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Looking for a great food tour in Buenos Aires?
Good choice! Food is one of my favorite things about Buenos Aires. Although food wasn’t the only reason I lived here for several months, but with juicy steak, dulce de leche, and the best empanadas in South America on offer, could you blame me if it was?
I love doing food tours when visiting a new city, as I find it’s a great opportunity to try dishes I might not have otherwise and get to know the culture and history better. So of course, I did a bunch of them in Buenos Aires! I’ll share my favorites with you here so you can get to know the city’s incredible food scene too.
Quick Pick: Our Favorite Tour
Don’t have time to read the full article?
Our personal FAVORITE tour is this walking food tour in Palermo! It includes traditional dishes and stops at several top-rated restaurants. Check out the 2,000+ 5-star reviews and book this tour HERE!
Tip: This tour is likely to sell out, so secure your spot now and get 24-hour free cancellation!
Best Food Tours in Buenos Aires
1. Small Group Sherpa Food Tour in Palermo
Bailey and I absolutely loved this Sherpa Food Tour, it’s actually our top pick of all Buenos Aires food tours!
We spent 3.5 hours wandering through Palermo Soho, which is Buenos Aires’ most beloved neighborhood. It’s super charming and walkable, but not too crowded or touristy. Basically, it’s the perfect place to enjoy a food tour, and our amazing guide, Lou, took us to a bunch of great spots.
We did the Premium version of the tour, which allowed us to eat at restaurants where it’s usually really tricky to get a reservation, so we’re really glad that we did!
We won’t share everything we tried as we like to be surprised on food tours, but some highlights included empanadas, skirt steak, and milanesas. We also got to try fernet and coke, which is an acquired taste but definitely worth trying – I didn’t like it at first, but I eventually grew to love it while living here. We actually ended up feeling quite tipsy by the end of the tour as we got so much great Malbec and sparkling wine!
You can read our full review of the Sherpa Food Tour here to get all the juicy details (like the juicy steak we ate!).
The Local version of the tour costs $85 USD and the Premium costs $95 USD. We opted for the latter and thought it was totally worth the extra $10 USD. We thought this tour was a good value for money as we had such a great time, and the portions of food were super generous, so we’d recommend pacing yourself throughout!
Check out the 2,200+ 5-star reviews and book your spot on this tour here!
Related Read: A food tour is just one of the best tours in the city – check out our other favorite tours in Buenos Aires before you go!
2. Argentine Experience Tour: 5-Course Dinner with Cocktail-Making Class
I did this Argentine Experience food tour not long after moving to Buenos Aires, and it remains one of the best things I’ve ever done here! It’s an immersive dining experience that includes a five-course dinner, lots of wine, and an optional cocktail-making class.
We also got to enjoy short presentations about different aspects of Argentine culture between courses, which were both funny and interesting. One thing I particularly enjoyed was the chance to make our own empanadas and alfajores, which are a traditional Argentine dessert.
It was a great opportunity to meet fellow travelers and swap stories, and I could barely move by the end of the evening after eating so much delicious food. Argentine steak is always a treat, but the one I had here was a real standout for me.
The dining experience costs $98 USD, or you can opt for the full experience for $130 USD, which includes a cocktail-making class beforehand. And not just any cocktails either: wine-based cocktails, so it puts a very Argentine spin on your typical mixology class.
The Argentine Experience is usually available from Tuesday to Saturday during the winter, and daily during the summer months. Whenever friends and family ask me for recommendations on what to do in Buenos Aires, I always send them here!
If you’re keen on this tour, read our full review on the Argentine Experience here to get the full scoop!
Don’t miss out on this unique dining experience – book this tour with FREE cancellation here.
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
3. Argentina BBQ Experience with Locals
Our friends recommended that we book this rooftop barbecue experience, and we’re so glad that we did! It takes place in a local home in Palermo and was a fantastic chance to experience a traditional Argentinian asado (barbecue).
We really enjoyed how relaxed and friendly this tour was, and Betty and Marcelo made us feel so welcome. They chatted with us a lot while they were cooking, so we got to discover some of the asado traditions and techniques, although I don’t think we’ll ever be able to recreate it to the same standards by ourselves!
We got to try so many different meats throughout the night, from blood sausage and matambre pork belly to smoked tri tip which was just incredible. Then, just when I thought I couldn’t eat any more, they brought out a chocotorta cake with dulce de leche ice cream, so naturally, I had to make some room. Meanwhile, the wine was flowing, so make sure you drink some water, too.
The tour is available daily at 7 pm and costs $79 USD per person, which we thought was so worth it. We loved how personal the experience was. There were eight people in our group and we ended up getting along so well that we all went out for more drinks together afterward, and our hosts even came with us!
Secure your spot on Buenos Aires’ most unique food tour by booking this tour here!
Related Read: Looking for more activities to fill your time? Read our ideal 3-day Buenos Aires itinerary for even more fun experiences!
