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Al Amal
Tiny Al Amal only has a few tables, but whoever manages to score them is in for an excellent Middle Eastern experience. Expect to start with classics such as fresh hummus and tabouli before moving on to more substantial mains.
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Azema Exotica Bistró
Chef Paul Jean Azema is a culinary bower bird and it's a welcome surprise that his restaurant has taken off in a town where people have expected the same menu items for a generation! The meal at this elegant restaurant starts with 'finger food' coming from cuisines as varied as Indian and Vietnamese and just gets more eclectic from there. It has a good short wine list and is definitely a new hot spot.
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Bar 6
A boho but unpretentious local with red-velvet couches, chalkboard specials and one very long bar, Bar 6 is a great place to drop in on at any time of day. If you're after a full meal, try the ojo de bife (rib eye) with mustard sauce, lamb or the wok-fried vegetables.
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Bar Uriarte
From the team that brings you Gran Bar Danzon, this massive, modish space fits Palermo Viejo like a bespoke glove. The front-of-house open kitchen might signify that this place is all about the food (much of it Italian classics), however the ambiance is equally enticing - perfect for a Palermo Soho shopping stop on a sunny day.
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Bereber
A refreshing slice of the Maghreb, Bereber's intimate atmosphere, with its soft lighting, low tables and cushions makes it a firm favorite with local couples on a romantic night out. The authentic food complements it well, with excellent pastilla, couscous and tagines that sit well with a bottle of Argentinean red. Try one of their wicked caipirinhas while you're waiting for your table.
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Bice
The pasta here is outrageously good - try the black fettuccini with shrimp or the spinach and ricotta ravioli with four-cheese sauce. Risotto, meats and fish like trout, salmon and tuna will also tickle your taste buds, and fine service orchestrates the show. Desserts include gelato, crepes and mousse with pears. Get a table out back near the water.
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Bio
One of the only vegetarian spots in BA you can drag a meat-loving local to without complaint, Bio is a fantastic example of vegetarian cuisine that can stand alone. From this somewhat bucolic green setting, the 100% organic fare is fresh and fantastic - try their couscous - and the homemade ginger lemonade is a treat.
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Brasserie Berry
With its leather banquettes, classic French bistro chairs and blackboard wine lists, this brasserie has an authentic Lyonnaise vibe. The food is also the real deal, and the lunchtime work crowds gather here for the excellent value set meals, while in the evenings the place takes on a more romantic ambiance.
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Brasserie Petanque
A big, buzzing and authentic brasserie, this is the kind of place where you don't mind sipping a kir royale while you wait for a table just to check out the crowd and the owner working the room. Take advantage of classic French cuisine and Argentina's fantastic beef by ordering lomo à la Béarnaise (beef with a Béarnaise sauce) or their steak tartare. Sunday brunch is recommended.
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Burzako
Just as the decor manages to pull off rustic elegance (think taverna style but with big white plates and serious wine glasses), the kitchen here manages to update Basque favorites with flair. Taste any of the tapas dishes followed by heavyweights such as the brilliant oxtail with mash washed down with a local bottle of something good.
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Cabaña Las Lilas
Buenos Aires' definitive parrillada (steakhouse) serves the city's most prized steaks, perfectly aged and cut from purebred cows that are fattened up on Cabaña Las Lilas' private ranch. The baby-beef steak (800g/1.8lbs) is as famous as the wine list, and prices are the highest in town.
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Campo Bravo
While this chic parrilla (grill restaurant) is a relaxing place to tackle a huge steak or a pasta during the day, at night it's a very different beast indeed. While the staff remain cool, on a busy night you can wait up to an hour for a table - it's the price you pay for hanging with the most stylish crowd in Las Cañitas.
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Casa Blanca
Bright, light and white, Casa Blanca certainly lives up to its name. This new restaurant's food is certainly attracting attention too and while it rarely strays far from the tried and true porteño favorites, it's all done very, very well. Add to that some music to match the cool surrounds plus good service and you have a winner.
