Best Things to Do in Palermo, Buenos Aires

Will Gerson
Feb 23
3 min read

Updated: Nov 13

Palermo is a great neighborhood to stay in during your visit: centrally located, filled with leafy parks and boutique shopping, and home to a vibrant culinary and nightlife scene. Read on to discover what to do in Palermo Buenos Aires.

Restaurants

Don Julio

One of the premier parrillas in Buenos Aires. The secret has been out on this steakhouse for some time—it counts among its accolades a Michelin star and numerous rankings as a top restaurant in the world—so be prepared to wait for a table, if you haven’t had the foresight to book your reservation months in advance. The waitlist will be shorter the later in the evening that you go: try around 10:30pm or later, when most other tourists have gone home. But your meal will certainly be worth any wait. I recommend the most standard of Argentine steakhouse orders: a provoleta (a delicious round of grilled provolone cheese, in this case topped with their exquisite heirloom tomatoes), ojo de bife (ribeye steak) cooked a punto (medium rare), French fries, and salad, accompanied by a bottle of Malbec. And for dessert, panqueque celestino, a crepe filled with dulce de leche and topped with vanilla ice cream.

Don Julio

La Cabrera

Another Buenos Aires institution. Similar in quality and price to Don Julio, but with a slightly different ambience. Equally recommended—though if you can only go to one, I would suggest Don Julio.

Sarkis

Well-known Armenian restaurant, very popular among locals. Great food in a casual setting, showcasing Buenos Aires’s immigrant legacy. Large menu with dishes that will be familiar to fans of Middle Eastern cuisines. Highly recommend any of the various steak kebabs—enjoy Armenian flavors coupled with world-famous Argentine beef.

La Alacena Trattoria

Awarded a Bib Gourmand in 2024, this warm, inviting restaurant offers updated takes on classic Italian dishes in an upscale yet casual setting. Lovely place to enjoy a dinner in a vibrant but relaxed atmosphere.

Chori

Casual and festive spot to enjoy one of Buenos Aires’s most famous street foods, the choripan. Chorizo and bread, made to perfection. Fast service and crowded at night.

Burger Joint

The quality of Argentine beef comes through not only in steaks but also in burgers. Good spot for those looking to diversify their red meat consumption.

Hierro Parrilla

Another excellent steakhouse. While I give the upper hand for the meat to Don Julio, this spot has the best provoleta around.

Varela Varelita

This iconic cafe and bar has been a hangout for writers and artists since it opened in 1950. Try one of their hearty sandwiches—the most famous are the lomito (thinly sliced steak) and milanesa (thin breaded veal cutlet).

Big Pons

Another great burger spot—juicy and delicious.

Parrilla SecreTiTo

This steakhouse is, as its name implies, a little secret—walk past the outside and you might think they are closed. Just knock on the door and you'll be welcomed into this lively and cozy restaurant, which the owners have dedicated to their favorite football team, Racing Club, from the Buenos Aires suburb of Avellaneda.

Rapanui

Bariloche's iconic chocolate shop and ice cream parlor has various branches around Buenos Aires, but the one in Palermo is arguably the best, with a lovely garden to sit in while you enjoy your delicious dessert.

Cafes

Piccolina Cafe

Good coffee and superbly delicious baked goods. Great place to start your morning with coffee and a cream- or dulce de leche-filled pastry.

Lattente

Solid coffee and nice ambience inside. Open on Sunday, when many other cafes in the neighborhood are closed.

Vive Cafe

Very good coffee and a nice selection of food, as well. Colorful, well-decorated interior––a nice place to sit and stay for a while.

Bookstores

Libros del Pasaje

Charming bookstore with high ceilings and a wooden interior. Good selection of English-language books and a large cafe to spread out and park yourself with an entertaining read.

Eterna Cadencia

Great selection of Spanish-language books, though none in English. Nice cafe with food in an interior atrium.

Museums

Museo de Arte Latinoamericana (MALBA)

Modern museum showcasing twentieth-century Latin American artists. Highlights of the collection include works by Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Fernando Botero, as well as many fine pieces by artists lacking recognition in the English-speaking world.

Jardín Botánico Carlos Thays

Buenos Aires's main botanical garden is a slice of tranquility in the middle of the city. Designed by the French landscape architect Carlos (Charles) Thays, who created many of the city's largest greenspaces, it is an excellent place to sit or stroll surrounded by natural beauty.

Looking for more tips on what to see and do around the city? Visit our Buenos Aires page here.