The Best Meal I Had in Argentina…

I may be a travel writer, but I rarely write about food.  It just doesn’t interest me in the same way that hiking & adventures do!  BUT ~ the meal I had at famed Buenos Aires hotel, Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt, takes the cake for the BEST meal I had in Argentina…HANDS DOWN!!  I still remember it to this day ~ over six months later.  And I didn’t just spend a weekend in Argentina: I was there for two months. 

So when I say that this was the best meal I had in Argentina, I’m speaking from experience…

Step into the Palacio Duhau with me for the best meal I had in Argentina…(also, that is the POPE’S Residence on the left!)

My Problem with the Food in Argentina

Overall, I was VERY disappointed with the food in Argentina.  This SHOCKED me.  Unofficially known as the “Beef Capital of the World,” I thought I was going to love it there.  I envisioned myself drinking wine & eating fabulous steaks nightly. 

Never make assumptions when you travel.

I had many great wines in Argentina. But as for great steak? Not so much.

90% of the meat I had in Argentina was tough, flavorless, & too well done.  Though Argentinian cattle have been grass-fed for hundreds of years ~ now, the majority of cattle are raised on feed lots, just like in the States.  What does this mean?  It means that cattle are basically living on top of each another (instead of roaming freely), standing in their own feces, being pumped full of antibiotics, to “avoid” illness. 

If you want true, grass-fed beef these days in Argentina ~ it’s hard to come by, & costs a fortune.

Additionally, I found that too many dishes were covered in cheese ~ even when it wasn’t specified on the menu.  Fatty, fried foods were prevalent (like pizza, pasta, empanadas, etc.).  But healthier foods, like salads & veggies, were MUCH harder to find, & often mediocre.  It was also difficult to find fresh fruit in Argentina, which was disappointing: as fruit is so plentiful in neighboring countries like Peru & Colombia. 

If you can afford to spend big bucks nightly ~ you can obviously find great meals in Argentina, particularly at nice hotels in Buenos Aires.  But if you don’t want to spend $50+ per night for a meal ~ I personally found it very difficult to do so at a lower price point.

 The Best Meal I Had in Argentina…

Okay, now that I’ve given you the backstory on my NON-love affair with Argentinian food, let’s go back to my first night in the country.  My friend & I got off the plane from Peru, landed in Buenos Aires, & immediately set out for the Palacio Duhau. 

We were chomping at the bit to check out this amazing palace for ourselves…

Palacio Duhau was designed by a French architect, in the opulent Louis XVI style.

Upon arrival, disheveled & worn out from our overnight flight, we were encouraged to freshen up & visit their signature restaurant that evening: Duhau Restaurante & Vinoteca.  What a great decision that turned out to be.  Not only was it the best meal I had in Argentina ~ it’s one of the best meals I’ve had in my life. 

After the sun set (Argentinians eat late), we entered the restaurant’s romantic interior, & were escorted out to their elegant terrace  which is nestled between the Palacio’s two main buildings.  It was a warm January night in the midst of an Argentinian summer, & the “good air” that Buenos Aires is known for, wafted gently through the courtyard, filling us with ease after a long day of travel.

We sat on this very terrace, on a balmy summer’s night…

 Palacio Duhau Heaven…

To start, we shared a bottle of Luigi Bosca Sauvignon Blanc, which complimented the balmy evening.  Then things started to get really good.  It was recommended that we try their signature appetizer, Smoked Gouda Provoleta.  Smoked cheese?! I thought.  Wayyy too decadent for me.  But because of rave reviews, we went for it. 

OH.  My.  GOODNESS. 

Two of the incredible wine racks at Duhau Restauranted & Vinoteca.

Their smoked cheese dish was one of the most perfect things I’ve ever put in my mouth.  HEAVEN.  When Nina tried it, we must’ve sounded like fools, because we were “oohhhingg” & “ahhhinggg” like a couple of drunk baby shower attendees. 

In retrospect, I believe it would be near-impossible to put that cheese in your mouth & NOT be ecstatic.  

On to the main dishes: Nina ordered black hake that was OUT of this world.  Slightly crunchy on the outside, moist on the inside….the way I can NEVER get fish to cook on my own!?  It was divine.  As for meat, the Palacio’s offerings are as good as you’ll find in Argentina: they offer top-of-the-line Wagyu Argentinian beef or Black Angus.  But it’s the way they prepare it that stands out: in traditional, Argentinian-grilled style, giving it the rich flavor I often found lacking in much of the meat I ate in Argentina. 

It’s getting harder & harder to find natural, grass-fed beef in Argentina ~ which is what makes Palacio Duhau so special.

Because we were so full ~ dessert sounded like a bad idea.  But because dinner had been so outrageously good, we couldn’t resist squeezing in a few bites of sorbet.  More heaven.  Starting my trip with a meal of this caliber set the bar extremely high, & unfortunately ~ I wasn’t able to replicate it anywhere else.  

Eating Well…at Palacio Duhau

I want to hear about the best meal YOU had in Argentina!  I know there are other amazing restaurants out there ~ I believe in Buenos Aires alone, there are over 5,000 restaurants!  I’d love to hear about other amazing Argentinian meals waiting to be had…so let me know in the comments below where some of these gems are! 

xoxo Noelia

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