The five best restaurants in El Calafate

Where and what to eat? It’s one of the topics we must define while planning a trip. Fortunately, El Calafate is a privileged city in its gastronomy as much as in its natural landscapes! Its typical food is exquisite and, although it’s characterized by special dishes such as roast lamb, it seeks to satisfy all palates with a nice range of options (even international!).

There are dishes for all tastes, ages, demands and budgets. To give that breaker, lunch, dinner, snack or just share a drink. From pizzerias to bars. Deciding is easy if we consider this ranking with the best five restaurants in El Calafate that we have prepared for you from the experience, taking as a reference the results of the reviews that Tripadvisor makes by the hand of the diners:

1. LA CHACRITA DE NIMEZ

This is a rustic and cozy place that is located on the Costanera Kirchner 410, 100 meters from the Laguna Nimez Reserve; so it gives us an amazing view with nice background music. Though its proposal is homemade Argentinian and South American fast food, it includes vegetarian and vegan options as well. This restaurant offers lunch, dinner and brunch.

A seat with table service is offered and you can also make reservations. In addition, there is a garden with a deck with games for children, perfect to enjoy a sunny day. In a nutshell, it provides a warm and familiar atmosphere! People with reduced mobility can sit down to eat in the rustic chairs on the outside with quick and easy access to wheelchairs.

Its customers have labeled it a place of “outstanding quality and attention” and so evidences one of the comments that they shared in February of this year through Tripadvisor: “It is nice to find places with charm, character and, specially, that serve you phenomenally. Recommended its guanaco casserole, pumpkin empanadas, lamb and potatoes la chacrita; some mouth-watering pizzas and desserts, which are also delicious: I loved their lemon mousse. With an amazing sunset gift. A place to visit if you go to Calafate”. Not in vain it is part of the best five restaurants in El Calafate.

Please kindly note that in the past season no credit card payment was accepted, be cautious about this!

2. YENÚ RESTAURANT

Ideal for lovers of red wine, which is also ideal to the regional dishes with the distinguishing flavor of the Patagonian and international area; there is a wine list in which you can find labels from traditional wineries and boutique wineries, made with grapes from all over the Argentine territory, specially selected to pair their delicacies.

It has options for breakfast, lunch and dinner, all healthy, generous and in tune with the season! However, the specialty of the house is fish, such as grilled salmon with pumpkin puree. It is open at late hours and can be booked in advance.

Located in Valentín Feilberg 51 Hotel ACA, one block from the center, it offers: free WiFi, seat with attention at the table, buffet, TV, full bar, beer and parking. In addition, from his play on, several transfers such as glacierium depart and return. Please note that credit cards are accepted.

Let’s see what they think of this place and why it’s part of the top 5 best restaurants in El Calafate:

“An exceptional restaurant. We have eaten a role of lamb, trout, among other dishes… It has been excellent not only for their quality and presentation, but also for being abundant. The staff were very friendly and helpful. I consider it one of the best restaurants in El Calafate. All under the direction of a well-known chef, Walter Volpini”, said one of his diners through Tripadvisor after his visit in February 2020.

3. THE GRILLED TABLITA

Its location is excellent: only a few blocks from the shopping center of Calafate! While its main course is lamb-grilling, the place offers a varied grill alongside salads and another menu of basic meals such as pastas, fish options like lemon trout and an extensive wine list for lovers of good red and white wine.

Culinary excellence, dedication and professionalism make it one of the favorites of tourists. Furthermore, it has a Whisky Hall where a huge part of bottles that the restaurant owners have been collecting are displayed. Some from themselves, others from travel friends from all over the world.

Although most of the collection are Scottish, it also features Irish, Japanese, Australian, New Zealand, American, Canadian, Indian, Italian, French, Swedish, Nepali and, of course, Argentinian whiskies. Argentina already has 3 malt whisky distilleries!

Ready for a delicious experience in El Calafate? Tablita Asador Parrilla is located in Coronel Rosales 26. Let’s see what one of the travelers who already visited this fantastic restaurant said:

“Eat rich and affordable. We went to dinner, we were accommodated and taken care of immediately. It was full of foreigners and Argentinians too. We ordered Patagonian lamb (which was cut with spoon… with grilled vegetables, mineral water, Malbec wine, chocolate mousse dessert –super delicious– and sweet cheese with coffee. Oh, they gave me lemon trout to try, very rich, although I don’t love fish). We went on the recommendation from a friend of my son and we loved it. When we return to El Calafate, we are going to repeat” Vivian, March 2020.

4. ISABEL-KITCHEN TO DISCO

Specializing in disco food, pasta and seafood; this place stands out not only for its exquisite gastronomy, but also for its apt location, attention and comfort. Yes, both its kitchen and spaces adapt to all types of customers. In fact, it also offers a children’s menu.

It’s located on the gob corner Gregores, just one block from Avenida Principal San Martín, and it has a lounge with capacity for 30 diners that is complemented by a children’s playroom. In addition, it was adapted so people with reduced mobility could have an easy entry with a ramp for wheelchair access.

Do you want to share a rich food record in El Calafate? Isabel is a good choice for couples and families. This is reaffirmed by the comments that its diners have shared by Tripdvisor: “First time in Isabel. Delicious food, we ordered two records for 3 people and it was really plentiful, I want more! Still, we recommend booking. We didn’t know and it was our turn to wait, not much of the truth, but those who had reservations went through time-out,” Yuliem said, after his visit in March 2020.

5. PURE LIFE REST BAR

This restaurant-bar offers home-cooked food with different options: from stews to artisan pastas, vegan and gluten-free dishes. Although the potato cake is famous and preferred by many, all the dishes are delicious and plentiful so you can share them amid its warm atmosphere and fantastic attention.

The important thing to keep in mind is that it’s a small lounge that has few tables, advance reservations are styled. It doesn’t have access for people with reduced mobility either. You should consider that it’s about 10 blocks away from the main shops of the city, even though it’s located on the main avenue. For a more precise reference, it’s right on Avenida Libertador 1876.

The reviews that its diners have shared for us by Tripadvisor have been great: “Delicious Argentinian food. A place with very good vibes, quiet, nice décor, simple but very nice. Fantastic service. We went 2 times and tried a little bit of everything: lasagna, foot, canelones, empanadas; all excellent,” expressed Lucas in February 2020, confirming that the restaurant ranks in this top 5 restaurants in El Calafate.

Meanwhile, another local diner who visited in the same month expressed “Delicious home-cooked food. It’s a cozy place, very well decorated where you are served food in the rich homemade style. The price is not low but it’s according to its quality. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Order the gnoquis from the risotto”.

As you may have noticed, there are a wide variety of alternatives to eat in the city. However, it is appropriate to tell you that there are also many takeaway houses and supermarkets where you can buy to cook in the hotel, cabin or apartment. It will all depend on you and where you stay, remembering that some of these hotels have good restaurants. See the 10 best hotels in El Calafate in 2020.

If you want to go beyond this top with the best five restaurants in El Calafate, we suggest turning to Yelp. It’s a great online platform to find and locate restaurants that are currently opened; places where to eat, drink, shop and relax. Download the APP on your mobile and you will have dozens of suggestions based on the experiences lived, as it is the diners who evaluate and recommend us; of course, all duly validated by a group of experts!

Are you still in doubt? Contact our travel specialists via whatsapp and they will provide you with all the guidance you need in terms of gastronomy and other important topics for your holidays: flights, transfers, accommodation and excursions. In fact, we can help you assemble your trip with tailor-made packages and itineraries.

Taste the exquisite and typical gastronomy of El Calafate!