Dining with Young Chefs in Buenos Aires

The culinary scene in Buenos Aires is in the middle of a renaissance, much to the delight of its foodie-centric locals and visitors. A rise of young talent in the city has given fresh life to new and creative restaurants and cafés. If you’re in Buenos Aires, be sure to check out the below recommended eateries.

If you go to eat at one restaurant in Buenos Aires, let it be Proper. The trendy dinner restaurant is housed inside a former mechanic shop and debuted on Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants list last year. A dynamic young duo, Chef Leo Lanussol and Pastry Chef Augusto Mayer, opened the restaurant to bring a new flair to traditional wood-fired Argentinian dishes. The menu is made for sharing small plates, so bring your appetite and prepare to sample a lot of mouthwatering dishes. They don’t take reservations, so make sure to show up at least 15 minutes before they open the doors to snag a spot.

If you find yourself wandering the San Telmo neighborhood streets, pop into Cafe San Juan. The young chef, Leandro ‘Lele’ Cristóbal, is notorious for his tatted up “skater boy” image and rough-around-the-edges charm. Cafe San Juan was once the talk of the town, and while it’s no longer a local hidden gem, it still receives acclaim for quality Spain-meets-Argentina dishes in a no-frills atmosphere.

After cutting their teeth at pop-up dinners across the city, 20-something year old chefs Mica Najmanovich and Nico Arcucci opened Anafe to be a laid-back “closed door” eatery that focuses on small plates. To get a reservation, you must message them on Instagram and then wait for them to share the secret address. The duo’s dishes focus on modern Argentinian and Middle Eastern cuisine with unique combinations of textures and flavors.