Best Argentine Chefs

Gonzalo Aramburu 

 Gonzalo Aramburu

Found behind a shabby unmarked door in San Telmo district, Aramburu is an ambitious tasting-menu-only restaurant that sees traditional Argentine dishes and ingredients reinterpreted using molecular gastronomy techniques. The protagonist is chef patron Gonzalo Aramburu, an alumnus of some of the best kitchens in Europe including Restaurante Martín Berasategui in Spain and Joël Robuchon’s erstwhile Jamin in Paris.

Dining here is imaginative and fun: guests are encouraged to sear their own shrimp on a hot stone, create edible watercolours and even garnish the plates. The kitchen is fully open and chefs regularly interact with the dining room, bringing out dishes and finishing plates tableside. Proceedings start with a selection of high-impact bites and small plates but Aramburu knows he will ultimately be judged on his skill with meat. He certainly impresses with his famed bife de chorizo (strip steak) and suckling pig with chocolate and pear puree.

Tuesdays through Saturdays; from 8:30 pm to 11:00 pm.

Aramburu: Salta 1050. http://www.arambururesto.com.ar/home.html

Smoky Forest - Aramburu - San Telmo 

Fernando Rivarola

At El Baqueano in San Telmo, Rivarola has created a menu that includes lots of things you don’t expect to find anywhere—carpaccio of llama, caiman dumplings, chinchilla, etc.—and omits one thing you expect to find everywhere—beef. By (mostly) limiting himself to indigenous products, each prepared and presented without gimmickry, Rivarola won a reputation as of the country’s most original chefs.

El Baqueano: Chile 499, San Telmo; www.elbaqueano.com

Appetizer - El Baqueano 

Leandro Cristóbal

With his skewed baseball cap, inked limbs, and skater drawl, Cristóbal looks and sounds like a 40-year-old Justin Bieber. At Café San Juan, he even has his mom working the till and pouring the wine. But there’s nothing casual about Cristóbal’s cooking. Start with his famous rabbit pâté, move on to the juicy rib-eye and leave room for chocolate mousse or lychee ice-cream. Reservations are essential.

Café San Juan: Avenida San Juan 450, San Telmo. Phone Lumber: 4300-1112.

Francis Mallmann

Argentine chef Francis Mallman combines his prestigious French culinary background with traditional Patagonian fire and earth cooking methods to create sensational dining experiences.

One part Oscar Wilde, one part Charlie Trotter and one part unique; Mallmann is probably Argentina’s best-known living chef. At Patagonia Sur, the Buenos Aires branch of his empire, you can try sophisticated versions of local comfort food: humita (creamed corn) with crispy ham, tenderloin with crushed potatoes, wobbly flan with dulce de leche...

Patagonia Sur: http://www.restaurantepatagoniasur.com; Rocha 801 esquina Pedro de Mendoza – La Boca.

Patagonia Sur - Francis Malmann's Restaurant in Buenos Aires 

Pablo Massey

As a disciple of Francis Mallmann, Pablo stands out for his versatile cuisine, combining elements both classical and modern, rustic and refined. After training internationally in the finest restaurants, as well as creating dining spaces and original products in the Buenos Aires culinary scene, Massey has returned to his childhood neighborhood, Palermo Chico.

In the intimate setting of Casa Cavia, he sets out to kindle the flames of what he calls, “the most ancient of human pleasures: satiating hunger and thirst.”

Casa Cavia: Cavia 2985, Palermo. www.casacavia.com

Dante Liporace

The renowned chef, Dante Liporace, of great international standing (Maskana, Las Margas Spain together with Pedro Subijana, elBulli on two occasions, chosen as Argentine representative before Girona and Mistura Gastronomic Forum, among others) inaugurated Tarquino restaurant.

One dish you’ll never forget is his “Provolone pizza,” in which the heaviest of Buenos Aires staples is transformed into something as light as dandelion petals. Ask ahead if you want to try Liporace’s brilliant “Sequence of the Cow,” a nine-course homage to the heifer that takes you from nose to tail.

Tarquino: http://www.tarquinorestaurante.com.ar/

Pizza Foam with Parmesano Reggiano by Dante Liporace 

Soledad Nardelli

Chila Restaurant - In our opinion, the best restaurant of Puerto Madero.

If one dish exemplifies New Argentine Cuisine’s approach to tradition, it’s Soledad Nardelli’s souffle de dulce de leche: the sweet brown gloop that fuels every Argentine childhood quite literally raised to a new level. At Chila, Nardelli’s smart restaurant in Puerto Madero, you can also try Patagonian scallops, trout, and lamb; Mendozan pears; quinoa from Jujuy and duck from the Pampas. The menu is a love letter to Argentina’s regions, and to their bounty.

