Iconic Buenos Aires Food Experiences and Dishes to try during your stay
When people think about typical Buenos Aires Food, the first thing that comes to mind is usually steak and wine (Malbec, amirite?). However, there’s a lot more to Buenos Aires cuisine.
Try some choripán during a walk through the Costanera, have a slice of pizza on Avenida Corrientes or enjoy a fantastic cup of coffee with pastries at any of the incredible cafés the city has to offer.
This guide covers the must-try dishes and foods any visitor should enjoy during their stay in Buenos Aires, and where to do it. If you are looking for a guide with activities and city highlights, check out our 3-day Buenos Aires itinerary.
Asado and Parrillas
We have to start with what we are famous for! If you want some of that world-famous Argentine steak, head to one of these parrillas (steakhouses) for a taste of the best meat in the entire world (despite what Uruguay may claim).
- Parrilla Peña (Rodríguez Peña 682): This steak house is closer to Recoleta which makes it the perfect stop when deciding to explore the neighborhood. Low key local vibes and premium quality steak.
- RS Esquina (Roseti 1596): If you are feeling alternative and want to explore Chacarita, the up and coming neighborhood in Buenos Aires, why not have some pasture-raised beef while you are at it!
- Cabaña Las Lilas (Av. Alicia Moreau de Justo 516): Elegant, top-notch and failure-free steakhouse in Puerto Madero.
Wine Tasting in Buenos Aires
Thirsty for some of that famous Malbec? Look no further! Wine bars have been popping all over town in recent years, to fill a growing demand for a more sophisticated wine experience.
Our Palermo Food Tour features a wine-tasting stop, where you get to sample signature regional wines in a classic porteño setting, while also sampling local dishes (give it a try – we promise you won’t be sorry!).
If you are looking for a wine bar, these are our Buenos Aires faves:
- Pain et Vin (Gorriti 5132): owned and served by a married couple, Pain et Vin was the original wine bar, and still one of the best. With a hand-picked wine selection paired with heavenly bread, this comfy, intimate place is a delightful spot for connoisseurs and beginners alike.
- Vico Wine Bar (Gurruchaga 1149): One of the largest wine selections in Buenos Aires in a classy setting. This is a must for wine lovers.
- Cava Jufre (Jufré 201): If you are looking for a more personal wine experience, go out of your traditional Palermo setting to visit La Cava Jufre in a more relaxed alternative vibe.
Pizza porteña on Avenida Corrientes (…and elsewhere!)
Avenida Corrientes is home to some of the best pizzerias in town. The street also houses many theaters (and fancies itself the Argentine Broadway) and bookstores, making it an ideal location for an evening stroll or lunch break.
Argentine pizza has a thicker crust and loads of cheese – grab a slice to eat on the go or by the standing counter, or get a table and share a pizza with a friend over some Moscato wine (and do try the fainá, a.k.a. chickpea flour pancake).
Pizzerias on Calle Corrientes:
- Güerrín (Av. Corrientes 1368): the most famous pizzería in Avenida Corrientes, go for hype and stay for the slice.
- Banchero (Av. Corrientes 1604): Another classic, featuring classic with a retro feel, a good option if you want to grab a table and skip the long wait at Güerrín.
- Genova (Av. Corrientes 872): unpretentious and reliable, Genova offers a great slice at a decent price. If you are tired of going to the same place as every other tourist, head here.
It’s not all downtown Avenida Corrientes – consider visiting these pizzerias in other neighborhoods:
- El Cuartito (Talcahuano 937): hands down the best pizza in Recoleta, what else is there to say?.
- El Imperio de la Pizza (Av. Corrientes 6891): the Chacarita classic – a pizza so good we know of people who went to a movie in Avenida Corrientes and then hopped onto the subway for dinner at Imperio.
- Bar Roma: (Anchorena 806): looking for something a bit more modern? Bar Roma’s got you – the place may be old, but they’ve refurbished the building and gave the menu solid makeover. Great pizza, great drinks, great ambience.
Argentine Empanadas
Empanadas are a Buenos Aires staple, and any pizzeria worth its salt will offer a decent empanada. The classic flavors are carne (beef), jamón y queso (ham and cheese) and humita (corn).
If you are looking for something more elevated, try one of the following locations.
Empanada places to try:
- La Cocina (Av. Pueyrredón 1508): This is like dying and going to Empanada Heaven. Low-key local vibes, if you are hunting for the perfect empanada this is your stop.
- EL Hornero (Av. Carlos Calvo 455 local 88 y 89): situated in the San Telmo Market, El Hornero is worth a stop after perusing the nearby stores. Great empanada selection, with several vegetarian options.
- El Sanjuanino (Posadas 1515): a restaurant by and for locals, this place specializes in regional food, including empanadas (we recommend sticking to the classics here).
Cafés notables: coffee and pastries
A typical Argentine breakfast consists of a good cup of coffee and medialunas (croissants, and yes, plural). Dipping a medialuna in your coffee gets you extra argentine-ness points. And because one coffee is not enough, Argentines also enjoy coffee and medialunas as merienda, their mid-afternoon coffee break. You can also switch medialunas for alfajores (dulce de leche-filled cookie sandwiches).
Buenos Aires is filled with incredible cafés, but if you want a taste of tradition together with your cappuccino, go to one of the cafés notables, which are historical cafés spread throughout the city.
- Café Tortoni (Av. de Mayo 825): Parisian-style grand café in the heat of the city center. Worth waiting in line for. Do try the churros and hot chocolate!
- Las Violetas (Av. Rivadavia 3899): Iconic historical café in Almagro, featuring 1020s decor, superb pastries and a lovely atmosphere.
