The long awaited list of Argentina’s Michelin star restaurants is out! Seven restaurants between Buenos Aires and Mendoza were awarded a Michelin star, including Aramburo which gained two Michelin stars.
Argentina’s Michelin star restaurants in Mendoza and Buenos Aires
Aramburo, Buenos Aires – Two Michelin stars ⭐⭐
arambururesto.com.ar
Azafrán, Mendoza – One Michelin star ⭐
azafranresto.com
Brindillas, Mendoza – One Michelin star ⭐
brindillas.com
Casa Vigil, Mendoza – One Michelin star ⭐
instagram.com/casavigil
Don Julio, Buenos Aires – One Michelin star ⭐
parrilladonjulio.com
Trescha, Buenos Aires – One Michelin star ⭐
trescharestaurant.com
Zonda Cocina de Paisaje, Mendoza – One Michelin star ⭐
lagarde.com.ar
While the Michelin gold star is the bar that everyone is looking to achieve, there are a number of other stars and recommendations that the Michelin guide gives out.
Seven restaurants were awarded a green star, which is given to establishments making an important effort in sustainability. “Green Stars are much more than a simple distinction; they recognise the endeavours of those restaurants which incorporate sustainable practices into their daily work,” explains the Guide. |These establishments demonstrate an ethical commitment to their surroundings, employing every effort to ensure that the ingredients they work with – many from their own organic gardens – reach customers with the smallest possible carbon footprint and maximum traceability.”
Green Michelin star restaurants in Argentina
Anchoita, Buenos Aires – green star
anchoita.com.ar
Casa Vigil, Mendoza – green star
instagram.com/casavigil
Crizia, Buenos Aires – green star
crizia.com.ar
Don Julio, Buenos Aires – green star
parrilladonjulio.com
El Preferido de Palermo, Buenos Aires – green star
instagram.com/elpreferidodepalermo
Riccitelli Bistro, Mendoza – green star
matiasriccitelli.com
Zonda Cocina de Paisaje – green star
lagarde.com.ar
Another award given by the guide as the Bib Gourmand awards, which are given to restaurants with a very good price – quality ratio. The seven Bib Gourmand awards all went to restaurants in the capital city.
Bib Gourmand awards for Argentina
Bis Bistró, Buenos Aires – Bib Gourmand
Reliquia, Buenos Aires – Bib Gourmand
Anafe, Buenos Aires – Bib Gourmand
República del Fuego, Buenos Aires – Bib Gourmand
Caseros, Buenos Aires – Bib Gourmand
Mengano, Buenos Aires – Bib Gourmand
La Alacena Trattoria, Buenos Aires – Bib Gourmand
There were another 57 restaurants (42 in Buenos Aires and 15 in Mendoza) which were given a Michelin guide recommendation.
In addition Martín Bruno was awarded as Sommelier 2024, while Tomás Treschanski was awarded Young Chef 2024.
What do we make of the Michelin awards in Argentina?
The arrival of the Michelin guide to Argentina hit the news earlier this year with speculation of which restaurants would be awarded. The country’s national tourism agency — Inprotur — invested no less than $620,000 USD to bring the guide and their inspectors to Argentina (or more precisely, Mendoza and Buenos Aires). It is no minor investment for a country suffering with over 150% annual inflation…
I can understand the attraction, however. There’s no doubt that Argentina will gain more press and hopefully more tourism and income as a result. The awards have also, most interestingly of all, put Mendoza on an equal, if not higher, playing field as Buenos Aires.
It might perhaps come as a surprise to some that so many restaurants, and in particular wineries, were recommended in Mendoza, compared to far fewer in the capital city. However I have felt strongly for many years that Mendoza’s wineries offer some of the best gastronomy experiences in Argentina, so they are certainly worth the merit and I applaud the inspectors for taking notice.
I believe the other popular ‘lists’ like The World’s 50 Best Restaurants often are too concentrated on Buenos Aires alone, making a notable oversight by not including many restaurants by Mendoza on their list of recommendations.
The only tricky aspect of awarding some of these wineries with Michelin stars is that the large majority of them will only serve wine from their own portfolio, so the wine experience is most certainly altered from that of a traditional restaurant with a diverse wine list. It is definitely a benefit if you are keen to explore the wines of that winery, but on the other hand makes it less appealing to become a frequent visitor.
All in all, the new announcement shows the true leaps in quality that Argentina has made in terms of its gastronomy scene in recent years. There has been an impressive acceleration in quality, diversity of cuisine and attention to great ingredients.
The other bonus for anyone aiming to do the bucket list of eating in all the Michelin star restaurants of the world, with the price of the peso against the dollar, Argentina must offer some of the cheapest Michelin star restaurant meals and menus you can experience.
What are the other Argentine restaurants recommended by Michelin?
The full list of the 57 Michelin recommended restaurants are here, ordered by region:
Buenos Aires
13 Fronteras
4ta Pared
A Fuego Fuerte
Ácido
Águila Pabellón
Ajo Negro – Mar de Tapas
Anchoíta
Basa
Benedetta
Buri Omakase
Cabaña Las Lilas
Casa Cavia
Cauce
Chuí
Corte Comedor
Crizia
Duhau Restaurant & Vinoteca
El Preferido de Palermo
Elena
Fervor
Fogón Asado
Franca – Fuego y Vino
Gioia Cocina Botánica
Julia
Kōnā Corner
La Carniceria
Marti
Mercado de Liniers
Mishiguene
Na Num
Narda Comedor
Niño Gordo
Picarón
Piedra Pasillo Al Fondo
Raggio Osteria
Restó SCA
Roux
Sacro
Sál
Sottovoce
Sucre
Uni Omakase
Mendoza
1884: Francis Mallmann
5 Suelos (Durigutti)
Abrasado (Bodega Los Toneles)
Angélica Cocina Maestra (Catena Zapata)
Centauro
Espacio Trapiche (Trapiche)
Fogón Cocina de Viñedo (Lagarde)
La Vida
Osadía de Crear (Susana Balbo)
Piedra Infinita Cocina (Zuccardi)
Quimera Bistró (Achaval Ferrer)
Renacer (Renacer)
Riccitelli Bistró (Matias Riccitelli)
Ruca Malen (Ruca Malen)
Soberana
In a double coup, Lagarde was awarded both a Michelin star for the indoor restaurant Zonda, and a recommendation for the vineyard restaurant Fogón. Susana Balbo also had a double coup, with recommendations for the restaurant in her winery (Osadía de Crear) and hotel (La Vida).
