Top 5 eateries for a Buenos Aires bite

Buenos Aires’s diverse culinary scene offers everything from cheap neighborhood eateries to upscale dining destinations that are redefining Argentinian cuisine. Here is our pick of the bunch.

La Cabrera: You cannot leave Argentina without eating a life-changing slab of beef. Steak is delicious and plentiful here, and not many restaurants in Buenos Aires do it better than La Cabrera. San Pellegrino nominated this steakhouse as one of the best in Latin America for its expertly grilled rib-eyes, robust sausages and great selection of Malbec red wines from Mendoza.

La Cocina: Empanadas are wildly popular savory stuffed pastries. While you cannot walk two blocks in Buenos Aires without spotting an empanada shop, head to La Cocina in Recoleta for the best in the city. The curiously named pikachu is filled with caramelized onion and an incredible amount of cheese.

Chan Chan: With its emphasis on accentuating natural flavors of fresh ingredients, Peruvian cuisine is all the buzz in Buenos Aires. Chan Chan, one of the most popular restaurants in the neighborhood near the National Congress, offers massive plates of refreshing ceviches with chili-infused citrus dressing and decadent yuca fries at a reasonable price. It does not take reservations, however, so make sure to arrive early.

Roux: Chef Martín Rebaudino’s cozy Recoleta spot is perfect for a blow-out dinner. Rebaudino’s
kitchen seamlessly executes stunning plates like slow-poached eggs with wild rice and squid and pan-seared fish with spinach terrine and olive oil emulsion. Save room for dessert. We recommend caramelized apples served with cinnamon crackers and refreshing apple sorbet.

Hierbabuena: If you get tired of eating mostly red meat and carbohydrates during your stay in Buenos Aires, head over to Hierbabuena, an organic cafe in a hip neighborhood of San Telmo — think Bushwick. Choices here range from farm-fresh bowls of salads and simply prepared pasta to creative smoothies. Order a smoothie blended with mate, a traditional caffeine-rich beverage indigenous to Argentina.