Salta Restaurants

  1. Café del Tiempo

    Decked out to resemble a Buenos Aires café, this has prices to match but offers a stylish terrace in the heart of the Balcarce zone; a top spot for a drink. There's some sort of performance or live music every night; most of the dishes - including international offerings such as chop suey, sushi and ceviche - are designed to share, and the picadas (shared appetizer plates) are great for a group.

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  2. El Beduino

    Authentic and delicious Lebanese food is here for the taking at bargain prices in this simple restaurant. Piquant tabouleh salad, exquisite kebbe nayeh (marinated raw mince), homemade pita, and creamy hummus; excellent. Dancers shake their bellies on weekend evenings.

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  3. El Solar del Convento

    Warmly decorated and popular, this reliable choice offers solicitous service - the free apéritif wins points - and a varied menu. It specializes in lomo (sirloin) with tasty sauces, and also has fish dishes and parrillada (mixed grill including steak)options. The wine list offers many excellent provincial choices. It wasn't quite up to its usual standards when last visited, but hopefully it was an aberration.

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  4. La Esquina Natural

    This little vegetarian restaurant mostly functions as a take-out, but has a few simple wooden tables. Daily dishes are displayed at the glass counter.

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  5. La Leñita

    Tucumán's best parrilla has just reached Salta and hits the same heights on what is a hit-and-miss dining street. Fine meat, with a wide range of cuts, and solicitous service whether you're in a suit or singlet. The versatile staff serenade diners with Salta folklore halfway through dinner.

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  7. Mercado Central

    This large, lively market is very interesting as well as one of the cheapest places in town. You can supplement inexpensive pizza, empanadas and humitas (stuffed corn dough, resembling Mexican tamales) with fresh fruit and vegetables.

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  8. New Time Café

    In the race for the accolade of Salta's best plaza café, this two-level corner spot wins by several lengths. It offers shady (in the afternoon) tables, great views of the cabildo , Cerro San Bernardo and cathedral, and wi-fi…it also serves coffee and food, though it isn't the cheapest. Live music some nights.

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  9. Patio de la Empanada

    It's a toss-up between Salta and Tucumán for Argentina's best empanadas, but they're wickedly toothsome in both places. Locals debate the merits of fried (in an iron skillet; juicier) or baked (in a clay oven; tastier). This one is a favorite of local taxi-drivers.

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  10. Portezuelo Restaurant

    On a sunny day there's no better place to be than on the balcony of this restaurant in the Portezuelo Hotel, enjoying some of the best views in Salta. The food is well prepared, with welcome Mediterranean touches such as sun-dried tomatoes and calamari salad, and the service is excellent.

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  11. Viejo Jack

    Far enough out of the tourist zone to be authentic, but not so far it's a pain in the backside to get to, this is a down-to-earth spot very popular with locals for its parrillada and pasta. The serves are huge - designed for two - but they'll give you a single portion (still a big slab of meat) for 70% of the price.

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