Food & Drink — The Best Restaurants
Buenos Aires is one of the most exciting gastro cities in the world — and thanks to the Blue Dollar, outrageously cheap by European standards. A dinner that would cost €80 in Berlin or Munich is available here for €20–30. Here are the restaurants you need to know:
Parrillas — Argentina's Sacred Steakhouses
★★★ The Parrilla — Temple of Meat
A visit to Buenos Aires without a steak in a parrilla is like Rome without pasta. The art of Argentine grilling is fundamentally different: low heat, long cooking time, only salt. No marinade, no seasoning — the meat speaks for itself. Here are the best:
★★★ Don Julio — The No. 1
Guatemala 4691, Palermo. Regularly among the Top 50 Restaurants in the World (2023: 14th place in the "World's 50 Best Restaurants"). Owner Pablo Rivero breeds his own cattle in the Buenos Aires province — the meat quality is unparalleled. The wine list is one of the best in the country (over 400 positions). What to order: Bife de Chorizo (a punto!), Entraña, Provoleta as a starter, with a Malbec from the Reserva list. Dessert: Panqueque con Dulce de Leche.
Prices: Steak 8,000–15,000 ARS (approx. 8–15€). Reservation ESSENTIAL — at least 2–3 weeks in advance! Without reservation: Come at 7:30 PM (the line starts at 8 PM, but Argentinians eat only from 9 PM — you have a head start).
★★★ La Cabrera — The People's Favorite
Cabrera 5099, Palermo. The huge portions are legendary: A whole tray of sides comes with the steak — baked potatoes, grilled peppers, pumpkin puree, ratatouille, and more. The atmosphere is lively, the wine selection excellent. What to order: Ojo de Bife (Rib-Eye, 500g!), with the house Malbec Reserva. Come hungry.
Prices: Steak 7,000–12,000 ARS (approx. 7–12€). Waiting time often 30–60 Min. (but there's Malbec and Provoleta at the bar). Reservation recommended. Two branches next to each other — both equally good.
★★★ La Brigada — The Football Steakhouse
Estados Unidos 465, San Telmo. The walls are covered with football memorabilia — signed jerseys, photos, balls. But the true fame lies in the meat: The waiter cuts the steak with a spoon at the table — that's how tender it is. What to order: Bife de Lomo (Filet), Molleja (sweetbread, the locals' delicacy — butter-tender, crispy grilled). The empanadas are the best in San Telmo.
Prices: Steak 8,000–14,000 ARS (approx. 8–14€). Reservation necessary! Atmosphere: rustic, warm, authentic.
★★ El Desnivel — The Locals' Parrilla
Defensa 855, San Telmo. No frills, no Instagram design — just perfect meat at low prices. The parrilla of the Porteños: Here, the taxi driver generation eats next to the antique dealer. What to order: Bife de Chorizo with fries and salad — under 5,000 ARS (5€) for a complete steak meal. No other restaurant in BA offers this value for money.
★★ El Preferido de Palermo — The Institution
Borges 2108, Palermo. An almacén (grocery store) from the 1950s, which is also one of the city's most charming restaurants: wooden shelves full of wine bottles, antique scales, black-and-white photos on the walls. The kitchen mixes Argentine classics with Spanish influence: Rabas (fried calamari), Tortilla Española, Lomo al Verdeo (filet with spring onions). Legendary: the Matambre a la Pizza (thinly sliced flank steak with cheese and tomato sauce baked on top).
Prices: Main courses 5,000–10,000 ARS (5–10€). No reservation system — just come and wait (rarely long). Lunch and dinner.
Pizza, Cafés & Street Food
★★★ Pizza Güerín — The Legend
Av. Corrientes 1368, Microcentro. Since 1932 THE mecca for Argentine pizza — which is fundamentally different from Italian: thick dough, absurd amounts of cheese (here simply called "Muzza"), and the Fugazzeta (cheese and onions, no tomato sauce) is the local specialty. Best to order a slice of Muzza and a slice of Fugazzeta standing at the counter on the ground floor (faster and more authentic than in the restaurant upstairs). Also: Faíná (chickpea bread) and a bottle of Coca-Cola or beer.
A slice of pizza: 800–1,500 ARS (under 1.50€). Open almost around the clock — perfect as a midnight snack after clubbing. Address: Av. Corrientes, next to the Obelisco.
