20 Best Places to Eat in Argentina: The Ultimate Culinary & Dining Guide

Argentine cuisine is celebrated globally for its rich European traditions, world-class grass-fed beef cooked over open embers (asado), comforting empanadas, world-famous Malbec wine, and sweet dulce de leche treats. Dining in Argentina is an essential social and cultural tradition.

Must-Try Traditional Dishes

Make sure to savor these iconic national culinary delights during your journey across Argentina:

Asado & Parrillada: The quintessential Argentine barbecue featuring cuts like bife de chorizo (sirloin), ojo de bife (ribeye), tira de asado (short ribs), and chorizo sausage.
Empanadas: Flaky baked or fried pastry pockets stuffed with hand-cut beef, chicken, ham and cheese, or sweet corn (humita).
Milanesa: Thinly pounded beef or chicken cutlets breaded and fried, often served "a la Nápolitana" topped with ham, tomato sauce, and melted cheese.
Provolone a la Parilla (Provoleta): A thick slab of provolone cheese seasoned with oregano and chili flakes, grilled in a cast-iron skillet until bubbly and crispy.
Alfajores & Dulce de Leche: Soft sandwich cookies filled with rich caramel dulce de leche, rolled in coconut flakes or coated in dark chocolate.

20 Best Places to Eat in Argentina

1. Don Julio Parrilla

Cuisine: World-Class Steakhouse / Asado
Location: Palermo Soho, Buenos Aires
Must-Try Dish: Bife de Lomo (Tenderloin) with Chimichurri and Malbec
About the Place: Consistently ranked among the top restaurants in the world, Don Julio is Argentina's ultimate steakhouse. Serving grass-fed Angus and Hereford beef dry-aged to perfection alongside an extraordinary wine cellar.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Don Julio Parrilla

2. La Cabrera

Cuisine: Traditional Steakhouse
Location: Palermo, Buenos Aires
Must-Try Dish: Ojo de Bife (Ribeye) with Complimentary Gourmet Side Dishes
About the Place: La Cabrera offers generous cuts of prime Argentine beef in a bustling neighborhood setting, famous for serving dozens of tiny copper pots filled with creative hot and cold garnishes.
Explore More: Read our full guide to La Cabrera

3. El Preferido de Palermo

Cuisine: Traditional Bodegón & Artisanal Charcuterie
Location: Palermo, Buenos Aires
Must-Try Dish: Milanesa de Bife de Chorizo and House-Cured Salame
About the Place: Set in a restored 19th-century pink corner house, El Preferido elevates classic Buenos Aires tavern food (bodegón) with house-cured charcuterie, organic vegetables, and crispy milanesas.
Explore More: Read our full guide to El Preferido de Palermo

4. Chila

Cuisine: Avant-Garde Fine Dining
Location: Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires
Must-Try Dish: Multi-Course Seasonal Tasting Menu
About the Place: Overlooking the Puerto Madero waterfront, Chila offers innovative fine dining focused on seasonal Argentine ingredients sourced from Patagonia to the Andean Northwest.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Chila

5. Bodega Catena Zapata Restaurant

Cuisine: Vineyard Fine Dining & Wine Pairing
Location: Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza
Must-Try Dish: Seven-Course Wine Pairing Lunch
About the Place: Set within Catena Zapata's iconic Mayan-inspired pyramid winery, this high-end restaurant pairs world-class Malbecs with seasonal Mendoza produce and mountain vistas.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Bodega Catena Zapata Restaurant

6. Casa Vigil (El Enemigo)

Cuisine: Winery Bistro & Regional Asado
Location: Maipú, Mendoza
Must-Try Dish: Slow-Cooked Ossobuco and Cabernet Franc
About the Place: Inspired by Dante's *Divine Comedy*, winemaker Alejandro Vigil's winery restaurant serves rustic, Michelin-rated multi-course lunches paired with world-renowned wines.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Casa Vigil

7. Francis Mallmann's 1884 Restaurant

Cuisine: Open-Fire Andean Cuisine
Location: Godoy Cruz, Mendoza
Must-Try Dish: Clay-Oven Roasted Cordero (Lamb)
About the Place: Created by legendary chef Francis Mallmann, 1884 celebrates the art of open-fire cooking inside a historic 19th-century winery courtyard in Mendoza.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Francis Mallmann's 1884 Restaurant

8. La Alacena Trattoria

Cuisine: Italian-Argentine Bistro
Location: Palermo, Buenos Aires
Must-Try Dish: Handcrafted Ricotta Tortelli and Cannoli
About the Place: Honoring Argentina's deep Italian heritage, La Alacena serves fresh, handmade pasta, wood-fired breads, and Italian comfort classics in a charming neighborhood bistro.
Explore More: Read our full guide to La Alacena Trattoria

