What to Eat in Argentina When You’re Traveling Solo (And Hungry)
I didn’t come to Buenos Aires just for the steak. But I stayed for it. And the empanadas. And a 20L expandable backpack that somehow made room for snacks between restaurants.
Solo travel in Argentina doesn’t mean skipping good food. In fact, it’s the opposite. It gives you time to wander between cafés, beef-scented grills, and quiet hotel breakfasts without rushing. I started with curiosity and ended up with a stomach full of everything but regret.
🍽 A Crash Course in What Argentina Really Eats
Argentina’s food is a mix of its immigrant past and cattle-heavy present. People here eat more beef per year than most of us eat in three. And they know what to do with it.
You’ll want to try:
· Asado (traditional BBQ, smoky and slow)
· Chimichurri (herb vinegar sauce that changes everything)
· Provoleta (grilled cheese, not the sandwich kind)
· Empanadas (crispy pockets of beef or corn)
🥩 Where to Eat (Even If You’re Alone)
Don Julio
Worth the hype. Get there by 5:30pm to queue (yes, you read that right), grab a number, and walk the block until they call you back. I ate an enormous T-Bone. I left smiling.
El Preferido de Palermo
Think pink walls, leafy decor, and young staff surprised at how much one person can eat. I was that person.
Rapa Nui
An ice cream + café hybrid with a jungle-style courtyard. Light, airy, full of locals. I brought my 20L backpack here more than once—perfect for stashing a paperback or leftovers.
Tres Monos
Noisy, stylish, and ranked one of the best bars in the world. The tattooed bartender made me a drink I couldn’t pronounce and never forgot.
Café Tortoni
It’s touristy. It’s historic. It’s worth it. Think 1858, leather booths, and the ghosts of Argentine writers. Come for the vibe, stay for the nostalgia.
🥩 Final Notes from a Well-Fed Solo Traveler
Eating alone in Buenos Aires felt less like a solo trip and more like a quiet kind of freedom. I took my time. Sat long. Wrote postcards on napkins.
My expandable backpack held the usual: a charger, a book, and the feeling that I didn’t need much else. Light, low-key, and always ready for one more stop.
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