Buenos Aires food and drink

Buenos Aires locals start their day with a cup of freshly roasted coffee and a media luna (Argentinian croissant). For morning tea, try anything (usually cakes or biscuits) made with dulce de leche, which is a sweet, delicious milky caramel syrup – you won’t be sorry. To say that Argentinians love their steak and offal would be an understatement. Make sure you sample these meaty favourites when dining out in Argentina. Again, you won’t be sorry. Black pudding, chitterling, liver and sweetbread are other Argentinian delicacies that look far worse than they taste. Oh and one more thing: ice cream. You. Will. Never. Taste. Better.

Where to eat?

Where to eat in Buenos Aires? One thing's for sure, you can't really go wrong. Palermo has an incredible culinary offering (not to mention some outstanding parillas, or steakhouses); Avenida Corrientes is where you'll find some of the big pizzerias; La Boca and San Telmo have authentic bodegones (traditional restaurants of Buenos Aires); and Costanera Norte and Puerto Madero make the most of their waterside location with a selection of fine seafood restaurants to choose from.

Where to have a drink?

As this is a 24/7 city with dining kicking off around 9pm, it's no wonder Buenos Aires really gets down to business after dark. The laid-back bars of Buenos Aires's oldest suburb, San Telmo, are a great place to start your evening. Palermo is the nightlife hub of the city, with Niceto Vega its street lined with nightclubs. It wouldn't be a night out in Buenos Aires without tango, so try La Catedral if you're new to Argentina's iconic dance.

Where to find a good coffee?

Although Buenos Aires has a strong Italian heritage, the coffee scene as Australians would know it has only really taken off in the last few years. Yes you can get an excellent flat white there, but you need to know where to look. The best cafes are concentrated in the Palermo district, with new cafes sporting well-trained baristas opening all the time. Our pick...

What are the best food markets?

There are all kinds of food markets in Buenos Aires, from organic markets to huge permanent markets, and pop-up food markets. One of the most popular pop-up markets is the Buenos Aires Market, which is like a travelling gourmet food fair. Check out the location which coincides with your holiday – you won't be disappointed. Bring cash to markets, in small denominations of the local currency, and note that haggling is not really a thing here.