Eating My Way Through Buenos Aires
Eating My Way Through Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is a city to eat your way through. And I’m not just talking about quick pizza slices or croissants with coffee at the bar. I mean that unmatched mix of neighborhood, flavor, history, and personality. This city has something that keeps pulling me back to certain places again and again. For the food, obviously. But also for the service, the details, that inexplicable charm that just makes it all work. Here’s my emotional (and well-fed) journey through the places I love to sit down...
Neighborhood Classics
If I’m looking for comfort, the top of my list is the grandma-style bistro. The real name is El Pasaje (Rojas 2050) in Villa Crespo. Every visit feels like coming home: servers who treat you like family, soft onion tortilla that deserves cultural heritage status, breaded steak with fries, and flan with dulce de leche that never disappoints. Dim lighting, checkered tablecloths—everything fits.
If I want meat and noise, I head to Liniers. El Ferroviario (Reservistas Argentinos 219) is an old-school grill house with big portions, sizzling entraña, and family table chaos. And on days when downtown pulls me in, nothing beats Café Paulín (Sarmiento 641): veteran waiters, turkey sandwiches with avocado and cheese that slide across the bar, and a cortado that’s perfectly served.
Cafés & Bakeries
Cuervo Café, with multiple locations, feels like a second home. Specialty coffee, good music, and simple yet smart dishes. The avocado toast with poached egg is a ritual at this point.
Tognis Café (Blanco Encalada 1675) has a vibe: beautiful cups, a curated playlist, cozy design. And when I’m on the go, I can’t resist grabbing something from Atelier Fuerza—almond croissants, cheesy baguettes, cinnamon rolls—everything is flawless and full of character.
Oli Café (Costa Rica 6020) has become part of my routine: great coffee, unpretentious pastries, hearty dishes, and a neighborhood mood that makes me feel at home.
Modern Dining
Modern restaurants bring me joy—they reflect the best of this new culinary generation. Evelia (Campos Salles 1712) is warm, clean, balanced: dishes with identity, friendly service, and coherent cooking.
Sonora offers bold, honest, no-frills author cuisine. For special occasions, I turn to three: Anafe (surprising at every course), Anchoita (solid from bread to dessert), and Casa Parra (a historical house with a garden, smart wine list, and flawless menu).
Gran Dabbang is another go-to: intense flavors, Asian-Latin inspiration, shareable plates, and a chill vibe that always brings me back.
The Mexican Circuit
Buenos Aires’ Mexican food scene keeps expanding, but I have my go-to spots. Taquería Díaz is my no-fail for authenticity: mini tacos, house-made tortillas, salsas in the center—it’s Mexico City without the airfare.
Barragán blends tradition and creativity: chicken burritos, purple corn tostadas, and spiced carrot cake with real soul. Ya Cabrón is where I go with friends—beers and spicy tacos guaranteed.
Asian Cravings
For Asian cravings, these always bring a smile: Norimoto (elegant and precise), Tintorería Yafuso (hidden Japanese gem), Chinofino (bold fusion), Cang Tin (a flavor explosion), Tony Wu Cantina (fast Sichuan street food), Yakinilo (relaxed and ceremonial Japanese meat grilling), and Asian Cantina (bold dishes with strong identity).
Pizza Dreams
Pizza has one name for me: Tognis. New York-style, light crust, pepperoni with spicy honey. I eat it with my hands and a smile. In Núñez, Kalis Pizza delivers sourdough perfection. And La Mezzetta is the classic—stuffed fugazzeta, street counter, neighborhood magic. Eléctrica? Thin, crisp, bold toppings.
Outdoor Chill Spots
Loreto Garden Bar is one of my favorite hidden gems: big tables in a garden, good cocktails, shareable dishes, and a breezy, easy vibe.
Koko Bao Bar is fun and edgy: bao of all kinds, bold flavors, and a modern aesthetic that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
La Cabrera, despite its tourist boom, is still a fantastic grill: perfect cuts, generous sides.
Avito Bistro is the opposite: discreet, short menu, always done right. To start the day with style, I go to La Filial Café—breakfast that feels like a hug and an ambiance that invites you to stay.
Final Thoughts
Eating in Buenos Aires is how I live it. How I love it. How I tell its story.
But it’s also an act of resistance. In a city that changes constantly—where streets shift and prices skyrocket—coming back to the places that make me feel good is an act of love. Sitting down, ordering the usual, trying something new, reading the menu like a storybook. Eating in Buenos Aires is how I say: I’m still here. This is my city. These are my sanctuaries.
There are places I still haven’t tried. Some recommended, some spotted online, some noted because someone told me, “that’s so you.” I love that—when friends or followers know that discovering a new café or little grill is the perfect gift for me.
This list, like everything I love, is alive. It grows. It changes. It rewrites itself. And that’s okay. Because eating in Buenos Aires isn’t just about drawing a map of favorites—it’s about staying open to surprise.
I like to think that in every neighborhood, there’s a table I haven’t met yet, a slice of homemade bread waiting to move me, a waitress with a story to share, a playlist that makes me hit Shazam while waiting for my meal.
So yes: eating in Buenos Aires is how I understand the city. And as long as I keep finding places that move me, I’ll keep writing about them. Because every plate, every table, every glass of wine, every fizzy soda helps me tell a part of who I am.
Because, like my grandma used to say: with a full stomach, you think better.
Best regards,
Sabrina Palmieri
This article was written by Sabrina Palmieri for Traveossa. All rights reserved.
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