2 Best Restaurants in Tilcara, The Northwest

A delightful al fresco dining experience located within the courtyard of an adobe home, Casa Mocha has put the rural village of Huacalera on the foodie map. The Manzur family, who opened the restaurant in 2024, also produces wines including Malbec, Criolla, and Sauvignon Blanc from the Quebrada de Humahuaca as Bodega El Bayeh. Sample these with the delicious lunchtime menu that draws from the family’s Lebanese roots, including bean hummus, quinoa tabulé, and empanadas baked in the clay oven. You can also buy their wines and own selection of goat cheeses from the little store.

The food, from steak to quinoa salad, is superb; the wine list is fairly priced; and the wooden floors, whimsical lights, and artwork make the space appealing. What's more, some evenings around 9:30 there's live music, generally performed by friends of the owners, award-winning chef Florencia Rodríguez. El Nuevo Progreso is right in the center of town, with windows looking out across the small plaza.