The guide to the best places to eat and drink in El Calafate

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  Julieta Fraguío 30/09/2016

Through this article you will find a complete and varied guide to the best-rated restaurants in the city.

But first I'm going to tell you what the local food is and the main dishes on offer. As in almost the entire Patagonian area there is lamb, it can be eaten on the grill, on the cross, on the disk or in stews. Another highly requested dish by visitors is trout. The species that are usually offered in the cards are the Brown and the Rainbow. Both are grilled or grilled, accompanied with potatoes or stuffed with seasonal vegetables.

The autochthonous dishes are the guanaco and the choique (Ñandú Petiso), characteristic animals of Santa Cruz that in the past were the habitual diet of the indigenous Tehuelches. Guanaco meat is tasty and lean, it is increasingly common to see it on the grill menus, in stews or carpaccio. On the other hand, the picaña de choique is another option that is recommended to eat juicy, since after that point the meat becomes tough and dry. In general, it is accompanied with local herbs and typical fruits such as the berries of the Calafate tree. The exquisite sweets and desserts are also prepared with the same fruit along with raspberries and blueberries, they represent one of the best manifestations of the delicate gastronomy of the area, without forgetting the traditional chocolate.




Here are the most important gastronomic places for you to try all the flavors of the city:


Where to eat the best entrees


Bahia Restaurante

Bahía Restaurante is located inside the Hotel El Mirador, from its dining room you will have a  privileged views of Lake Argentino . I recommend you go in the afternoon to enjoy the sunset or at night. In the entrees that are offered,  The brochette with seafood and quinoa timbale   is a delicacy for the palate! It is the combination of shellfish (shrimp, mussels and prawns) with mushrooms, quinoa cereal and vegetables (bell pepper, onion and carrot). In addition, it is accompanied by a sweet and sour sauce made from white wine, chopped bell pepper, soy sauce, brown sugar and lemon. The  lamb patties   are also an excellent option before starting with the main dish.  The dough is homemade and the filling is prepared with lamb meat that was braised for many hours. It is served with a fresh salad of radishes and greens, plus a tomato sauce with lemon. To further enhance the seafood dishes, accompany them with an exquisite  Chardonnay white wine .


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Yenou

In this  gourmet restaurant   you will be able to find a 100% native entree:  Escabeche de Guanaco   with cheese board and homemade bread. The pickle has meat, onion, carrot, bell peppers, bay leaf, paprika and chili in its ingredients. You can also order it with cold cuts. 
Another entry option is the  Armenian brochette of grilled lamb   with a mixture of garlic, with onion, sweet paprika, hot pepper and rosemary. Guanaco and lamb meats can be accompanied with a  Fran Malbec red wine.


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Unique Patagonia

At the select Lagos del Calafate hotel you will find the gourmet cuisine of Unique Patagonia, a restaurant that offers  traditional international and signature dishes.   The menu items include  lake trout with fennel puree and saffron sauce.   A good option if you want to try one of the typical fish of the region. I recommend that you accompany it with some Argentine white wine. During the meal you will be able to enjoy the atmosphere and a French neoclassical decoration, along with panoramic views of Lake Argentino. 


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Recommended gourmet restaurants


La Posta

La Posta restaurant is inside the Los Alamos Hotel, the atmosphere is  elegant  and it has a nice view of the park. They have a varied wine list  and a menu with different cuts of meat on the grill, international dishes and typical local food. The star dishes are: braised Patagonian lamb with potatoes covered with Philadelphia cheese and smoked trout with creole squash.  If you are looking for a menu without meat They have different pasta specialties such as  vegetarian spaghetti with aubergine, zucchini and bell peppers or pumpkin sorrentinos.  
In the desserts offer a tasting of chocolates  which are exquisite! Portions are generally generous and advance reservations are recommended.


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Mako

The menu is varied but characterized by the outstanding dishes of  grilled fish.   One of the favorites is the  Grilled red tuna   or the  trout stuffed with cheese with fine herbs.   They also have delicious pastas such as  the sorrentino trout with mushroom sauce   or the  spaghetti with mussels.   They have a tasting of national and international wines, the recommended one is Malbec from Bodegas Noemia de la Patagonia. The menu features  gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly meals.   The restaurant is very modern with an all wood interior. The decoration of the plates is another of the points in favor of Mako.


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Mora

The dishes are very elaborate, they have a menu with typical foods of the area such as  Patagonian lamb with sweet and sour calafate sauce   or  guanaco with hollandaise sauce  (butter, vinegar, egg yolks and white pepper). The recommended dishes are the grilled catch of the day and the steak eye. And for dessert? The Mora cheesecake with red fruits. 
Regarding the setting, the restaurant has a  romantic style and windows overlooking Lake Argentino. It is located inside from Hotel Xelena, it is one of the farthest but worth visiting.


