Restaurants
Beef is king in the Buenos Aires food world; Argentina is famous
for the best, juiciest, tastiest and most tender steaks served in
its
Parrillas (steak houses). These are followed closely by
various Spanish and Italian pleasures, as well as sushi, fusion,
and vegetarian cuisine.
There are numerous
al paso (walk through) places in the
city, selling hot-dogs (
panchos), beef sausages
(
chorizos), and
milanesas (breaded, fried cutlets).
You can buy a
mate, the most traditional social
non-alcoholic beverage, in any Coto or Carrefour supermarket. Be
sure to try a gourmet
helado (ice cream) and
empanadas (small pastries stuffed with combinations of
cheese and meats), or the
alfajor, an Argentinean
cookie.
Various small restaurants offer foreign meals, mostly Japanese,
Chinese, Thai, Arabic, Spanish and Italian. Try Guerrin for pizza,
and El Farol for typical Argentinean food (Spanish, Italian and
meat). Café Tortoni is an old, classic and luxurious
café with a pool hall and tango show. Most locals head out
to dinner around 9pm.
Expensive and luxurious restaurants can be enjoyed at Puerto
Madero and Palermo. The Grill at the Marriott Plaza Hotel serves
superb international cuisine. The main areas to go out are Puerto
Madero, Recoleta, Palermo SoHo and Palermo Hollywood, home to
trendy stores, restaurants and bars.
| Gran Cafe Tortoni |
$$$$$ | Local |
A grand coffee house with a longstanding history, Café
Tortoni is a must see on your Buenos Aires exploration.
Unpretentious and with an olde worlde charm, patrons can rest a
while in the high ceiling dining hall while sipping on a freshly
brewed Argentinean coffee. Snacks are on offer throughout the day
with a hint of a Spanish flair. Visit any day of the week and
perhaps catch a glimpse of one of the many tango shows or Jazz
concerts that take place on the small stage.
Address: Avenida de Mayo 825
Telephone: (0)11 4342 4328
| Cabańa las Lilas |
$$$$$ | Local |
Presidents, movie stars, and Porteños come here for the
best meat in Buenos Aires. In fact, the restaurant has its own
estancia (ranch), which raises its cattle that is used for
its famous grilled lomito and
cuadrillo (beef cheeks). The
wine cellar is well stocked with superb Argentine wines and the
service is impeccable. If you have to wait long for a table, as you
undoubtedly will, enjoy a glass of champagne in the cigar bar.
Reservations recommended. Open daily from 12pm to midnight.
Address: Av. Alicia Moreau de Justo 516
Telephone: (0)11 4313 1336
| Café Victoria |
$$$$$ | Café |
After a day exploring the sites in Recoleta, Café
Victoria is the perfect place to sit and have a coffee or enjoy a
complete meal. Its outdoor patio is surrounded by flowers and
shaded by an enormous tree providing excellent people-watching
opportunities. The three-course express lunch menu offers a salad,
main dish, and dessert, with a drink included and afternoon tea
with pastries and scones is served daily from 4 to 7pm. In the
evenings the café comes alive with live music serenading
guests on the patio and makes a wonderful spot to soak up the buzz
and ambience of Recoleta by night. Open daily for breakfast, lunch
and dinner.
Address: Roberto M. Ortiz 1865
Telephone: (0)11 4804 0016
For modern Argentinean cuisine, silky red wines and a
comfortable contemporary atmosphere, try out the renowned Sucre
restaurant. With both a lunch and supper menu, this Argentinean
favourite serves up mouth-watering meat dishes and light fusion
tapas. Enjoy a predrink at the attractive bar and soak up the
lively ambiance of this well-established Buenos Aires eatery.
Address: Mariscal Jose de Sucre
Telephone: (0)11 4782 9082
Restaurant owner Adrián Fuentes opened B'art, after
returning to Argentina from the United States after the September
11 attacks where he now serves the best Argentine meats, many of
which are used for dishes prepared with both Argentine methods and
old-world Spanish traditions. The building has been beautifully
restored and uses such antiques as turn-of-the-20th-century brick
pulleys for decorative yet functional tasks, like carrying wine.
