Best Restaurants in Buenos Aires: Buenos Aires has stepped up its foodie game in recent years. Sure, you can still go to the family-run, traditional parrillas for a juicy steak, or sip a café con Leche with three media luna at the corner cafe. However, craft beer, coffee, and molecular gastronomy have surfaced and begun to spread in the city. Stir up the noodles one night and Shabbat the next, then pace yourself for an 18-course meal. It is all possible here, as the food scene is a mix of classic and contemporary, Argentine and exotic.
The 20 Best Restaurants in Buenos Aires
- Obrador de Panes & Galletas
Obrador takes traditional Argentine recipes for tartas (savory pies), soups, and bread, and prepares them with organic vegetables, a citrus base, and colorful garnishes. They bake using seasonal ingredients, with squash beet soup in winter being swapped out for tomato melon gazpacho in summer. Every item on the menu is sure to satisfy, whether you get a chicken curry sandwich or a lemon pie with whipped cream icing. A mishmash of colorful furniture and cutlery will make you feel like you’re eating in someone’s kitchen instead of a restaurant, and the warm, helpful staff complete the cozy ambiance.
- Nola
Started as a Puerta cerada (closed door restaurant) by a transplanted New Orleans native, NOLA serves Southern comfort food such as cornbread, red beans and rice, and gumbo. The star of the menu is the deep-fried buttermilk chicken; Order the fried chicken as is, or get it in a sandwich or salad. Once you’ve sorted your meal, order a sweet tea or choose from their extensive selection of craft beers. Be sure to save room for a mini pecan pie at the end.
- San Paolo Pizzería
In a city known for thick-crust pizza with mountains of mozzarella, San Paolo gives you something else entirely: Neapolitan-style thin-crust pizza, seasonal ingredients, and fior di latte. Born in Naples and started by a breed chef, it’s no surprise that it has been named the best pizzeria in South America by the boys in Italy. Sure, you can order a single pie, but their dinner menu (which includes an appetizer, perfect pizza, dessert, and drinks) will give you the best value for your money. Make a reservation as soon as it’s packed.
- Cantina Sunae
Paper lanterns and rattan fixtures, twinkling strings of lights, and fewer Asian decorations of the cuisines of the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia are ready to welcome you to Cantina Suna. Once a Puerta Cerada, this cozy restaurant is now a demand of the Palermo Hollywood diner locale. Curries, tropical salads, fish fillets, and key lime pies grace the menu, and their Braised Burnt Coconut Beef melts into an aromatic swirl of flavor at the first bite. Expect professional staff, an open kitchen, and pandan meringue.
- Buenos Aires Verde
Plain and clean, the vegetarian/vegan restaurant Buenos Aires Verde features a modern design, wooden interior, and a raw chocolate bar prominently displayed in the front. Omnivores often bring sampling plates to their tables, like Neapolitan Tofu. A section of the menu is devoted entirely to raw entrées, which include lasagna and power pizza. End your meal with a chocolate mousse or a giant truffle filled with cashew cream, surrounded by a delicate chocolate shell.
- Pizzería Güerrin
A sleek, lovely institution located on Avenida Corrientes (Buenos Aires’ equivalent of Broadway), Pizzeria Guerin sells arguably the best Argentine-style pizza in town. Like the surrounding area, the kitchen has more than 1,500 pizza-making, cooking, and selling activity daily. The two serving floors are usually full by 10 pm. Ahead, classic pies like muzza (plain mozzarella) and Napo (mozzarella with tomatoes, garlic, olives, and oregano) are brought to the table with waiters for large family parties or couples. If you want to grab and go, just order as many slices as you want with a pint of beer.
- El Banco Rojo
It’s a good place: burgers, fries, and politically incorrect WiFi passwords. The kitchen churns out empanadas, sandwiches, burgers, and taco plates of the week. There’s craft beer, regular beer, and Chili Bomb (a shot of jalapeno-infused vodka mixed with energy drink speed). Dog- and kid-friendly (and with extensive patio seating), this is a great place to watch big soccer matches on TV with the people who care. You’ll cry sweet tears of joy when you order tacos de la casa “Picante” because they’ll be really spicy—a rarity in Buenos Aires.
- Niño Gordo
Nino Gordo may seem hidden, but it’s been blowing up Instagram since it opened in 2017. A fusion of Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Argentinian food, Nino Gordo is known for its creative plates, innovative cocktails, and surprising flavors. Some people love the decor: red lights, a large bar with manga sculptures, floating plastic jellyfish, and Japanese toilets. Menu items at this hipster haven include miso sweet bread, duck and squid ink dumplings, beef tataki, and cocktails… kimchi. Enter this world of fantasy for dinner, open Tuesday through Sunday only.
- Nihonbashi
For great sushi or shabu shabu (Japanese hot pot), go here. The kimono-clad staff is quick to answer any menu questions or make recommendations. Take off your shoes and sit on their tatami (floor mats) and appreciate the tea house-style decor. Eat Miyako (cold tofu garnished with green onions) while you wait on the table for your shabu shabu to boil. If you order sushi, try the Octopus with Vinaigrette Dipping Sauce.
