Young couple visiting Buenos Aires and tasting the local street food snack in the street fair: a choripan, which is a grilled chorizo sandwich.
What to eat and drink in Argentina
Beef and malbec may be Argentina’s most well-known food and drink, but there is more to the country’s food and drink scene than perfectly grilled steak and red wine.
Due in part to the immigration of millions of Europeans to Argentina at the turn of the 20th century, the country’s cuisine is an eclectic mix of European traditions with a distinct South American twist: Italian-style ice cream, empanadas from Spain, wine from vineyards planted by the French, German-style sausages and cheese, and yerba mate a herbal tea that is native to South America. And in a country as large as Argentina, it’s no surprise that each region has its own specialties. Here’s our list of the top food and drink to try in Argentina.
Argentinians are the biggest consumers of beef in the world. Grilling beef is a tradition rooted in the mythologized gauchos who roamed the pampas grasslands tending to cattle and slow-roasting meat over an open flame, a custom ritualized in the form of the asado. One of the best places to experience a traditional asado is at an estancia (ranch), which can be visited on a day trip (día del campo) or an overnight stay.
Where to try it: A visit to El Ombú de Areco or nearby La Bamba de Areco, in Buenos Aires province, offers an insight into traditional gaucho life, including a typical asado. In Patagonia, Nibepo Aike in El Calafate is a sheep farm where the nightly asado features the local specialty, Patagonian lamb.
In Argentina, it’s usual to eat the main meal of the day after 9pm, and perhaps as late as 11pm, which can be challenging for people used to dining earlier. To stop your stomach rumbling, be sure to pause for la merienda (afternoon tea) sometime between 4pm and 6pm. A classic merienda consists of a milky coffee and some medialunas (croissants).
Late afternoon is the perfect time to visit one of Buenos Aires’ traditional bares notables, a group of beautiful old cafes where sandwiches de miga (crustless sandwiches) and facturas (pastries) are served with considerable pomp by bowtied waiters.
Where to try it: With magnificent stained-glass windows, Las Violetas has been serving afternoon tea to the residents of Buenos Aires’ Almagro neighborhood since 1884. A traditional Argentinian bar that’s popular with a young crowd and newspaper-reading septuagenarians alike, Los Galgos is the perfect choice if your ideal merienda includes an early evening cocktail. For the most luxurious afternoon tea in the city, head to L’Orangerie at the Alvear Palace Hotel.
Empanadas – oven-baked pastries with various fillings – are a staple of the traditional Argentine diet and the equivalent of a lunchtime sandwich (a mealtime portion is usually three). Though empanadas are popular throughout Argentina, there are regional variations in how they are made: look out for spicy ground-beef empanadas in Salta and Jujuy, deep-fried empanadas from Tucumán, and lamb-filled empanadas in Patagonia.
Where to try it: In Bariloche, try the creative flavors on offer at Oveja Negra. Salta is reputed to be home to Argentina’s best empanadas; try them at La Salteñería.. In Buenos Aires, head to La Morada.
One of the legacies of Italian immigration to Argentina is the country’s excellent gelato. It’s common for city center heladerías (ice cream parlors) to stay open until 1am or 2am; a late-night stop for ice cream makes for a romantic and refreshing excursion. Local food and drink to try include sambayón, made with egg yolks, Marsala wine and sometimes whisky, and dulce de leche, made with the popular milk caramel.
Where to try it: For an ice cream near the beach in Mar del Plata, head to Helados Italia, known for its ‘cannolis’ (long wafer tubes filled with ice cream and dipped in chocolate and nuts). Cadore makes ice cream the traditional Italian way on Avenida Corrientes in Buenos Aires’ theater district. The family recipes used at Heladería Fili in Salta are a closely guarded secret.
Rosarinos (people from Rosario) insist their city’s ice cream is Argentina’s best; head to Gianduia, Marbet or Touche de Creme to see if you agree.
In Argentina, Fernet Branca – a bitter, herbed Italian digestif originally intended as medicine – is usually drunk with ice and cola; the mixture of alcohol, sugar and caffeine help fuel Argentina’s famously late nights out. The combination of Fernet with Coke first became popular in the province of Córdoba, where ’Fernandito’ remains a local favorite.
Where to try it: Most bars and clubs in Argentina serve Fernet. In Buenos Aires, try it in Pulpería Quilapán.
Go to any park or plaza and you’ll see people drinking mate, an infusion of yerba (a local, bitter herbal tea) and hot water that is sipped through a special metal straw (a bombilla). The gourd that holds the yerba and water is called a mate, and the act of drinking from it is tomando mate (drinking mate). The water is heated to 70-85°C (160-185°F) but not boiled, and kept warm in a thermos flask.
