Tuck into some of the finest steak in Buenos Aires. Photo courtesy of cabana las lilas via Flickr.

Argentina is world renowned for its premium steaks, sourced from grass-fed cattle that roam the pampas region and exported to all corners of the globe. It’s no surprise that visitors to Buenos Aires are so keen to tuck into the city’s most popular dish but with steaks served up from every joint in town, how do you find the best? Wherever you go you’re unlikely to find a bad cut of meat in Buenos Aires, but for those hunting down the city’s finest steak, here are some of the best parrillas (steakhouses) to try.

1. La Cabrera
One of the city’s most famous steakhouses, La Cabrera boasts an elegant location in Palermo Viejo and serves up generous portions of meats and salads, accompanied by a fine selection of local wines. Look out for early diners specials too – La Cabrera has been known to offer some excellent discounts to those eating early on in the evening (traditionally dinner isn’t eaten until around 10pm in Argentina).

2. La Brigada
Another famous haunt, the candlelit La Brigada is one of San Telmo’s most atmospheric steakhouses, located in the heart of the old town. The enormous menu caters for everything from American style ‘steak and fries’ to more adventurous local delicacies like chinchilunes (intestines), but you can’t go wrong with a classic ‘ojo de bife’ (rib eye steak).

3. Don Julio
A traditional parrilla that’s quickly become a favorite for tourists, Don Julio offers a good range of grills, salads and desserts at reasonable prices, with knowledgeable sommeliers on hand. Located in the heart of Palermo, it’s well situated and less flashy than many of its peers.

4. Siga La Vaca
Those short on cash and big on appetite will find their perfect match at Siga La Vaca, where the excellent value all-you-can-eat buffet serves up a tasty selection of grills, salads, appetizers and desserts. You’ll even get a glass of Argentine Malbec Wine included in the price.

5. Las Lilas
One of the city’s most modern steakhouses, located in the trendy Puerto Madero district, Las Lilas makes up for its high prices by serving top-notch beef raised on it’s own country ranch. For a luxury dining experience you can’t go wrong with the ambient waterside setting, innovative menu and vast wine list.

- Zoe Smith

Where to Find the Best Steak in Buenos Aires from Argentina Things to Do

Parque provincial Aconcagua, Mendoza. Photo courtesy of baswallet via Flickr.

Tucked in the shadows of the vast Andes mountain range and encircled by lush vineyards, Mendoza has a lot to offer travelers wanting to explore the Argentine countryside. Here are a few ideas for the best day trips from Mendoza.

1. Scale Mount Aconcagua

Mendoza makes an ideal base camp for those attempting the treacherous summit of Cerro Aconcagua, or Mount Aconcagua, the world’s highest mountain outside of the Himalayas at an impressive 6,900 meters, but you don’t have to climb the mountain to enjoy the views. The surrounding 75,000-hectare national park offers a number of scenic drives or hikes, and an Aconcagua day trip could also take in the picturesque mountain village of Uspallata and the natural rock bridge of Puente del Inca, as well as offering breathtaking views from the mountain lookout points.

2. Tour the Wineries

As one of Argentina’s most famous wine regions, it’s impossible to visit Mendoza without sampling at least a glass or two of the country’s renowned Malbec and a popular day trip is visiting the nearby wineries. Take a tour of the wineries where you can learn about the winemaking process and taste wines from a number of the local vineyards, or soak up the idyllic landscape on a Bike Tour around Mendoza Wine Country. Prefer to go it alone? There are a number of bike rental companies in the town center, most of which provide free cycling route maps for the wineries so you can plan a DIY wine tasting tour – just remember to limit your alcohol intake so you can cycle back!

3. Adventure activities 

With its dramatic setting in the foothills of the Andes, Mendoza is perfectly situated for a range of outdoor activities. Hiking and cycling day tours are a popular way to discover the region, but there are also plenty of more adventurous activities to try your hand at. Tackle the hair-raising level 3 and 4 rapids on a white water rafting trip along the Mendoza River; gallop through the Cordon del Plata valley on horseback; get a bird’s eye view by Paragliding off the summit of Cerro Arco; or zipline over the spectacular red rock Atuel Canyon.