- La Carnicería
This hip, modern parrilla sourced grass-fed meat from a family farm in the Pampas. It’s small, smoky, and ready to revamp classic dishes for the millennial crowd. Start with their Provelta, a big ol’ slab of grilled cheese with pears, salsa criola, and some fresh greens. Entrees here are huge, so bring a friend, lover, or family member along to share your meal. For a hunk of grilled beef, ask for corte parrilla. For a piece of meat that was oh-so-lovely smoked for hours, get the Corte Ahumado. If you like your meat spicy, hit up their hot sauce collection.
- DOGG
Portenos (people born and raised in Buenos Aires) love a good Pancho (hot dog). What sets DOGG apart from other hot dog vendors in the city? For starters, their dogs are grilled rather than boiled in the typical Argentine tradition. Chef and founder Maximo Togni developed the recipes for the Meat and Parmesan Cheese Buns. DOGG dog bites will take on the savory flavors of coriander, paprika, garlic, and black pepper with a honey undertone. With multiple locations around town, quick service, and indoor and outdoor seating, Dog’s offers well-done fast food and killer fries.
- Saigón
Grab a stool near the open bar of this old Asian noodle house and watch the chef battle the giant flames while preparing ginger pork, sautéed beef noodles, and citrus chicken for a vermicelli dish. Grab a craft beer (the selection has a solid lineup of some of the best breweries in town, including Strange Brewing) and get to know your neighbors, as the place usually doesn’t have an empty seat at dinner time. Plus, they’re one of the only places in town that serve pho.
- Sheikob’s Bagels
Owner Jacob Eichenbaum-Pickser has come a long way from slinging bagels from the back of his bike to the caffeine addicts in Palermo. Born and raised in a New Yorker, he now has his own brick-and-mortar bagel shop in Buenos Aires, serving latte coffee and aromatic cream cheeses such as dill and scallions. Have a bagel on its own or bite into one of the bagel sandwiches (we recommend the Mexican with ripe tomatoes, jalapeno cream cheese, and cilantro). However, Chekhov is not just breakfast or lunch; They organize concerts, storytelling, and even karaoke events in the evenings.
- Don Julio
Consistently named one of the best restaurants in guidebooks and restaurant awards, Don Julio has built up a strong reputation as the best parrilla in town. They grill super thick, grass-fed beef steak in their open kitchen as locals and tourists decide whether they want bife de chorizo (sirloin strip steak), lomito (tenderloin steak), or another classic Argentine cut. The smartly dressed staff can help even the most novice of steak eaters by adequately explaining each cut on offer. With rustic decor and an extensive wine list featuring several selections from Argentina, this steakhouse is the place of dreams.
- Aramburu
Aramburu offers original tasting menus in Buenos Aires, with a focus on originality and the idea of creating an experience, not just the food. They serve high-end international cuisine and serve 18 courses with optional wine pairings. Edible creations can easily be placed here in the form of abstract sculptures at the New York Met. The menu varies, but expect surprising pairings, several meat dishes, and delightful desserts.
- Sacro
At the Palermo vegetarian restaurant Sacro, you can expect kimchi dumplings with ginger foam, activated charcoal empanadas filled with mushrooms and olives, and jack fruit bars. Pair these small plates with lavender or passion fruit cocktail—unless a smoked mezcal or biodynamic wine is more your speed. The menu consists mostly of spins on Asian, African, and Argentine dishes and imaginative cocktails. The interior is sleek and fresh, featuring blue velvet booths, patiribi wood tables, terrazzo floors, and of course, lots of plants.
- Salvaje Bakery
The heart of this bakery and cafe is their eight-year-old sourdough starter. Well, he and the owner, German Torres, were renowned for their passion for quality. Torres was one of the first bakers in Buenos Aires to offer naturally yeasted and fermented bread. Operated from a renovated garage, Salvaje is small with brick and tile walls. Six days a week, customers come here to buy rye, country Rotis, medialunas, and cold cut sandwiches. The coffee does not disappoint, with shots being pulled at the La Marzocco espresso machine.
- Kebab Roll
For authentic kebabs, samosas, aloo gobhi, chicken tikka, and delicious mint chutney, this under-the-radar Palermo Hollywood spot will satisfy your craving for Pakistani cuisine. Go for lunch, dinner, or after a night out at the adjoining bar – there is no official closing time, and the kebab rolls are open as long as there are customers. The menu rotates, but try the rich, flavorful Carrot Cardamom Dessert if it’s on offer. Personal and with lots of stories, the owner can usually be found outside smoking when not behind their oven.
- JAAM
Started by a group of strange friends, Jams surprised diners in the San Telmo restaurant scene by offering an entirely vegetarian menu. They enjoy making pickles and making crazy plates, like their 25-Vegetable Salad. However, they don’t limit themselves to salads only: croquettes, bars, lentil leaves, and coconut blossoms all feature on their inventive menu. Open for lunch and dinner, Thursday through Saturday, expect colorful staff and strong drinks.
- Mishiguene
Michigane takes old Jewish dishes (as you would find in the homes of Jewish immigrants in Buenos Aires) and lovingly takes them fresh in the modern world with pastrami, baba ghanoush, and potato dumplings. Pair your platters with a cocktail or one of their selection of Argentine wines. Order à la carte if you don’t want the full-tasting menu. Go on a Friday night for the Shabbat celebration, which features a band playing klezmer music and a rowdy audience clapping in time.
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