17 Best Restaurants in The Lake District, Argentina

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.

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 homey chalet serves up an excellent cross-section of Patagonian specialties, including trucha (trout) and ojo de bife (ribeye). You can also sample ham-and-cheese sorrentinos (pillow-like ravioli) and, if you catch it right, roast lamb. Prices are eminently reasonable for cooking of this caliber.

“With the nobility of fire” is how this lively steakhouse styles itself, and for good reason—it offers a large menu of parrilla classics, in generous servings, as well as wood-fired pizzas. Fairy lights decorate the outdoor patio, while inside, the oak tables and low lighting give the restaurant an intimate feel.

San Martín wouldn't be a ski town without a fondue restaurant, and this one is particularly appealing. The cheese fondue is smooth and rich, while the meat version comes with cubes of Argentine beef in assorted cuts and up to 12 condiments. (Vegetable fondues are, sadly, a bit limp.) Steaks and pasta are also well represented, and there's a fantastic wine list. The restaurant's two rooms—adorned with wooden panels and rustic tables—are equally suited to children and honeymooners.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"Oma" is German for "granny," and visiting this wood-paneled teahouse, with its jam-stocked shelves and bright, blooming gardens, will make anyone nostalgic for holiday visits to la abuelita. The menu boasts an impressive array of teas and tisanes, plus sweets that run from strudel to scones. Moist chocolate brownie cake with dulce de leche is a standout.

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.

This European-tinged eatery is one of the traditional high-end choices in San Martín, for locals and tourists alike. With tables scattered about the black-stone floor and barrels, shelves, and other surfaces stacked with foodstuffs (think pickled vegetables, smoked meats, cheese rounds, dried herbs, olive oil, and wine bottles), you might think you're in a Patagonian deli. Top choices include braised lamb and local specialties made from fresh-caught game; the La Tasca appetizer platter of smoked salmon, venison, boar, and trout pâté is especially good.

Homemade comfort food, served in the loveliest lakeside setting imaginable, is the draw at this Villa Traful favorite. As a sign says, the pastas, trout, and milanesas (breaded steaks) may take a while to prepare, but hey, if you're in a rush while sitting on a lawn this sumptuous, you've missed the memo. Don't even think of foregoing dessert.

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.