B'art's menu features such Spanish delights as tapas, casseroles
and pinchos, a kind of kebab. The diverse menu features vegetarian
dishes and pastas and delicacies, such as rabbit, are also served
in various forms. Adrián invites artists to perform but at
the same time is relaxed enough to allow guests to tinkle away at
the keys of the piano while waiting to be seated in his stunning
restaurant.
Address: Borges 2180, Palermo
Telephone: (0)11 4777 1112
| Lola |
$$$$$ | International |
The ambience at this well-known international restaurant is
relaxed with fresh flowers and plants creating a springlike mood
and having recently undergone a complete makeover, the dining room
has become one of Buenos Aires's brightest and most contemporary.
Caricatures of major personalities adorn the walls, and the
French-trained chef, who also prepares dishes for those with
special dietary requirements, creates dishes such as chicken
fricassee with leek sauce, beef tenderloin stuffed with
Gruyère cheese and mushrooms, and grilled trout with
lemon-grass butter and zucchini. A fine dining experience is
guaranteed for all who visit Lola. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Reservations recommended.
Address: Roberto M. Ortiz 1805, Recoleta
E-mail: info@lolarestaurant.com
Telephone: (0)11 4804 5959
| De Olivas i Lustres |
$$$$$ | Mediterranean |
De Olivas i Lustres was opened several years ago and seemed to
set the trend for what this neighbourhood was soon to become;
gastronomic heaven. The small, rustic dining room displays
antiques, olive jars, and wine bottles, and each candlelit table is
individually decorated; one resembles a writer's desk, while
another is sprinkled with seashells. The menu is reasonably priced
and features Mediterranean dishes such as light soups, fresh fish,
and sautéed vegetables. The breast of duck with lemon and
honey is a must. The use of native and Incan ingredients in various
dishes makes this restaurant unique. If there was ever a place to
eat alligator like the Guarani natives, this is the place to do it.
Open Monday to Saturday for dinner only. Reservations
recommended.
Address: Gorriti 3972, Palermo
Telephone: (0)11 4867 3388
A well-known restaurant among tourists, La Cabrera is situated
on a corner and makes a wonderful setting for outdoor dining. The
charming inside dining room with exposed brick walls and antique
posters is just as beautiful. La Cabrera serves some of the finest
meat in Buenos Aires with portions guaranteed to suit their prices.
One of the restaurant's specialties is Pamplona, a roll made of
various meats and sauces. The pork ribs with a sauce of dried
tomatoes and pesto is a definite must and all meals are served with
a setting of olives, spreads, sauces, breads, and other appetizers.
Open Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner, Mondays and Tuesdays
dinner only. Reservations recommended.
Address: Cabrera 5099, Palermo
Telephone: (0)11 4831 7002
| The Sushi Club |
$$$$$ | Japanese |
The Sushi Club is part of a very popular chain, but of all the
locations throughout Buenos Aires, this is by far the nicest
outlet. The Sushi Club lives up to its name, serving sushi and
other Japanese cuisine in a club-like interior with orange, black,
and metallic elements as part of the décor, creating a
trendy dining environment. The selection of sushi rolls is
extensive with many taking themes from various countries and
creatively using ingredients to match. Other highlights on the menu
include plenty of fish and beef seasoned the Japanese way. Open
daily for lunch and dinner.
Address: Ortega Y Gasset 1812, Palermo
Telephone: 0810 222 SUSHI (toll-free)
Since 1933, Ligure has attracted the likes of ambassadors,
artists and business leaders. The restaurant's nautical theme is
evident with fishnets, dock ropes and masts adorning different
corners of the room, while captain's wheels have been transformed
into to chandeliers. Unlike most French-inspired cuisine, the
portions are enormous, but true to form, are meticulously prepared
and presented. Seafood options include the Patagonian tooth fish
sautéed with butter, prawns, and mushrooms, or the trout
glazed with an almond sauce. The beef chateaubriand is excellent,
and the
bife de lomo (filet mignon) can be prepared seven
different ways, some even prepared at the table! Open daily for
lunch and dinner. Reservations recommended.
Address: Juncal 855, Microcentre
Telephone: (0)11 4393 0644
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