9. El Boliche de Alberto

Cuisine: Patagonian Steakhouse & Pasta
Location: Bariloche, Río Negro
Must-Try Dish: Thick-Cut Bife de Chorizo & Homemade Tagliatelle
About the Place: El Boliche de Alberto is a beloved Bariloche institution operating two locations—one dedicated to sizzling steaks grilled over charcoal, and another to mountain-style fresh pasta.
Explore More: Read our full guide to El Boliche de Alberto

10. La Brique / Doña Salta

Cuisine: Traditional Northwest Regional
Location: Salta City
Must-Try Dish: Empanadas Salteñas baked in clay ovens
About the Place: Located opposite San Francisco Church, Doña Salta serves authentic northern comfort food, famous for Salta's juicy, spiced hand-cut beef empanadas and locro stew.
Explore More: Read our full guide to La Brique / Doña Salta

11. Fogón Asado Experience

Cuisine: Interactive Fine-Dining Asado
Location: Palermo, Buenos Aires
Must-Try Dish: 8-Course Chef’s Tasting Asado with Wine Pairing
About the Place: Fogón reinvents the traditional Argentine asado into an interactive chef's counter dining experience, explaining grilling techniques, cuts of meat, and wine pairings.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Fogón Asado Experience

12. Parrilla La Brigada

Cuisine: Traditional Football-Themed Steakhouse
Location: San Telmo, Buenos Aires
Must-Try Dish: Tender Asado de Tira cut with a spoon
About the Place: Located in historic San Telmo and decorated with football memorabilia, La Brigada is world-renowned for beef so tender waiters famously cut it using only a spoon.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Parrilla La Brigada

13. Cafe Tortoni

Cuisine: Historic Cafe & Pastries
Location: Avenida de Mayo, Buenos Aires
Must-Try Dish: Churros dipped in Hot Chocolate
About the Place: Founded in 1858, Cafe Tortoni is Argentina's oldest operating cafe. Featuring stained glass, marble tables, and literary history, it serves coffee, pastries, and evening tango shows.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Cafe Tortoni

14. La Mezzetta

Cuisine: Classic Buenos Aires Fugazzeta Pizza
Location: Colegiales, Buenos Aires
Must-Try Dish: Fugazzeta Stuffed with Mozzarella and Onions
About the Place: A legendary standing-room-only pizzeria, La Mezzetta serves Argentina's famous thick-crust Fugazzeta pizza loaded with melted cheese and sweet caramelized onions.
Explore More: Read our full guide to La Mezzetta

15. Kaupé

Cuisine: Magellanic Seafood & Fine Dining
Location: Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego
Must-Try Dish: King Crab (Centolla) and Black Hake
About the Place: Overlooking the Beagle Channel in Ushuaia, family-run Kaupé specializes in delicate seafood, serving fresh Fuegian king crab and sea bass.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Kaupé

16. Isabel Cocina al Disco

Cuisine: Traditional Patagonian Disc Cooking
Location: El Calafate, Santa Cruz
Must-Try Dish: Lamb Stew cooked in a Plough Disk (Disco de Arado)
About the Place: Isabel specializes in "cocina al disco," a traditional rural method cooking slow-braised meats, potatoes, and vegetables over open flame in heavy iron plough disks.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Isabel Cocina al Disco

17. Ruca Malen Winery Restaurant

Cuisine: Vineyard Tasting Menu
Location: Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza
Must-Try Dish: 5-Course Seasonal Wine Matching Menu
About the Place: Ruca Malen was one of the pioneers of vineyard dining in Mendoza, offering multi-course seasonal tasting menus matched with estate wines overlooking the Andes.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Ruca Malen Winery Restaurant

18. La Posada de los Toldos

Cuisine: Northern Regional Comfort Food
Location: Humahuaca, Jujuy
Must-Try Dish: Llama Steak with Quinoa Risotto
About the Place: Located in the high-altitude Andean town of Humahuaca, this cozy eatery serves traditional northern fare including tender llama steaks, quinoa, and maize stews.
Explore More: Read our full guide to La Posada de los Toldos

19. La Kitchen

Cuisine: Modern Bakery & Cafe
Location: Saavedra, Buenos Aires
Must-Try Dish: Medialunas de Manteca and Artisanal Chipá
About the Place: A trendy modern bakery celebrated across Buenos Aires for making butter medialunas (Argentine croissants), savory cheese-bread chipá, and specialty coffee.
Explore More: Read our full guide to La Kitchen

20. La Taberna de Franco

Cuisine: Seafood & Spanish Tapas
Location: Puerto Madryn, Chubut
Must-Try Dish: Seafood Paella and Calamari
About the Place: Located near the beach in Puerto Madryn, this tavern serves fresh Atlantic catches including prawns, squid, sea bass, and seafood paella.
Explore More: Read our full guide to La Taberna de Franco

Featured Image

Traditional Argentine Asado