Chila: Av. Alicia Moreau de Justo 1160, Phone: +54 11 4343-6067. www.chilaweb.com.ar

German Martitegui

Tegui, named after head chef Germán Martitegui, has been named one of Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants. According to a New York Times review in 2010, Mr. Martitegui wanted Tegui to be under the radar. “I think people need to be hidden. That was the idea with this place.” he said adding that he had not advertised, relying solely on word of mouth. Reservations are highly recommended.

Once inside, a plush bar complete with comfy sofas erases the somewhat gritty first impression. If seated toward the back of the main rectangular dining room, (the narrow space seats only 45) you may be able to see the impressive kitchen at work. The dining room decor is black and white lit by large lamp posts.

The service is timed very well, directed by the chief waiter, and all courses arrive at the right time. You can choose from the menu or order the wine tasting ten course menu.

 The minimalist menu (5 choices for starters and entrees) featured Mediterranean-style seafood dishes. Whatever you order, prepare for an excellent dining experience.

Tegui: www.tegui.com.ar; Costa Rica 5852.

Culinary Tours of Buenos Aires.

The intention of our tours is to show that real, Porteño cuisine is not only delicious, but quite approachable as well. The tours combine eating wonderful Argentine food and a walking tour of Buenos Aires best neighborhoods. We hope that you join us so that we can show you what makes this country and this city so special.

For booking your tour and further information, please contact us. 

Top Restaurants in Buenos Aires 2015

Grilled Lomo with Chimichurri Sauce - Elena Restaurant 

The steak is great, of course, but Argentina's capital also has atmospheric local pizza joints, fine-dining and Latin fusion restaurants. We round up the best places to eat out.

A fresh breed of chef is taking Argentina's national cuisine to new heights, as seen when the country scooped 15 entries on the Latin America 50 Best restaurant list. But at the other end of the culinary scale, travellers should not miss the classicparrillas (steakhouses) that have served the same menu for generations – huge slabs of steak, thick-cut chips, and cheap red wine topped up with soda water. If you love big slabs of meat La Cabrera, La Lechuza, La Brigada and Lo de Jesuss hould be on your list.

But for a mix of experiences, read on. This list brings together not just the best steak and fine-dining establishments, but also some of the best experiential choices, from supper clubs to pizza joints, offering an alternative slice of the city's increasingly diverse food scene. And be sure to let us know your own favourites, in the comments section below. Note that all prices are in pesos, but at the official conversion rate. Travellers working to the parallel "blue rate" get much more food for their money.

I Latina - Appetizer - Ceviche with avocado and goat cheese

I Latina, Villa Crespo

This relative newcomer began as a puerta cerrada (closed-door restaurant) in Palermo and then word quickly spread, encouraging them to get more permanent premises. The three siblings behind it hail from Colombia, but their food draws on influences from all across South America. A sample menu might include white-corn arepas (flatbread) with anise, pork braised in coffee and sugar cane, and avocado and aguardiente ice-cream.

• Murillo 725, +54 11 4857 9095, ilatinabuenosaires.com; Open for dinner only, reservation required.

Avocado icecream, pop corn and aguardiente. 

La Bourgogne, Recoleta

“Just… excellent”

French cooking in Argentina? How much do Argentines know about French cooking? But actually, Argentina has always been very receptive to French influences in terms of everything from fashion to intellectual currents, especially during the first half of the 1900’s (but even today), as France was considered the center of cosmopolitanism and culture. Somehow, then, it seems fitting that the supposedly “best” restaurant would be French, given France’s influence on the growth of Argentine culture. Moreover, La Bourgogne is run by a true Frenchman ( Jean Paul Boundoux ) and is given accolades for its unmatched quality of food year after year, so it has a reputation for consistent excellence. Each and every dish, each is outstanding, which is all the more surprising because each is so unique and is inspired by a different cuisine, really showing the depth of the restaurant’s culinary expertise.

Dessert at La Bourgogne - Dessert Tasting Party

The service is exceptional, as it excelled in nearly every way, from the promptness to the professionalism to the friendliness and finally to the care taken to guarantee that everything is going well. 

La Bourgogne, Avenida Alvear 1851; Phone: +541148082100, labourgogne@alvear.com.ar

Osaka 

Another Peruvian import, Osaka is nevertheless one of the best - if not the best - place to get Japanese food in Buenos Aires. It specialises in raw fish dishes, serving fresh sushi and sashimi alongside Peruvian ceviche, and the two contrasting cuisines of Japan and South America infuse and inform each other in innovative ways: ceviche is available flavoured with wasabi cream or sesame oil, and salmon nigiri comes with passion fruit.