4. Traditional Argentinian Cooking Class
If you’re looking for a super hands-on food tour, then I think that this traditional Argentinian cooking class is just the thing for you! We’ve taken some really fun cooking classes in places like Bali and Mexico, so we just had to try this one.
Over 3 hours we learned how to make Argentine classics like empanadas and flan, and, best of all, how to cook a steak to perfection! It was so much fun and our chef, Manuel, was a great instructor. His passion for food was infectious and he made us laugh a lot along the way.
This is a small-group experience so we got to know our fellow participants as we cooked, and then we all sat down together to enjoy the meal afterward, complete with wine pairings. As I mentioned earlier, the food is one of my favorite things about Buenos Aires, so I loved having the chance to cook some authentic dishes for myself.
The cooking class that we did costs $75 USD per person, although they do also offer an asado masterclass for $89 USD if you want to learn how to grill, Argentinian-style! The tour usually runs from Tuesday to Saturday, although it’s not always available on Wednesdays so do double-check that.
Read all of the glowing reviews and reserve your spot on this top-rated cooking class here!
Other Activities to do While You’re in Buenos Aires
Taking a food tour is just one of many fun things you can do in Buenos Aires. So if you’re looking for even more activities, check out some of my favorites below!
- Wander around La Boca – This is our favorite neighborhood in Buenos Aires! La Boca is famous for being colorful and you’ll often hear tango music while you’re walking around here. There are some great bars and art museums or just walk around on this sightseeing tour or on your own and see what you find!
- See a tango show – Since Buenos Aires is tango’s birthplace, you just know the tango shows in Buenos Aires are next level. But seriously we were blown away by the dancers and the incredible meal as part of this House of Tango Show.
- Gran Café Tortoni – Gran Café Tortoni is an iconic Buenos Aires coffeehouse. It’s one of the oldest cafes in the city and has even been named one of the most beautiful cafes in the world! This is the perfect place to grab a late-morning coffee or medialunas (Argentina’s mini croissants). You can also buy tickets to their evening tango show here!
- Shop at the San Telmo Market – Located in one of the most historic and atmospheric neighborhoods, the San Telmo Market is a huge indoor market with fresh produce, amazing street food stalls, and antique stores. The market is open daily from roughly 9 am – 8 pm, although some restaurants close earlier.
- Experience the Gaucho lifestyle – Gauchos are Argentina’s cowboys and an integral part of the culture. To experience this firsthand, book a gaucho tour in Buenos Aires! You can head to the countryside on this Estancia Tour, which includes horseback riding, a barbecue feast, and stories from the gauchos themselves.
Where to Stay in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Nothing makes me sleepier than a full belly after an epic food tour! So you’ll need somewhere comfy to stay as you explore Buenos Aires, here are my top recommendations below. As you’re narrowing it down, be sure to take a peek at our guide to the best areas to stay in Buenos Aires!
Hilton Buenos Aires – $$$
You can’t beat the location with the riverside Hilton Buenos Aires. You’ll be within walking distance to downtown as well as the Playa Reserva Ecológica Buenos Aires. There’s a rooftop pool to relax in or sit down for a meal or drink at the hotel’s restaurant or bar.
The service is exceptional, and the rooms are spacious. It’s a more expensive place to stay at $250-$350 USD per night, but worth it if you’re looking for a five-star experience. So for the ultimate luxury in Buenos Aires, book your stay at the Hilton online here.
Broadway Hotel & Suites – $$
Located in the heart of Buenos Aires, the Broadway Hotel & Suites offers really spacious rooms at a great price. The swimming pool on the roof has amazing panoramic city views and a sun deck to soak up some rays. The rooms feature large windows, minimalistic art deco-type décor, and bathrooms with marble fittings.
You’ll also have plenty of choices for shopping and restaurants nearby. Plus, a junior suite here can be under $70 USD! To snag this awesome deal, I highly recommend you check availability and book online in advance.
Selina Palermo – $
Stay in one of the trendiest neighborhoods of Buenos Aires on a budget! Selina Palermo puts you close to the best bars and nightclubs – giving you a great place to crash after a night on the town. The place feels really modern, and there are nice extras like a rooftop bar, breakfast, and bike rentals available.
Shared dorm rooms with bunk beds are around $20 USD per night. If sharing isn’t your style, there are affordable private rooms with nice balconies overlooking the city starting at around $90 USD. You can book your stay on Booking.com or Hostelworld.com to secure your room!
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind. You can read our honest review of SafetyWing for all the pros and cons.
Thanks for reading!
I hope you’re hungry because you’re about to experience some of the best food in Argentina! No matter which food tour you choose, I’m certain it will be a good time. The food in Buenos Aires is incredible, and we love that there are a variety of tours available, maybe you can even try two (or four if you’re like us!).
If you found this article helpful, be sure to check out our other Argentina blogs before you go. We lived in Buenos Aires for a bit and got to experience the highlights of this country, so we have a lot of resources to help with your travel planning. Here are a few below to get you started!
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