★★★ Café Tortoni — The Oldest Café
Av. de Mayo 825, Microcentro. Since 1858, the most famous café in Argentina — a "Café Notable" under historical protection. Marble tables, wood paneling, Art Nouveau lamps, and the ghosts of Borges, Alfonsina Storni, and Carlos Gardel, who were regulars here. What to order: Café con Leche and Churros con Chocolate (fried dough pastries with hot chocolate for dipping) — the classic Porteño breakfast.
The queue can be long (especially at lunchtime and on weekends) — come in the morning before 10 AM or in the afternoon after 4 PM. Prices are slightly higher than in normal cafés, but it's about the experience. In the basement, there are tango shows in the evening (approx. 5,000 ARS).
★★ Choripán — Argentina's Best Street Food
The Argentine chorizo (grilled sausage — spicy or "criolla"/mild) in a sliced bun with chimichurri (parsley-garlic-oil sauce) and optional salsa criolla (chopped tomatoes, onions, peppers). At every street stand, on every market, in front of every football stadium. The best ones are at the Sunday market in San Telmo, at the Feria de Mataderos, and at the stands in Costanera Norte. A choripán costs 500–1,500 ARS (0.50–1.50€).
★★ Fernet con Coca — Argentina's National Drink No. 2
After Mate, Fernet Branca with Coca-Cola is Argentina's most iconic drink — a bitter Italian herbal liqueur mixed with cola (ratio about 30:70). Sounds strange, tastes surprisingly good, and is ubiquitous in Argentina (especially in Córdoba!). In every bar, in every club, at every asado. The mix is served in a large glass (the "Fernet ferneteado"). Try it — you'll either be hooked or baffled.
Bars, Cocktails & Nightlife
★★★ Florería Atlántico — The Best Bar in South America
Arroyo 872, Retiro. Regularly among the World's 50 Best Bars. The entrance looks like an ordinary flower shop — behind the flowers, a staircase leads to a hidden basement with a vaulted ceiling, brick walls, and one of the most creative cocktail menus in the world. Each drink tells a story of Argentine immigration. What to order: The "Clásico Porteño" or simply trust the bartender.
Cocktails: 3,000–6,000 ARS (3–6€). From 7 PM, no reservation — but the queue can be long. Come before 8 PM or after midnight.
★★ Presidente Bar
Alvear Palace Hotel, Av. Alvear 1891, Recoleta. The most elegant cocktail bar in the city — in the lobby of the legendary Alvear Palace Hotel. Crystal chandeliers, leather sofas, bartenders in white jackets. What to order: A classic Negroni or the "Presidente" (house creation). The most expensive bar on this list — but an experience.
★★ Verne Club
Av. Medrano 1475, Palermo. Speakeasy bar behind an inconspicuous door (press the bell!). The interior is dedicated to Jules Verne — Victorian steampunk aesthetics, gears, old maps. The cocktails are theatrically served — some come in test tubes, others smoke. Very instagrammable, but also really good.
Nightlife — How it Works
Buenos Aires has one of the wildest nightlife scenes in the world — but only if you know the rhythm:
| Time | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 20:00–22:00 | Dinner — no Argentine eats before 9 PM. Reserve for 9:30 PM |
| 23:00–01:00 | Previa (Pre-drinking) — in a bar or at home with friends with Fernet con Coca and pizza |
| 01:00–02:00 | Clubs open — but it's still empty! Only tourists are in the club before 2 AM |
| 02:00–03:00 | The crowd trickles in. The DJ sets really start |
| 03:00–06:00 | The Party — now it's time to dance, the energy level is at its peak |
| 06:00–07:00 | After — some clubs continue (Cocoliche, Bahrein), others close. Breakfast in a 24-hour café |
The Best Clubs:
- Niceto Club (Palermo): The most versatile — Wednesdays "Club 69" (queer-friendly, colorful, wild), other nights Indie, Rock, Electronic. The Zizek party is legendary
- Crobar (Palermo): The techno temple — international DJs, large dance floor, good sound system
- Club Araoz (Palermo): House and Deep House in an intimate setting
- Bahrein (Microcentro): Two floors, goes until dawn and beyond
- La Tangente (Palermo): Experimental electronic music, art installations
💡 Tipp
The golden rule of nightlife in Buenos Aires: If you're in the club at midnight, you're alone. Argentinians don't arrive before 2 AM. Before that: Bar-hopping in Palermo Hollywood (the best bars: Uptown, Casa Cavia, Nicky Harrison). On weekends, the night is from Thursday to Sunday — during the week, it's quieter.