World City Guide

Restaurants

Argentines seem to live for their food. The dining experience is high on their list of daily activities, although most eat their main meal very late, usually at 2200 or later. Traditional and modern parrillia restaurants serve up a cornucopia of meats to a discerning clientele, while pizza and pasta restaurants are found on every street corner. But there has been a food revolution in recent years and many international influences have crept in, including modern Mediterranean and Asian food. Argentina also has some of the world’s best wines, which shouldn’t be missed. A service charge is not usually automatically added to the bill and a tip is appreciated. Price indicators below are for a three-course meal, without wine.

The restaurants below have been classed into four different pricing categories:
$ (up to US$5)
$$ (US$5 to US$10)
$$$ (US$10 to US$20)
$$$$ (over US$20)

Gastronomic

Au Bec Fin
This elegant Recoleta establishment is considered the best French restaurant in Buenos Aires, although its menu does display some Italian and Argentine influences. Situated in a beautiful old building built in Argentina’s Belle poque era, the three dining salons are warmly decorated with artwork and frescoes on the wall and glowing chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The rich and enticing food ranges from grilled lobster to lamb cutlets stuffed with olives, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes.

Vincente Lpez 1827
Tel: (011) 4807 3765.
Website: www.aubecfin.com.ar
Price: $$$$

El Bistro
It would be worth visiting the new Faena Hotel+Universe just to experience the dcor of this Philippe Starck designed restaurant. The bizarre interior is a dream world of pure white furnishings interspersed with unicorn heads mounted on the wall. No matter how odd this all seems, the surroundings cannot detract from the sophisticated international cuisine served up by attentive staff.

Martha Salotti 445
Tel: (011) 4010 9200.
Website: www.faenahotelanduniverse.com
Price: $$$$

La Bourgogne
The plush interior of the Alvear Palace Hotel flows flawlessly into the exquisite La Bourgogne. This is one of the best restaurants in town, where the city’s elite and VIP visitors from abroad come to dine. Executive 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
Price: $$$$

Business

El Faro
The smart, sizeable restaurant in the Hilton Hotel is convenient for business lunches and dinners. There is a wide choice of international dishes on offer in the stylish dining hall that is just minutes away from the financial district and the city’s key historic attractions.

Avenida Macacha Gemes 351, Puerto Madero
Tel: (011) 4891 0040.
Website: www.hilton.com
Price: $$$

Las Lilas
Located on the dockside at Puerto Madero, close to the city’s main business hotels, this restaurant is ideal for entertaining or being entertained. Based on a traditional parilla (Argentinian grill), this modern establishment serves quality meats produced in Argentine estancias in a smart, unpretentious environment. Red meat alternatives include grilled chicken or salmon with mushrooms.

Alicia Moreau de Justo 516, Puerto Madero
Tel: (011) 4313 1336.
Website: www.laslilas.com.ar
Price: $$$

Te Matar Ramirez
This fun Palermo eatery claims to be an aphrodisiac restaurant. Perhaps a bit risqu, 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.

Paraguay 4062, Palermo
Tel: (011) 4831 9156.
Website: www.tematareramirez.com
Price: $$$

Trendy

Baez
This is a sophisticated place, popular with the city’s young and fashionable crowd. The ultra-modern interior is complemented by delicious dishes, drawn from Mediterranean, Argentine and Japanese cuisine. Diners can enjoy a snack, such as a sushi dish, sipped down with a refreshing cocktail at the bar or sit down to something more substantial.

Baez 240, Las Caitas
Tel: (011) 4777 1313.
Website: www.baez.restaurant.com.ar
Price: $$

Bo Bo
This sumptuous diner beneath the hotel of the same name is one of Palermo’s hotspots. Dcor 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 favourites. Main course range from grilled salmon spiced with cinnamon to thrice cooked Patagonian lamb.

Guatemala 4883, Palermo
Tel: (011) 4774 0505.
Website: www.bobogourmet.com.ar
Price: $$$

Thymus
The inventive menu is international in flavour at this popular eatery located in the former home of famous Argentine sculptor Martn Vergara. The creative team has selected a unique set of dishes to wow a smart and fashionable clientele. Main courses include trout with lentil puree and cream of celery and coconut milk, and roast duck with a ‘tian’ of potato, goat’s cheese and a pear and orange chutney.

Lerma 525, Malabia
Tel: (011) 4772 1936
Website: www.restaurant-thymus.com.ar
Price: $$$

Budget

Galerias Pacifico
Most shopping malls contain food halls where you can pick up cheap and simple rpida meals. At Galerias Pacifico there is a choice of parrilla cooked steaks, pastas and pizzas, deli salads, sushi and burgers. And the best part is that you can claim a free lunch if you spend US$150 or more in the shops.

Calle Florida and Calle Crdoba
Tel: (011) 5555 5110.
Website: www.galeriaspacifico.com.ar
Price: $

La Vieja Rotiseria
This is a fine place to taste quality Argentine meat at a low price. This parrilla caf 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.
Price: $

Social Paraso
Social Paraso is a popular lunchtime hangout in Palermo Viejo. With a menu del da under Ar$15, it presents one of the best budget options in the city. The small and friendly place has simple dcor 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.
Price: $

Personal Recommendations

Artemisia
In a city of ardent meat eaters, vegetarian restaurants are few and far between. But in bohemian Palermo Viejo, there is this wonderful restaurant serving 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.
Price: $$

La Strada
Good honest Italian food is served at this smart modern restaurant in Recoleta. Complete with pavement caf it is a good place to watch people come and go on one of the district’s main thoroughfares. The specialty of the house is, of course, pasta, which comes in many regional varieties. They also serve a knock-out tiramis.

Vicente Lpez 2028, Recoleta
Tel: (011) 4801 1771.
Price: $$

Sudesta
South East Asian food is available at this fashionable corner restaurant in Palermo. Tables are tended by friendly Argentine staff who serve up predominately Vietnamese dishes with Thai and Malaysian influences. There are plenty of noodle dishes to choose from, cooked with the freshest local ingredients. This is a fun restaurant, which fuels the clientele who invariably move on to the surrounding bars and clubs.

Guatemala 5602, Palermo
Tel: (011) 4776 3777.
Price: $$