Buenos Aires, Argentina — Food and Dining
Restaurants in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Restaurants
Expensive
ElBistro
It would be worth visiting the new Faena Hotel + Universe just to experience the décor of this Philippe Starck designed restaurant. The bizarre interior is a dream world of pure red and white furnishings interspersed with unicorn heads mounted on the wall. The surreal surroundings don't detract from the sophisticated international cuisine served up by attentive staff.
Martha Salotti 445
Tel: (011) 4010 9200.
Website: www.faenahotelanduniverse.com
LaBourgogne
The traditional, plush interior of the Alvear Palace Hotel flows flawlessly into the exquisite La Bourgogne. This is one of the best restaurants in Buenos Aires, where the city's elite and VIP visitors from abroad come to dine. Chef Jean Paul Bondoux delights the most demanding gourmands with a refined blend of French and International cuisine, or diners can opt for meats cooked on the rotisserie grill.
Avenida Alvear 1891
Tel: (011) 4805 3857.
Website: www.alvearpalace.com
MAAT
This 'Private Gourmet Club' allows non-members in to dine three times before they have to join the club. Superlative French cuisine with just a hint of Argentine and Italian influences is served up with a suitably refined wine list. The service is equally sublime. Open for breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner. Make sure to have a cocktail in the library before or after your meal.
Sucre 2168, Belgrano
Tel: (011) 4896 1818.
Website: www.maatclubprivado.com.ar
Moderate
Artemisia
Even carnivorous Buenos Aires is not without its vegetarian restaurants. In bohemian Palermo Viejo, this wonderful restaurant serves simple homemade natural cuisine. Pasta, rice and soup dishes are brimming with vegetable content, and all can be accompanied by delicious homemade bread.
Cabrera 3877, Palermo Viejo
Tel: (011) 4863 4242.
Website: www.artemisiaresto.com.ar
BoBo
This sumptuous diner beneath the hotel of the same name is one of Palermo's hotspots. Décor is warm and inviting, with dark wood finishes. Cuisine is a smart and well-presented mix of Mediterranean and Eastern influences fused with home-grown favorites. Main courses range from grilled salmon spiced with cinnamon to thrice cooked Patagonian lamb.
Guatemala 4883, Palermo
Tel: (011) 4774 0505.
Website: www.bobohotel.com
TeMataréRamirez
This fun Palermo eatery claims to be an aphrodisiac restaurant. Perhaps a bit risqué, the dishes include such delicious concoctions as 'The Empire of Desires', which is a dish of noodles with chicken goujons and vegetables in a hot and spicy oriental marinade. Some evenings there are shows, including laid-back jazz performances and romantic cabaret.
Gorriti 5054, Palermo
Tel: (011) 4831 9156.
Website: www.tematareramirez.com
Thymus
The inventive menu is international in flavor at this popular eatery located in the former home of famous Argentine sculptor Martín Vergara. The creative team has selected a unique set of dishes to wow a smart and fashionable clientele. Duck, cashew and cheese crème brûlée is just one of the unusual combinations on offer.
Lerma 525, Palermo
Tel: (011) 4772 1936.
Website: www.thymusrestaurant.com.ar
Cheap
GaleríasPacífico
Most shopping malls contain food halls where you can pick up cheap and simple rápida meals. At Galerías Pacífico there is a choice of parrilla (grill) cooked steaks, pastas and pizzas, deli salads, sushi and burgers.
Calle Florida and Calle Córdoba
Tel: (011) 5555 5110.
Website: www.progaleriaspacifico.com.ar
LaViejaRotisería
This is a fine place to taste quality Argentine meat at a low price. This parrilla café is extremely popular and atmospheric, where guests can taste a variety of cooked meats and steaks without breaking the bank.
Defensa 963, San Telmo
Tel: (011) 4362 5660.
SocialParaíso
Social Paraíso is a popular lunchtime hangout in Palermo Viejo. With a bargain set menu, it's one of the best budget restaurants in Buenos Aires. The small and friendly place has simple décor and a good atmosphere. The food is always delicious and dishes range from wholesome staples to more exotic combinations.
Honduras 5182, Palermo Viejo
Tel: (011) 4831 4556.
Nightlife
Buenos Aires's nightlife is one of the most active in the world. Nightlife really means 'night'-life with the young and wealthy porteños, as they usually only embark on their evening's entertainment after eating around 2200. They'll while away a few hours in a bar or café and won't even contemplate entering a club until gone 0200 when partying will just be warming up. Drunkenness among the locals is almost unheard of as the porteños only consume moderate amounts of alcohol.
Palermo continues to be popular with the fashionable crowd, especially the areas of Las Cañitas and Palermo Hollywood, which are packed with trendy bars, clubs and restaurants. The streets surrounding La Recoleta Cemetery are also good places to go out, especially at the weekends when the pavement bars and cafés remain busy until the action moves to the nearby clubs. A number of drinking options, including English and Irish pubs, exist on and around Calle Reconquista and Avenida 25 de Mayo, while San Telmo is a focal point for Bohemian bars and tango shows. Puerto Madero has become increasingly popular for sunset drinks and dining.
Nightlife is at its peak Thursday to Saturday but there's always something happening throughout the week. Bars and clubs offer a range of music and entertainment options to meet all tastes, from tango shows to techno nightclubs.
Bars
Gran Bar Danzon
Located in the center is Buenos Aires's longest established wine bar, Gran Bar Danzon, which is a fashionable place to sip Argentine wines and cocktails.
Libertad 1161
Tel: (011) 4811 1108.
Website: www.granbardanzon.com.ar
La Cigale
Many bars offer food and live music so sometimes it is difficult to make a distinction between a place offering straightforward drinks and those pertaining to be restaurants or live music venues. La Cigale is a lively bar in the city center attracting the young with its promise of live music and DJs.
Avenida 25 de Mayo 722
Tel: (011) 4312 8275.
Único
Another popular place, in Hollywood, the trendy part of Palermo, is Único, which lures revelers with loud music.
Calle Honduras 5604
Tel: (011) 4775 6693.
Clubs
Crobar
Crobar, in Palermo, is one of the established ‘mega-clubs' in Buenos Aires where you can dance to mainstream house music amid a smartly dressed, wealthy set.
Paseo de la Infantana Isabel
Tel: (011) 4778 1500.
Website: www.crobar.com.ar
Kika
Kika is a long-standing hotspot in Buenos Aires's nocturnal wonderland.
Honduras 5339, Palermo Soho
Tel: (011) 4137 5311.
Website: www.kikaclub.com.ar
Pacha
For the super-club experience and the very best in national and international dance music DJs, head to Pacha.
Costanera Norte and La Pampa
Tel: (011) 4788 4280.
Website: www.pachabuenosaires.com
Live Music
Bar Sur
It's easy to become sucked into the tango obsession that prevails in Buenos Aires and there are numerous venues to listen to, watch or participate in tango. For a reasonably priced and authentic taste of a tango, make your way to Bar Sur, where audience participation is encouraged.
Calle Estados Unidos 299, San Telmo
Tel: (011) 4362 6086.
Website: www.bar-sur.com.ar
Café Tortoni
A great many of Buenos Aires's bars and clubs offer live music as part of their menu, but good options include the Café Tortoni. The most famous café in the city, it offers live tango and jazz in La Bodega downstairs.
Avenida De Mayo 825
Tel: (011) 4342 4328.
Website: www.cafetortoni.com.ar
El Viejo Almacén
El Viejo Almacén offers a tango dinner and show.
Avenida Independencia and Balcarce, San Telmo
Tel: (011) 4307 6689.
Website: www.viejo-almacen.com.ar