- La Biela (Av. Pres. Manuel Quintana 596): located right in front of the Recoleta cemetery, La Biela is the perfect spot to grab a cup of coffee after some sightseeing.
Looking for something more modern? Try these cafés:
- Atelier Fuerza (Ecuador 1283): we gotta be honest, we added La Fuerza because of the pastries, and the pastries alone. It is actually a bakery, but it’s THE bakery.
- Zarpado Café (Pasaje Echeverría Local 9): a hole-in-the-wall café in the newly opened pasaje Echeverría, Zarpado is a worthy offering among the up-and-coming Barrio Chino gastro scene.
- Sastre Café (Av. Díaz Vélez 4674): Tiny spot next to Parque Centenario – take your coffee to go and do try the pastries!
Choripán: Street meat by the riverside
Eating a good choripán by the riverside is a favorite pastime for many porteños. The Costanera comes alive during the weekend, as the city dwellers flee the streets for a taste of fresh air and street meat.
Order a choripán (chorizo sandwich) at one of the many street carts lining up the street at the Costanera. Other sandwich options are bondiola (pork) and lomito (steak). Add chimichurri sauce for an extra kick. If you fancy a choripán, but don’t want to go all the way to the Costanera, you can head to similar street carts in the Bosques de Palermo.
Not really into food carts? You can also try choripán at Chori in Palermo Soho (Thames 1653).
Ice Cream with Italian Flair
It’s no secret that Argentina has a sweet tooth, and with our Italian heritage, gelato quickly became a national passion. Heladerías are open all year round, and we even sell ice cream by the kilo, so you can enjoy it at home too.
The best heladerías in town are those that combine local flavors with Italian tradition, plus a side of innovation. These are some of our favorites (for more, check out our Buenos Aires Ice Cream Guide!).
Ice cream shops worth a visit:
- Scannapieco (Av. Álvarez Thomas 10): classic porteño ice-cream shop, with signature Italian flavors (and a mean crema chantilly!).
- Rapa Nui (Avenida Santa Fe 772): originally from the South, Rapa Nui has the best chocolate flavors (yes, plural) and berry sorbets.
- Obrador Florida (Soler 5063): a modern take on ice cream, this place features exotic creations and seasonal flavors only. A bit pricey, but worth it by far.
Bodegón dishes: homemade-style food
Bodegones are dinner-style restaurants. Typical bodegones feature vintage wooden decor, football (yes, we don’t call it soccer) memorabilia and family photos. No Buenos Aires food experience is complete without a visit to a bodegón.
Bodegones offer simple, hearty dishes in generous portions. Go hungry, and ask about the house specialties.
Typical bodegón dishes are the iconic tortilla with chorizo, milanesas with a side of fries and pasta dishes such as ravioli or cannelloni. Don’t skip dessert: try the flan mixto (with whipped cream and dulce de leche) or dulce de leche pancakes.
Our bodegón favorites:
- Los Galgos (Av. Callao 501): Much like El Preferido (part of our Palermo Tour), this is a refurbished bodegón that serves Argentine staple dishes.
- Cantina Los Amigos ( Loyola 701): Literally named “The Friends” this is a traditional gathering spot for friends and families in the neighborhood of Villa Crespo. Don’t expect fancy, refined dished but rather large portions that can’t be contained in a traditional plate. This place is better enjoyed with a group of people to sample more dishes.
- Barcelona (Avenida Córdoba 5895): traditional dishes, laid-back atmosphere and very affordable prices. Hot tip: try the apple tarantella for dessert.
Yerba Mate: that thingie with the straw
You’ve heard about it, but don’t quite get the hype: what is this yerba mate thing?
Mate is a typical argentine drink which is consumed following a strict code of rules. You must have an appropriate container (also called mate), which is typically made out of a calabash gourd. Then you add the chopped yerba mate leaves and put a metal straw (bombilla) in. Pour hot water, and then drink (never ever move the bombilla – this is considered poor manners).
The thing about mate is that you won’t be able to find it at a restaurant – most people have their own mate they drink at home or bring with them to work/school. However, you can try mate as part of the Argentine Experience (a crash course into Argentine cuisine for newcomers).
The other alternatives are to befriend and Argentine (which is actually quite easy) and get them to share mate with you, or buy your own mate (this makes for a great souvenir as well).
Gluten Free and Vegan Options
Gluten Free Buenos Aires Food: what are my options?
Steakhouses (Parrillas): Don Julio, Las Lilas and Corte Comedor all have gluten-free options. Campobravo is exclusively gluten free.
Cafés and bakeries: La Union Bakery and Gout Café are completely gluten-free. Felice is also a pretty good gluten-free restaurant and café.
Ice cream shops: Antiche Tentazioni, Cremolatti and Rapanui have gluten-free options (though Rapanui’s is prepackaged).
Pizza and Empanadas: Taccout and Jana Gluten Free are the go-to for the gluten-free crowd.
Where to eat vegan in Buenos Aires?
Bakeries: Sableé Vegana (Belgrano)
Cafés and Restaurants: Fifí Almacén, Mudra, Loving Hut (all in Palermo) are some top-notch vegan cafés. Ruta Jardín and Fauna are not fully vegan, but have good vegan options. La Reverde (City Center) is a vegan “parrilla”, for those who crave cruelty-free vegan steak. Sacro (Palermo) is a great vegan & vegetarian restaurant.
Pizza: Pizza Vegana (takeaway), Flipper (they have vegan and non vegan, same options for both menues). Güerrín also has a vegan option.
Ice cream shops: Obrador Florida, Antiche Tentazioni and Rapa Nui, while not entirely vegan, have great vegan flavors.