Check out some additional outdoor activities in Mendoza 

4. Cacheuta Hot Springs 

For a more tranquil day out, pay a visit to the Cacheuta hot springs, where you can bathe in a series of natural pools set against a serene backdrop of the mountains or head to the luxury Termas spa for a day of pampering.

- Zoe Smith

Best Day Trips from Mendoza from Argentina Things to Do

Our guide, David, met us on the cobblestone streets of San Telmo in front of one of the old covered markets. We walked through the market, which sadly seemed to be underutilized for such a pretty building, as David told us about the neighborhood. San Telmo is the oldest neighborhood in the city. It was heavily populated at one time until it was hit with an outbreak of Yellow Fever and people started to move further out into the now popular areas of Palermo. The architecture in this area has a real European feel with lots of iron work and balconies.

Indoor market ceiling

After making our way through the covered market we made our first stop for a classic snack food – empanadas. Up to this point I had been ordering and eating this cheap snack food daily but didn’t really know much about them! Empanadas are like a smaller calzone with various fillings – carne (beef), ham & cheese, spinach, and sometimes fish. David explained each province in Argentina had a different empanada ‘specialty’. Buenos Aires’ empanada was typically made with beef, egg, cumin, and green onion. He also explained that you can determine the ‘flavor’ of empanada by the shape.  For example the ham & cheese is more round and the carne is typically more crescent shaped. Some places even put a little branding on them with letters so you know what they are.

Empanadas

We sat in an old café with wooden chairs and old water/seltzer bottles and ate the delicious carne empanadas served up by a waitress who looked like she had been working there her entire life. The windows were wide open and the slight breeze blew in. I loved the vibe of the place – it had a distinct old authentic character. It’s the type of place people try to replicate in modern times, but it’s impossible to really replicate.

Empanada cafe in Buenos Aires

After a few empanadas we moved on to – yes you guessed – more meat. Our next stop was at a parrilla. Parrilla means a steak house or grill. More than half of the restaurants in Buenos Aires are parrillas. I was surprised to see so many people in the restaurant for lunch; I had started to think of the people of Buenos Aires as vampires – who only came out at the wee hours of the night. Dave told us that the typical eating times in Argentina was to have a small breakfast of bread and coffee, lunch at 1 or 2 pm, merienda (tea time/snack) at 6PM, and dinner anywhere from 10 to 12pm.

The word parrilla actually means grill in Spanish and the person (typically a man) who cooks the meet is called an asador. The grill is normally situated so that the wood is stacked and burned only on one side and then the coals are distributed thinly under the grill and meat. This is what makes an Argentinian steak so unique – the meat is grilled over a very thin layer of coals at a low temp for a longer time. They don’t like a smoky flavor so the grill is designed in such a way that the fat won’t drop over the coals and cause much smoke. Most of the beef is grass-fed and the only spice they use is a coarse salt.

Here we were once again treated to a sit-down meal. We started with choripan sandwiches. Delicious chorizo sausage grilled to perfection and put in a bun – simple and good. We were also served provoleta – a grilled cheese typical at parrillas. You may wonder – how in the world do you grill a slice of cheese!  David taught us that the cheese is grilled quickly on each side and then dusted with olive oil and oregano and served hot and intact.

Choripan

Our main course was a small, juicy steak, a salad, and a bottle of Malbec wine shared between the three of us. Steaks are served plain and sometimes accompanied with chimichurri sauce (oregano, parsley, red pepper, garlic, olive oil, and vinegar). After such a big meal I was ready for the part of the tour that showed us how to nap like an Argentinian! It really was more food than I was expecting. The volume in the room seemed to turn up as everyone, including our table, was becoming more social with every sip of wine and bite of steak.

Steak

Fighting off the urge to nap, we moved on to our final stop, an ice cream shop. Ice cream was brought over from Italy and is generally very high quality due to the great dairy products in Argentina. It’s the most popular dessert in Argentina and that should explain why you see ice cream shops all over the city. Most shops make their own flavors on the premises and they even deliver quarts and gallons right to your home!

We walked into the shop and were immediately overwhelmed with the variety of flavors on offer. There must have been about 35 flavors – and they even had a cerveza-flavored ice cream. They allow you to taste anything you want before you choose your scoop so of course I had to at least try the cerveza (beer) ice cream. It started with a slightly citrus taste but then finished with a beer taste – which felt just wrong if you ask me. I instead went with the flan dulce de leche flavor, which my taste buds were quite happy about.

Ice cream

Our 2 hours of stuffing our face seemed to go quickly!  We had visited 3 restaurants for a complete and very filling afternoon all within about a 5-block area.  But before we all left David provided us with a really useful restaurant guide as well, a handout of Spanish food terms, such as “medium rare”. It also included a complete list of the types of meat you can order.

We were now all armed to go out and explore the restaurants in Buenos Aires and order like a local. This was a great way to get quickly up to speed on the food scene in the city. I suggest you do it your first day and then try out the restaurants on David’s list for the remainder of your stay! The only way you’ll go hungry in Buenos Aires is if you are a vegetarian.

Photos courtesy of Sherry Ott.

Book a food tour in Buenos Aires

 - Sherry Ott

San Telmo Food Tour for Meat Lovers from Argentina Things to Do

Visit the vineyards and mountains of Mendoza.

From the cosmopolitan capital of Buenos Aires to the glacial wonderland of Patagonia, Argentina has plenty to tempt the intrepid traveler, but with only one week to see the sights, it’s impossible to cram it all in. For those limited on time, here are a few ideas for how to make the most of one week in Argentina.

A trip to Argentina wouldn’t be complete without experiencing Buenos Aires, one of South America’s most vibrant cities. Take a walking tour around the city’s varied barrios (neighborhoods) – the eclectic antique markets of San Telmo and the rainbow of colorful houses of La Boca are particular highlights – and check off the city sights like the ornate Recoleta Cemetery where Evita is buried and the historic buildings on Plaza de Mayo. Taking a tango class in Buenos Aires is a right of passage for tourists in the city, but if you can’t bring yourself to hit the dance floor, book in for a tango dinner show and watch the professionals at work instead.

There are a number of worthwhile day trips from Buenos Aires, but if you only have time for one, take the ferry across the Rio de la Plata to Uruguay. The closest stop is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Colonia del Sacramento, a charming historic fishing port, or else head to the tranquil capital of Montevideo.

A 1 hour 40 minute flight from Buenos Aires, Iguaçu Falls are a hugely popular sight, straddling the border of Argentina and Brazil and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Twice the width of Niagara Falls and falling from an even greater height, the thundering waterfalls stretch for almost 2 miles. For the ultimate experience, take a boat trip beneath the falls or fly over the top in a helicopter.

Another popular destination is Mendoza, one of the closest major cities to Buenos Aires with a flight time of less than 2 hours. Set in the foothills of the majestic Andes, Mendoza is the perfect base for adventure activities with numerous options for hiking, climbing, horseback riding and white water rafting. The Mendoza countryside is also a celebrated wine region and one of the most popular visitor pastimes is hiring a bike and touring the vineyards, where you’ll get to sample Argentina’s acclaimed Malbec wine.

Alternatively, Bariloche is a 2-hour flight from Buenos Aires, situated at the heart of the Argentine Lake District. Encircled by the Lago Nahuel Huapi National Park and set against the towering Andes Mountains, few places are as picturesque and Bariloche is the perfect base for hiking, horse riding and cycling. Make sure to indulge in some local chocolates while you’re in town – Bariloche is Argentina’s chocolate capital and those with a sweet tooth will find it hard to resist.

Check out multi-day tours in Argentina

- Zoe Smith

Planning a Trip? Check out Viator’s Argentina tours and things to do, Argentina attractions, and Argentina travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Buenos Aires for a customized tour!

How to Spend One Week in Argentina from Argentina Things to Do

Argentina’s famous asado. Photo courtesy of Hamner_Fotos via Flickr.

Renowned for producing some of the world’s finest beef, eating in Buenos Aires might be tough on vegetarians, but whatever your tastes, there’s plenty of fine cuisine to gorge on. Here’s a quick guide to what to eat in the Argentine capital.

1. Empanadas
Delicious hot savory pastries typically stuffed with meat, chopped olives and onions, Empanadas are the city’s favorite snack, served up at bakeries and fast food joints all around town. The cheap and filling pastries come in a variety of flavors including meat, ham and cheese and chicken and sweetcorn. Most are meat based, but if you’re vegetarian keep an eye out for the equally delicious cheese and onion or cheese and spinach fillings.

2. Facturas
Facturas (freshly baked sweet pastries) are typically served by the kilo from the city’s panaderias (bakeries) and are a hugely popular breakfast or mid afternoon snack. For the full experience, share a mouthwatering bag of medialunas (sweet argentine croissants) and elaborate pastries oozing with dulce de leche (a heavenly caramel paste) or sweet cream custard, while sipping yerba mate (argentine herbal tea) with friends.

3. Italian food
With its large Italian population, Buenos Aires is a great place to tuck into Italian food and there’s an excellent range of restaurants specializing in Italian cuisine. Freshly baked thin crust pizzas are a staple at most restaurants, along with a range of delicious egg pasta dishes, but best of all is the Italian-style gelato, served up in a rainbow of flavors at the city’s many gelaterias (gelato parlors) – arguably the best gelato you’ll find outside of Italy.

4. Asado
The asado (argentine barbecue) is the best way to sample the country’s specialty – meat. If you’re not lucky enough to be invited to a local barbecue, head to a ‘parrilla’ (grillhouse) where you can gorge on a selection of fine meats. Steak is typically the focal point of an asado, typically served rare and in a variety of cuts, but you’ll likely be offered some chorizo or black pudding too. Layer it with delicious chimichurri sauce and couple it with a bottle or two of Argentine Malbec.

- Zoe Smith

Planning a Trip? Check out Viator’s Argentina tours and things to do, Argentina attractions, and Argentina travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Buenos Aires for a customized tour!

What to Eat in Buenos Aires from Argentina Things to Do

Puerto Madero port, Buenos Aires.

One of the most popular stops for South American cruise travelers, Buenos Aires rarely fails to bowl over its guests with its atmospheric tango halls, historic architecture and cool cosmopolitan vibe. The only question is how to cram all of the city’s sights into such a short sojourn.

The Buenos Aires cruise port is close by the picturesque waterfront district of Puerto Madero, from where it’s a short stroll or subte (subway) ride to the city center. Avenida 9 de Julio is the central vein of the city center, easily located by its giant obelisk, and nearby, the historic square of Plaza de Mayo makes a perfect starting point for a walking tour of the city, presided over by the striking pink presidential palace, the Casa Rosada, and close to the city’s principal shopping street, Florida.

From here you can stroll down the ancient cobbled streets of San Telmo, the city’s oldest barrio (neighborhood), where the atmospheric San Telmo Sunday market is dotted with street musicians and tango dancers. Wander around the art galleries and permanent market stalls of Plaza Dorrego before heading further south to the colorful port of La Boca, where the brightly painted houses make a picturesque backdrop for photos. Stroll the artist’s market along the famous Caminito Street and stop to share a flask of yerba mate (Argentina’s traditional herbal tea) at one of the many cafés.

At the northern end of the city, the Recoleta Cemetery is one of the city’s biggest attractions, credited as one of the world’s most magnificent cemeteries with its ornate mausoleums and memorials set around idyllic tree-lined avenues. Keep your eyes peeled for Evita’s grave, one of the cemetery’s most beloved residents.

Nearby, the trendy Palermo district  makes the perfect place to spend the evening, with a range of shops, restaurants and bars, but to really soak up the city’s charms, book a tango dinner show at one of the city’s many tango theaters.

Check out shore excursions in Buenos Aires. 

- Zoe Smith

Planning a Trip? Check out Viator’s Argentina tours and things to do, Argentina attractions, and Argentina travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Buenos Aires for a customized tour!

Buenos Aires for Cruise Visitors from Argentina Things to Do

Torres Del Paine National Park.

One of Chile’s most celebrated national parks close by the Patagonian city of Puerto Natales, the vast Torres del Paine, or Blue Towers, National Park makes a popular trip from neighboring Argentina.

Stretching over a mind-boggling 181,000 hectares, the park is named after its colossal ‘towers’ – a trio of looming rock formations that cast a striking silhouette on the skyline. The spiked granite Torres – Torre Central, Torre Sur and Torre Norte – reach heights of 2,850 meters and form the focal point of the park’s unique landscape, along with the neighboring Paine Grande cliff face. Set to a backdrop of jagged peaks, the park’s otherworldly scenery also includes the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, a sea of icebergs the spreading over an area the size of Hawaii and forming one of the world’s largest temperate-zone glaciers.

Once a humble sheep estancia (ranch), the parkland was nationalized in 1959 and later named a UNESCO Biosphere reserve, after which its popularity snowballed. Hiking, cycling, mountaineering and horseback riding are all common ways to explore the varied landscape, with a diverse network of trails traversing its boundaries. Vast pampas, glistening lakes, shaded beech forests and glacial rivers make up the magnificently picturesque trekking routes, but the park is also famed for its abundant wildlife. Over 40 species of mammal roam freely in the park, including the protected guanaco, mountain pumas, Patagonian Grey Fox and critically endangered huemul deer (the national symbol of Chile). Over a hundred bird species also populate the varied ecosystems, including the crested Cara Cara and the Black Vulture – two of the world’s rarest finds. That’s not all – look out for giant Rhea, pygmy owls, black-necked swans and the swooping Andean Condors.

- Zoe Smith

Planning a Trip? Check out Viator’s Argentina tours and things to do, Argentina attractions, and Argentina travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Buenos Aires for a customized tour!

Torres del Paine National Park from Argentina Things to Do

Argentina Gauchos (cowboys) at work.

Whether you’re escaping the stifling summer heat or just looking to get out of the city, there are plenty of great day trips to take from Buenos Aires. From galloping across the steppe with Argentina‘s gauchos to floating through the idyllic Tigre Delta, here are a few ideas to get you started.

1. Tigre
The riverside town of Tigre, a 45-minute train ride from Buenos Aires, is the gateway to the picturesque Tigre Delta region, one of the world’s largest natural deltas, fed by the Paraná River. Explore Tigre’s lively port with its vibrant crafts market, casino and amusement park, visit the Museo de Arte Tigre, housed in a striking belle-époque building, then take a river cruise along the delta, where you can drift past the stilted houses, floating markets and delta islands that make up the fascinating Tigre Delta.

2. Uruguay
Separated from its neighbor by the Atlantic inlet of Rio de la Plata, hopping across the border to Uruguay is one of the most popular day trips from Buenos Aires, with high-speed ferries connecting the capital to a number of destinations. The closest port is the sleepy port town of Colonia del Sacramento, a UNESCO World Heritage Site full of cobblestone streets and colonial buildings, or else head to the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo, where the windswept coastal city plays host to a lively Sunday market and the city center is a masterpiece of timeless architecture.

3. La Plata
The second largest in the state of Buenos Aires, the colonial city of La Plata is only an hour from the capital and offers a myriad of cultural and religious sights. Explore the expansive Natural Science Museum where you can marvel over dinosaur fossils and stargaze in the astronomical observatory, then take a walking tour of the city where you can admire the striking gothic façade of the Cathedral de La Plata, one of Argentina’s largest and most impressive churches.

4. Mar del Plata
The closest seaside resort to the capital is Mar del Plata, Argentina’s premier beach resort with 10 miles of sandy beaches and a lively nightlife featuring tango shows, theater performances and a casino. The resort’s alarming popularity throughout summer means you’ll be lucky to find a few square foot of sand to yourself, but once you tire of the sunbathing masses there’s plenty to keep you amused away from the beach. Marvel at the tens of thousands of seashells on display at the fascinating Museo del Mar Museum; visit the Zoológico El Paraíso zoo; or hit the shops and cafes on trendy Güemes. Buses and trains connect daily to Buenos Aires, but the quickest way to get there is to fly – a 55-minute flight from the city.

5. Estancias and horse riding
Argentina’s vast grassy plains and sun-scorched terrain yearn to be explored from the saddle and the countryside is full of working estancias (ranches) where gauchos (Argentine cowboys) still work the land on horseback. Take a horseback riding tour and visit a traditional ranch, where you’ll get to see the cowboys showing off their skills and tuck into a traditional asado (steak barbecue) after working up a sweat galloping through the wilderness. There are a number of estancias near to Buenos Aires but the Don Silvano Ranch and the Santa Susana Ranch are both great choices.

- Zoe Smith

Planning a Trip? Check out Viator’s Argentina tours and things to do, Argentina attractions, and Argentina travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Buenos Aires for a customized tour!

Best Day Trips from Buenos Aires from Argentina Things to Do

Boat trips on the Tigre Delta. Photo courtesy of Los viajes del Cangrejo via Flickr

A popular day trip from Buenos Aires, the riverside town of Tigre is the gateway to the idyllic Tigre Delta region, one of the world’s largest natural deltas stretching over 5,400 square miles. Named after the American Jaguars that once frequented the area, the Tigre Delta is the meeting point of the Paraná river, South America’s second longest river, after the Amazon, and the Río de la Plata estuary, which bridges the borders between Buenos Aires and Uruguay.

A vast network of islands, canals, forests and grasslands make up the region, inhabited by a vibrant community of islanders connected to the mainland by water taxis and ‘supermarket boats’. With the river flowing through its heart, the main way to get around the Tigre Delta is by boat, and catamaran river cruises are the best way to experience the water-logged lifestyles of the Delta tenants. Drift along the canal ways where you can take in the stilted houses, yacht clubs and markets along the waterfront, and pay a visit to the house and museum of former Argentina president Sarmiento, who spearheaded the development of region.

Boat excursions aren’t the only thing to do in the Delta; horseback riding, kayaking, hiking and bird watching excursions are all popular alternatives and many of the islands have been recently redeveloped as luxury spa resorts, reportedly visited by Madonna on her last South American tour. In the town of Tigre, the lively port of Puerto de Frutos hosts a colorful crafts market; the nearby casino and Parque de la Costa amusement park draw in the crowds; and the Museo de Arte Tigre, housed in a striking belle-époque building, is also worth a visit.

A world away from the historic tango halls and shopping districts of Buenos Aires, Tigre is just a 45-minute train ride from Buenos Aires, as well as being accessible by boat from the city’s Puerto Madero docks. Alternatively, hop on the scenic Tren de la Costa (Train of the Coast), which runs along the Rio de La Plata coastline from Olivos (an easy train ride from central Buenos Aires) to Tigre.

- Zoe Smith

Planning a Trip? Check out Viator’s Argentina tours and things to do, Argentina attractions, and Argentina travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Buenos Aires for a customized tour!

Tigre Delta from Argentina Things to Do

Tango in Buenos Aires

The birthplace of the sultriest dance in ballroom and the modern-day party capital of South America, Buenos Aires’ bucket loads of Latino charm make it a prime spot for those looking for romance. Whether you choose to seek out the old world romance of the tango halls or pay a visit to the city’s surprisingly non-seedy ‘Love Hotels’ (rentable by the hour), there are a myriad of ways to get loved up in Buenos Aires.

Number one of the list of romantic things to do in Buenos Aires has to be watching a tango show, and you don’t have to look hard in the city to find top-class dancers. Stroll the cobbled streets of San Telmo’s Sunday market to catch the street performers in action, or book a tango dinner show where you can immerse yourself in the historic dance, while enjoying a candlelit dinner. For a more hands-on experience, join a tango class where you’ll get to gaze into your partner’s eyes as you learn some classic moves, then head to the waterfront Puerto Madero for dinner with a glittering view of the docks.

Romance doesn’t have to be confined to the evening hours, either. Take a cycling tour of the wildlife-filled Constanera Sur Ecological Reserve; stroll around the pretty Japanese gardens or get dolled up for sporting date at the Argentine Polo. Or why not enjoy a champagne-fueled picnic in the Palermo Rose Gardens, where you can hire a rowing boat on the lake, then whisk your date to the planetarium for some sunset stargazing?

Of course, you don’t have to just stay in the city; there are plenty of options for romantic getaways. Book a weekend at a luxury gaucho ranch, where you can explore the surrounding countryside by horseback; take a scenic ferry ride to Montevideo in Uruguay; or drift downstream with a boat cruise along the picturesque Tigre Delta.

- Zoe Smith

Planning a Trip? Check out Viator’s Argentina tours and things to do, Argentina attractions, and Argentina travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Buenos Aires for a customized tour!

Romantic Things to Do in Buenos Aires from Argentina Things to Do