an ingredient-by-ingredient explanation of each dish. The beautiful wine cellar is open to guests.

Locals come to this friendly restaurant for its outstanding pastas and variety of entrées: expect meats from Patagonia to the pampas, fish from both oceans, local game, and fresh vegetables. Hearty portions make this an ideal place to end a long day on the slopes.  Empanadas and take-out items can be ordered at the entrance.

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.