Osaka, Soler 5608, Buenos Aires, Argentina, +541147756964

Elena

Never one to rest on its laurels, The FS Buenos Aires has just completed an impressive 40 million dollar renovation. Embracing the roots of long–held Buenos Aires traditions, a theme of polo and porteño decadence now runs cohesively throughout the hotel. As for eating, the Four Seasons Buenos Aires has toned down the formality, and now offers two distinct restaurants. Elena (named for Elena Peña Unzué, the bride who was presented La Mansión as a wedding gift in the 1920s), is rooted in the ways of the Argentinian family kitchen — slightly bustling, yet comfortable and energetic. The abundant hotel breakfast takes place here, open–kitchen style. Elena is spacious, and offers fresh takes on traditional Argentine foods, important in the hotel's new embrace of Argentine traditions. A spiral staircase leads up to a balcony level perfect for private dinners or events, and the wine cellar offers an impressive offering of local wines.

ELENA selection; Kobe Bresaola, Cured Duck Breast, Camembert Cheese, Aged Cheddar Cheese

  Elena 

  Posadas 1086/88, Buenos Aires; Phone: +54 11 4321 1628

Chila, Puerto Madero

From the moment we were greeted at the sleek front door until we exited with satisfied grins we were treated like royalty by the staff. They were continuously warm, welcoming, polite and made the greatest effort to see that we were comfortable throughout the meal, including introducing the menu in English for my parents who barely know how to say ‘Hola’. The smallest details are taken care of in Chila; the atmospheric lighting, the chic furniture, the table modern settings, the lavish flowers and the amazing open windows revealing a stunning river view, all screamed exclusive. Even though ambiance, comfort and service are all exceptionally beneficial to the overall concept of a restaurant, the most important element will always be what you put in your mouth.

The head chef of Chila is the wildly talented and young Maria Soledad Nardelli, rather a well-known chef here in Buenos Aires for her television show on the Gourmet channel. Her menu changes regularly and always pushes the boundaries of experimentation with colour, texture and flavour and is never your average Argentinean scrum, in fact a lot of the dishes are influenced by French cuisine. The portions are small but all presented with such passion and beautiful precision that you might believe you are looking at a piece of artwork.

Address: Av. Alicia Moreau de Justo 1160, C1107AAX Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Phone: :+54 11 4343-6067

Tarquino - Pizza comes in foam form served in a Martini glass;

Tarquino, Recoleta

The Michelin-star system doesn't stretch to Argentina, but what you do find is chefs who have perfected their skills alongside some of the world's greatest, and then come back to put a spin on their national cuisine. Dante Liporace is one such shining light, having completed stint under Ferran Adrià at el Bulli. Liporace now heads this relatively new restaurant, in a converted colonial mansion at luxury hotel Hub Porteño. You enter through an opulent hallway, with walls of white marble, before coming to a contrasting galpón (outhouse), with a fig tree growing through its middle. Dishes found on the playful, seven-course tasting menu could include deconstructed pizza or a molecular take on Argentina's beloved flan. See also: Paraje Arevalo, El Baqueano and Aramburu .

• Rodríguez Peña 1967, tarquinorestaurante.com.ar. 

Tegui

From the outside, Tegui is low-profile: just a graffiti-covered wall and almost-blank door amidst the showier restaurants of Palermo. Within, however, is a sophisticated and modern restaurant that blends chef Germán Martitegui’s experience of Mediterranean food with more basic Argentine fare. The intricate, fixed price menu shifts weekly with the season of its ingredients, though dishes will reappear in time: it has served, for instance, cow-brain pie with prosciutto, or tuna in an almond gazpacho.

Tegui, Costa Rica 5852, Buenos Aires, Argentina, +541152913333

Floreria Atlantico, Recoleta

This is another choice for night owls (if you're not a night person, you may be in the wrong city). It is currently BA's hippest cocktail bar and you find it by entering a "secret" doorway at the back of a potently scented flower shop, which is open late into the night and has a sideline in selling vinyl records – obviously. A gimmick? You'll dispel all cynicism once you taste the quality of the cocktails. The drinks at this sophisticated, low-lit speakeasy are clearly the mainstay here (the cocktail list takes you around the world), but there is also a fine food menu. Most plates are made for sharing, including a plate known as "Atlantic beasts", featuring langoustines, oysters and prawns.

• Arroyo 872, +54 11 4313 6093, floreriaatlantico.com.ar.

Floreria Atlantico 

Join us for a guided culinary experience in one of Argentina’s most exciting foodie cities. Each week we feature different establishments for Coffee and Chocolate Tasting, Cocktail Tasting, Happy Hour Bar Crawls, A Taste of Boulder Dining Tours, as well as private tours and events.

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