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Recommended grills


Parri Grill

It is the most popular grill in El Calafate, the most recommended cuts of meat are: the entraña, the asado strip, the lamb ribs, the picaña and the pork slaughter. They also have an exquisite variety of achuras: lamb sweetbreads, blood sausage, chinchulines and chorizos.All these meals can be accompanied with salads, French fries, roasted vegetables and mashed potatoes or pumpkin.
For dessert, the flan with dulce de leche and cream is a must! At the Parri Grill they have a very good draft beer to accompany the meats (I recommend that you ask: "I miss the donkey").


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Parrilla Mi Viejo

On the Mi Viejo grill they stand out for the delicious   Patagonian wood-fired lamb,  it is recommended to try it with Creole sauce (onion, bell peppers, tomatoes, green onion, olive oil, chili and cumin) or mint chimichurri (mint, parsley, garlic, vinegar, oil and chili). But you will also be able to find all the Argentine cuts of meat such as the roast strip, vacuum, entraña and rump tail. To accompany the meats they offer kidneys, pork sausage, sweetbreads and chinchulines. You can also find other typical Argentine foods such as locro and fried empanadas, they can be lamb or vaccines.
If you like to accompany a good meal with background music, every night there is   musical shows. 


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Don Pichón

Asador Patagónico, the perfect place to combine good food with impressive  views of the city and the lake.  It's a bit isolated from the center, but don't be Problem if you go without a car, the restaurant offers roundtrip transportation to your hotel. Don Pichón's strong suit is in his  wood-smoked lamb with potato sticks. It's the must-see! Also, you can order pasta or salads. The wine list and the draft beers are another of its strengths. 



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La Tablita

It is the oldest restaurant in El Calafate and maintains its still life style. The specialty of the house is Patagonian Lamb on the grill or on the cross, although the  recipes with meats   of beef cannot be underestimated: loins, steaks and vacuum. Another must-see are the sweetbreads with roquefort cream and potatoes. There are also other grilled delicacies like trout and herbed salmon. Do not miss the provoletas, the lamb tongue and the pickled Patagonian hare. For dessert?  The signature tiramisu.


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Where to eat Pasta


La Cocina

La Cocina is a classic restaurant run by its owners with years of tradition in El Calafate. All dishes are made with  homemade pasta.  The menu is limited but each meal has no waste. The star dishes are   fried ravioli, forest pancakes, pumpkin turtei and lamb ravioli.  The desserts are also homemade and original, such as the lemon ice cream, meringue , lemon pie sauce and chocolate chips.


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La Lechuza

The restaurant is warm and quiet, it has a 60s decoration. The menu has varied and homemade dishes. You will be able to find   Sorrentinos, ravioli, potato gnocchi, lasagna and different types of spaghetti.   The most prominent dishes are the ravioli stuffed with lamb and spaghetti with salmon, zucchini cream and saffron. They also stand out for the variety of pizzas, the Margarita to the stone or to the clay oven is the most requested. It is advisable to go early because there is a queue to enter.



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Vegan and vegetarian delicities


Kau kaleshen

It is an international and fusion restaurant. It has the characteristic of the gluten-free menu and excellent service for each diner. The star dish is the   mushroom risotto and fondeus.  For those who don't want to miss the sweet part have a   chocolate marquise  which is a show. It also has options for vegans. 



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Pura Vida


The place is simple, clean and the staff stands out for their good service. The menu is very extensive and has a menu for vegans and celiacs. The star dishes are  Gnocchi risotto and vegetarian lasagna.   Vegetable soups with fine herbs are also delicious. They have an extensive menu of pasta and salads. Don't forget to make your reservation in advance!


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The richest ice creams


Aquarela

You will find the classic tastes but they also have flavors accompanied by the typical local fruits such as calafate, blueberries and raspberries. One of the star flavors is  dark chocolate with Patagonian dulce de leche and berries.   There is also tramontana, strawberry cream, Patagonian chocolate, pistachio, cookie cream, mascarpone and many more . If after a delicious ice cream you want something warm, Watercolor is also a cafeteria and you can choose different varieties. 


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Helado Tito


It is the oldest artisan ice cream shop in El Calafate,  they have up to 90 exquisite flavors , the traditional and their own such as Lemoncelo, Calafate and Pisco Sour. They also have a cafeteria sector, where they grind the coffee at the moment so that you can enjoy it with your ice cream.



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Ovejitas de la Patagonia


It is ice cream parlor, chocolate shop and they also have varieties of cakes. You will find more than 50 unmissable flavors and tastes such as  Glaciar Cream, Chocolate with Calafate fruits and Watercolor cream with Moroccan chocolate chips.   Something that stands out from the rest is that the ice cream decorates them top with delicious artisan chocolates. If you want to put together a perfect combo, combine the ice cream with a hot chocolate. 