Where to try it: Mate is not typically served in bars or restaurants, so make friends and join in the mate ritual. A good place to shop for an artisan mate gourd is the Feria de San Telmo (a Sunday street market) in Buenos Aires.
Another food to try in Argentina is a picada, a wooden board covered with a range of fiambre (cold cuts) and cheeses, usually accompanied by bread and wine and shared among friends.
Where to try it: The town of Tandil in Buenos Aires province is one of the best places to eat a picada; try Epoca de Quesos. Also in Buenos Aires province, San Antonio de Areco’s Boliche Bessonart serves an excellent picada. The town of Colonia Caroya in the Córdoba hills is known for its salami; try it at Bar 9 de Julio.
Alfajores (round cookies filled with dulce de leche caramel and covered in chocolate or meringue) are Argentina's must-try sweet treat. Each region has its own version of the alfajor.
Where to try it: Mar del Plata in Buenos Aires province is considered the alfajor capital of Argentina; try the ones at Milagros del Cielo, which were declared the best alfajores in the world by an Argentinian judging panel. The national chain Havanna is a reliable source of alfajores.
Mendoza is Argentina’s premier wine region and known for its robust malbec, but other provinces also produce excellent wines. San Juan is famous for its syrah and Cafayate for its torrontés, a crisp, dry white wine. Meanwhile, the Patagonia region is becoming a well-regarded producer of pinot noir.
Where to try it: Bodega Zuccardi in Valle de Uco, Mendoza, has been named the world’s best winery for three years in a row. In Cafayate, Salta, try the organic wines at Bodega Nanni.
For a hit of meat on the go, stop at a roadside mobile parrilla for choripán, a grilled sausage sandwich, or bodiola, a pork sandwich. These rustic food trucks offer generous helpings of grilled meat in jaw-bustingly thick crusty bread, with self-service tupperware containers of chimichurri, a sauce made from garlic, parsley, oil and vinegar.
Where to try it: In Córdoba, try the choripán at Luisito el Auténtico food cart by Parque Sarmiento. In Buenos Aires, brightly colored food carts line the Costanera Sur in Puerto Madero and the Costanera Norte near Jorge Newbery airport.
Until recently vegans and vegetarians had a hard time in Argentina, but things are changing. Vegetarians will be able to find meat and fish-free options on most restaurant menus, often a pasta or gnocchi dish, but most vegetarian dishes will be made with eggs and/or cheese. Vegans should check restaurant menus in advance and search out vegan friendly establishments. In Buenos Aires there is now no shortage of restaurants offering plant-based meals; outside the capital vegan food is less easy – but not impossible – to find.
Where to try it: In Buenos Aires try Mudrá, Hierbabuena or Buenos Aires Verde. In Mendoza, Govinda serves vegan and vegetarian food, while Cocina Poblana has options for vegetarians.
Packed with 150 of the world's tastiest chocolate experiences, this globetrotting guide features master chocolatiers and artisan producers, exotic cocoa plantations and must-visit shops, plus illustrated spreads on the history, production and science of chocolate making.
Packed with 150 of the world's tastiest chocolate experiences, this globetrotting guide features master chocolatiers and artisan producers, exotic cocoa plantations and must-visit shops, plus illustrated spreads on the history, production and science of chocolate making.
Buenos Aires pulls you in with a magnetic grip, but beyond the city limits, you can explore even more on a day trip.
Navigating Buenos Aires' emblematic broad avenues is simple, and getting around the city by foot, bicycle, bus or subway is easy and generally safe.
Argentina's most energetic city is packed with can't-miss sights and thrilling things to do. Here are the top things to do in Buenos Aires.
Argentina is the eighth-largest country on Earth and distances can be huge. Whether you choose to fly, drive or take the bus, here's how to get around.
One of the main gateways to South America, Argentina offers lively cities, tranquil wildernesses and mighty mountains. Here are the best places to visit.
From Andean peaks to subtropical rainforests, Argentina’s stunning countryside is a playground for trekkers. Here are our favorite hikes in Argentina.
With its vast open spaces, dramatic scenery and endless highways, Argentina is an ideal place to hit the road. Here are Argentina's 5 best road trips.
Beautiful, defiant and intense, Argentina is a natural wonderland, with mighty mountains, rolling grasslands and, yes, beaches. Here's our pick of the best:
Argentina offers an incredible range of activities and adventures. From Andean treks to whale-watching off Patagonia, here are the top things to do.
Subscribe to Lonely Planet newsletters and promotions. Read our Privacy Policy.
© 2022 Lonely Planet. All rights reserved. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission.