Category: Buenos Aires

Looking for the best dulce de leche in Buenos Aires, and possibly the world? Look no further than this classic ice cream parlor on historic Avenida Corrientes! A must-visit for anyone with a sweet tooth visiting the city.

The story of how one contested landmark became the centerpiece of Argentine cultural life, as told through important events that have taken place there in the past year (August 2016 to 2017).

An Argentine asado is not simply a steak dinner. It is a long, social gathering built around the fire, with food arriving in stages and conversation filling the time between courses. Most visitors can eat excellent beef at a Buenos Aires parrilla, but joining this more personal side of Argentine life is harder without a local invitation.

For travelers looking for a Buenos Aires asado experience or an Argentine food tour that goes beyond restaurant tastings, Asado Adventure is one of the most complete options we know. We have recommended Frank Almeida’s experience since it began in 2016. The five-hour tour takes place in a private Palermo Viejo home that was originally a bakery, built in 1890. It combines a neighborhood walk, a local butcher, wine and cheese, hands-on preparation, and a leisurely asado shared around the table.

It is more expensive than going out for steak, but it is also much more than a restaurant meal. You are paying for a small-group cultural experience, a guided introduction to Palermo, generous food and drinks, and several hours with people who can explain the traditions behind what you are eating.

Asado Adventure at a glance

• Location: Palermo Viejo, Buenos Aires
• Setting: A private home in a converted 1890 bakery
• Duration: Approximately five hours
• Group size: Maximum 10 guests
• Current starting time: 10:30am on scheduled dates
• Current public price: From US$230 per person when checked in September 2026
• Included: Neighborhood walk, butcher visit, wine and cheese tasting, hands-on preparation, full asado meal, drinks, dessert and mate
• BuenosTours discount: Enter BT10 at checkout for 10% off

Schedules, menus and prices can change, so check the live booking page before making plans.

What happens on this Buenos Aires asado tour?

1. Meet at the house, light the fire and make chimichurri

The experience starts at the Palermo home where the meal will later be served. After a welcome drink, the group helps get the wood and charcoal fire going and prepares chimichurri, Argentina’s best-known parsley and garlic sauce.

This is hands-on, but it is not a conventional cooking class in which every guest prepares a complete meal at a workstation. You take part in key moments, learn about the fire and ingredients, and can help with tasks such as the chimichurri, provoleta and seasoning. The host and grill master remain responsible for the technical cooking and timing.

2. Explore Palermo Viejo through food, history and street art

While the fire develops, the group heads into the surrounding streets. The walk adds the context that separates Asado Adventure from a simple barbecue lunch. You learn about Palermo Viejo’s history and street art, stop at a local butcher, and visit a specialist wine shop for a small tasting with cheese.

If you would like more background before your visit, see our local guide to Palermo, Buenos Aires.

3. Return for picada and a Fernandito

Back at the house, the meal begins gradually, as a proper asado should. The current menu starts with a picada, a shared selection of cured meat, cheeses, pickles, vegetables and bread. Guests can also try a Fernandito, the popular Argentine combination of Fernet and cola. Water, soft drinks and fresh lemonade are available for anyone who does not drink alcohol.

4. Settle in for the asado

The grilled courses arrive from the parrilla one by one and are shared family-style. The current sample menu includes chorizo, morcilla, sweetbreads, pork flank steak and strip steak, together with grilled vegetables and salad. Exact dishes can change, but you should arrive hungry and be ready to try several different flavors and textures.

Some Argentine names for meat are confusing, even for confident steak eaters. Our guide to meat cuts in Argentina explains the difference between familiar favorites such as bife de chorizo, ojo de bife, vacío and entraña.

5. Finish with dessert and mate

The current dessert is grilled sweet potato with caramelized pecans and vanilla ice cream, followed by a round of mate and a few final stories. The point is not to rush through lunch. The pauses, conversation and passing of plates are part of the experience.

What makes this different from eating at a parrilla?

A steakhouse is the right choice when you want to order a particular cut, eat on your own schedule and spend less. Asado Adventure is for travelers who want to understand the ritual around the food: how the fire is prepared, why courses arrive slowly, what the less familiar cuts are, and why an asado is as much a social occasion as a meal.

One tradition worth knowing is un aplauso para el asador-a spontaneous round of applause for the person who has tended the fire and cooked the meal. It captures the gratitude and sociability at the heart of an Argentine asado.

The private-home setting matters, too. Instead of watching a restaurant service from your table, you spend the afternoon close to the grill with a small group. The Palermo walk, local businesses and conversation turn the meal into a broader introduction to Buenos Aires.

For more dishes and drinks to look out for during your trip, see our guide to traditional Argentine food.

Is Asado Adventure worth it?

We think it is worth considering if food is one of the main reasons you travel. The price is premium, but so is the amount of time and hospitality involved. It works particularly well for first-time visitors who want more cultural context than a restaurant can provide, and for couples, families and solo travelers who enjoy meeting people around a shared table.

Book it if you:

• want an asado in a real home rather than a restaurant-style production;
• like long, social meals and are curious about unfamiliar foods;
• want a small group, with no more than 10 guests;
• enjoy learning about a neighborhood as well as eating in it; or
• would value an English-language explanation of Argentine food and customs.

It may not be the best fit if you:

• only have time for a quick lunch;
• want the cheapest possible way to eat Argentine steak;
• expect a full technical grilling class where you personally cook every course; or
• prefer to choose one familiar cut and skip offal or shared dishes.

You never have to eat something you do not want, of course. If you have strong preferences or dietary requirements, contact Asado Adventure before booking so the team can explain what can be adapted.

Practical advice before you book

Book ahead

The experience is limited to 10 guests and is not offered every day. Popular dates can fill, so it is sensible to reserve once your Buenos Aires plans are firm.

Do not skip breakfast completely

The experience starts in the morning, but the substantial part of the meal comes later. Have breakfast, just not an enormous one.

Dress casually

Wear comfortable shoes and clothes suitable for a neighborhood walk and time around a working grill. Depending on the weather, bring sunscreen, a hat or a light layer. There is no formal dress code.

Tell the team about dietary needs in advance

Vegetarians and non-drinkers are welcome, and the team says it can accommodate a range of allergies and dietary restrictions with advance notice. Because this remains a meat-focused experience, vegetarian or vegan guests should contact the host before booking to make sure the planned alternatives suit them.

Plan your own transport

Hotel pickup is not included in the standard price. Your confirmation email will provide the exact meeting point, a Google Maps link and a useful Spanish phrase for a taxi driver. Private transportation may be arranged on request, subject to availability.

Frequently asked questions

Is Asado Adventure suitable for solo travelers?

Yes, and a shared table can be a particularly easy way to meet other visitors. However, Asado Adventure requires at least two participants for a departure. Solo travelers should contact the company first so they can be matched with an existing group, placed on a waitlist or offered a guaranteed-departure option.

Can children join?

Yes. Child pricing is available and families are welcome. Children can have water, juice or soda, and simpler food can be arranged with advance notice if needed.

Is it suitable for non-drinkers?

Yes. Wine and Fernet are part of the experience for guests who want them, but water, Coke and fresh lemonade are also available.

Is this a cooking class?

Partly. Guests help light the fire, make chimichurri and take part in selected preparation and grilling moments. The host handles the more technical cooking. Think of it as an interactive cultural and food experience, rather than a formal culinary lesson.

Are private experiences available?

Yes. Private versions can be arranged for couples, families, groups and special occasions. Scheduling, transport and optional upgrades can be discussed directly with Asado Adventure.

What is the cancellation policy?

Policies can change, so confirm the current terms when booking. At the time of this update, Asado Adventure states that its standard asado tour receives a full refund with at least seven days’ notice, a 50% refund with three to six days’ notice, and no refund within 72 hours, with limited exceptions for disrupted flights or cruises.

How to get the BuenosTours discount

1. Open the official Asado Adventure page.
2. Choose an available date and the experience you want.
3. Enter BT10 in the discount-code field at checkout.
4. Check that the 10% discount has been applied before paying.

Ready to join the table? See Asado Adventure details and book with code BT10 for 10% off.

If you would also like a friendly introduction to the city itself, pair the asado with a small-group Buenos Aires walking tour. We will help you find your bearings, understand the neighborhoods and make much more sense of everything you eat, see and hear during the rest of your stay.

Bar Sur is a beautiful, old cafe in San Telmo, but unfortunately can only currently be properly visited as part of a tango show. I managed to pop in on a Sunday afternoon and take a couple of pictures but unless you’re willing to fork out for the show, there’s no other way in.

Bar Sur: Estados Unidos 299
Colectivo: 152, 64, 29

This page is part of a series examining the Notable Bars of Buenos Aires.

Traveling by cab in the city of Fair Winds is an easy and fairly affordable option. Read here everything you need to know about taking a taxi in Buenos Aires, from rates to routes to common scams.

Cafe de la U takes its name from its location in Villa Urquiza, and it’s the first thing you see on a busy corner when you emerge from the end of the B line, a spot it has taken up since opening over 40 years ago.

It’s a pleasant enough place, and the tables that line (block?) the pavement outside are busy. Inside the decoration is plain, but the colours are warm and it’s a nice place to sit for a while.

There’s not a lot else to be said about Cafe de la U. If you ever find yourself in Villa Urquiza, then you should pay it a visit but I don’t imagine it’s worth making a detour.

Cafe de la U: Av Triunvirato 4801
Subte: JM Rosas, Line B

This page is part of a series examining the Notable Bars of Buenos Aires.

When it comes to bars and cafes in Buenos Aires, there can be no doubt that the Tortoni is the grandaddy of them all. It’s the oldest café in Argentina, opened in 1858, situated in the heart of the action on the Avenida de Mayo, it doesn’t get a lot more notable than this.

With its history and reputation, it’s not a surprise to find that the Tortoni is very popular on the tourist route, and it’s not unusual to see queues of 20 to 30 people waiting to get in during the summer season.

It’s not difficult to see what the fuss is about – once you are ushered in through the wood and glass doors, the Tortoni is beautiful. Stained glass, dark wood and polished brass fittings take you back to the 19th century, an image also helped by the legions of bow-tie wearing waiters rushing about.

The Tortoni is by far the biggest name in the Notable Bar world and is definitely worth a visit. If you can avoid it during the high season when it turns into a tourist zoo, you’ll be rewarded with one of the greatest cafes in the world.

Cafe Tortoni: Avenida de Mayo 825
Subte: Piedras, Line A

This page is part of a series examining the Notable Bars of Buenos Aires.

Cafe Nostalgia is the first bar I ever went to in Buenos Aires. A friend had told me to go there and meet the owners who were friends of his. I went there on my very first day in the city, they weren’t there and I didn’t return for nearly 7 years.

Which, I can see now, is a shame because it’s a nice little place. Nestled on a residential corner in leafy Palermo Viejo, it’s got enough of a comfortable feel that you would happily sit there for an hour or two nursing a coffee, and it’s quiet enough to do so.

In many ways, Cafe Nostalgia is exactly what a neighbourhood bar should be – there’s nothing fancy about it (except a rare goose-neck tap) but it’s warm and welcoming and would be a great little local to have nearby.

Cafe Nostalgia: Soler
Subte: Bulnes, Line D

This page is part of a series examining the Notable Bars of Buenos Aires.