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Coffee shops


Quidú

An intimate and cozy space facing the lake, open every day except Wednesday. They can be ordered different types of coffees, infusions, juices and bakery products. A recommended to accompany your The drink is Chocolate Marquise, with ice cream and Patagonian fruits. The confectionery has a living room with a fireplace to enjoy the tranquility of the environment.



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Iglu

An ideal place to take a break and enjoy a coffee while watching the   windows overlooking Lake Argentino.   Iglu is located inside the Hotel Esplendor, It has a bar and confectionery for 30 people, it also offers a   menu of cakes, sandwiches, infusions and national and imported drinks.   The cafeteria is open from October to May, it also offers food, lunch and dinner services.



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Where to eat the best cakes


Elba’r

It is a small German-style bakery located on the main avenue in the center. It has a quiet room to order a hot or cold drink while you enjoy a delicious cake. The   chocolate mousse cake with berries and the Oreo  cake are the most popular. In addition, it is the only place in El Calafate where they offer you almond milk for coffee. Prices and quality are very good!



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Dulce Lugar

Open from 8 to 9 at night. You will be able to find a variety of  cakes with cream, mousse, sponge cake, brownies   and many more. The most popular cake is the  cheesecake with berries. En the same place produces the chocolates, alfajores and cakes. They also sell jams of the typical fruits of El Calafate. 



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Don Luis

They have an excellent quality of cakes and baked goods. It is located downtown a few blocks from the Lake. The white chocolate cake with berries   is the one that gets all the applause. Also, they have alfajores de dulce de calafate that are exquisite! They have vegetarian and vegan options. Also in the morning they make bread and bills. They are open all day from 7 am to 10 pm.




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Where to eat chocolate


Laguna Negra

An excellent place to take a break and sample the variety of hot chocolates. From chocolate with mulled wine to white chocolate with churros   is one of the varieties that you can find. The place is warm and has tables to sit on. It is open from 9 am to 8 pm.



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Abuela Goye

It has very rich and varied products, which makes it one of the most popular places in El Calafate.  Hot chocolates can be accompanied by cakes, churros or a salty sandwich.   In addition, you can choose them in dark, white or classic chocolate. They also have delicious milkshakes.


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The best wine bars


The Wine Shop

In this local you will be able to find the best Argentine wines to take away, or to taste in the store. Among the varieties you will be able to find red wines, white, sweet and pink. They have a menu with the different varieties and the possibility of eating snacks with exquisite cheeses, cold cuts and breads. The days Thursdays and Saturdays there are tastings with accompaniments. The atmosphere is warm and You can enjoy music in the background.



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Uco Wine Shop

In this Patagonian winery you will see national and imported products, cheeses and smoked products. It has the modality of a shop but you can also ask for a glass of wine and enjoy it in the place with a rich table of cold cuts and cheeses. They have other varieties of drinks for sale such as beers (artisan style), sparkling wines, distillates, and whiskey. It is located a few steps from the main avenue of Libertador.


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Places to have fun at night


Don Diego Pub

An Irish bar located in the heart of El Calafate. A space to go for a drink and listen to live music from different djs. The styles that happen are  pop, rock and retro music. The atmosphere is fun, people often dance and stand there having drinks. It opens from 9 at night but the best time to arrive is from 10.30, if what you want is to see enough people having a good time. There are all kinds of drinks and beers, they also offer some finger food like french fries, hamburgers and bondiola (pork) sandwiches.


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Shakleton

Bar amp; Rest with shows of bands and live djs. It is a cabin that offers in its second floor a space to dance and listen to music with one of the best panoramic views of the Lake. They are open from Thursday to Saturday from 5 in the afternoon until 12 at night. The atmosphere is ideal for people aged 28 and over, they play music from the 80s and 90s, as well as pop songs of the moment. They have a very varied bar with excellent quality drinks and wines. 



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The Toldería

On Fridays and Saturdays from 10 pm live DJs play and a good atmosphere is set up to enjoy all kinds of music, reggaeton, cumbia, quartet and pop. On the second floor there is an open living room with balconies to enjoy the music and the view of the city. They have a varied bar with beers and drinks, like the classic Argentine fernet. On Wednesdays and Thursdays before 9pm there is karaoke. The kitchen is open until 10 at night, they have a highly recommended lamb pizza.


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La Zorra

Distinguished for its good atmosphere and value for money, this bar is a good option for those who like to have a drink while listening to a live music band. It has 12 taps of Calafate craft beer, they produce it themselves with water from the Glacier (APA, is recommended). They have a kitchen open until 11 pm to order potatoes, hamburgers and snacks. It is perfect for sharing with friends and meeting travelers. 


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DIANE  29/11/23
Very helpful for my upcoming trip.
very well written.

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