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Casa Cruz
Everyone agrees that Casa Cruz is a drop-dead-gorgeous restaurant. From its sexy bar to its red accented, stylish dining space, it's one of the city's most impressive spaces. Less impressive is the consistency of the kitchen, which struggles to hold together an eclectic menu that tries a little too hard to match the style of the surrounds. Still, if you don't enjoy your meal you can always drown your sorrows in style at the happening front bar.
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Casa Roca
While lunch for most city workers means waiting in long lines for a greasy slice of pizza, this 19th-century Italian-Renaissance mansion offers a delightful alternative. The former home to President General Roca has been transformed into an elegant, almost otherworldly restaurant. The gourmet three-course menu is big on French classics; as you head back into the insanity of the Microcentro, you'll wonder if it wasn't just a lovely dream.
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Central
While it looks like the hippest greengrocers ever with its display of fruit and vegetables out front, the acres of concrete inside hint that this is yet another Palermo eatery filled with attractive locals. Thankfully it has food that lives up to the light, airy space and dishes such as bacon-wrapped asparagus and sublime pastas are beautifully executed.
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Christophe
Christophe is a fine French eatery that's short on pretension and big on taste. The ever-changing menu is always a treat, but take the signature salad for a starter, whatever is fresh for a main course and don't miss the desserts. There's an interesting wine list and good service, too.
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Cluny
Warm, elegant and stylish, Cluny is a class act. There is a separate lunch and more expansive dinner menu and the French-inflected dishes are beautifully cooked. Expect dishes such as duck magret, beef with mustard sauce (divine) and Patagonian lamb with couscous, all of which keep the well-heeled locals coming back.
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Comedor Nikkai
If you're thinking that a Japanese restaurant located inside the Japanese Association would be authentic, you would be correct! While Palermo's designer sushi bars focus on getting the best logo rather than the best chef, in true San Telmo fashion this low key joint is guileless, simply concentrating on sending out plates of fresh sushi to a knowing crowd.
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Cumaná
If you haven't tried cazuela , this is definitely the place to have some. Cumaná specializes in these deliciously homey, stick-to-your-ribs pot stews, filled and baked with squash, corn, eggplant, potato and/or meats, among other tidbits. Also popular are the pizzas, empanadas , pastas and calzones. This place always hops, and empty tables are scarce.
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Dashi
Perpetually packed, this sleek key branch of the Dashi empire is arguably the best. Highlights of the sushi and sashimi selections are the creative ones such as the Guacamole Mex, but like all BA sushi joints the menu is heavy on salmon and cream cheese. Try to save room for their delicious helados (homemade ice cream).
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Defensa al Sur
An intimate restaurant with slightly whimsical touches (such as the well-worn traveling trunks that decorate the mezzanine) Defensa Al Sur, is a sure sign of the upcoming gentrification of this area of San Telmo. The menu takes familiar combinations such as risotto with cod and elevates them with superior technique and delightful presentation with chef Mariana Hernández overseeing the dishes as they pass through the open kitchen.
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Del Establo
This honest local parrilla is justifiably popular with local workers who come for the fantastic mixed plate ( real meat lovers only need apply!), other meat specialties and eminently drinkable house wine.
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Don Ernesto
Finding a niche between the basic El Desnivel and the charming La Brigada, Don Ernesto is an excellent value parrilla that gets its fair share of locals and visitors. For a beef blowout, try the chorizo and morcilla sausages followed by their excellent tenderloin accompanied by some purée de papas (mash potato) and a good value drop of red.
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El Bistro
If you're not staying at this fabulous hotel, you should still make a booking for its incredible restaurant. Design geeks will already know that this Philippe Stark-designed hotel is special, but the restaurant really is something else. A blinding white space with red accents, its whimsical features mean that white plaster unicorns on the walls fit perfectly with the theme. The food would be an afterthought if it wasn't so delicious!
