Large cities have secrets that few people know, and where to eat well and cheap in Buenos Aires is one we want to share with you. Those who already know us are aware that we are always on the lookout for different experiences. That is why, to eat something different (hearty, good, and affordable), you have to step outside the traditional Buenos Aires circuits and go further than the city center, Palermo, or Recoleta, and discover the bodegones that the city's neighborhoods have to offer everyone.
In these corners you will find the true essence of Buenos Aires. Generous dishes meant for sharing, good wines at affordable prices, and classic desserts. The moment you walk in, you can feel the immigrant legacy of the past, reinventing dishes that have become part of the renowned Buenos Aires gastronomy.
With this guide from Rentennials we want you to dare, on your next trip to Buenos Aires, to venture a little beyond the classic tourist neighborhoods. Not only will you discover a completely different energy, but also bodegones where you can enjoy dishes for every taste.
Why look for options to eat well and cheaply in Buenos Aires?
When we visit Buenos Aires we know that one of the things we will look for is experiencing its gastronomy. Enjoying cosmopolitan flavors and dishes conceived and designed by the best chefs in the world. Yes, that is partly true, but sometimes when we see the prices at these places we think twice before going in. One night is worth it, but what happens when we want to go back to traditional dishes and flavors?
To know where to eat well and cheaply in Buenos Aires you have to keep a sharp eye, step into a dimension beyond social media and surrender to the flavors that might just take you back to your childhood. Quick bites, grills, pasta, fish, seafood, and much more await you in the traditional taverns that seem frozen in time, and that is what gives them a magical touch.
Where to eat well and cheaply in Buenos Aires?
We could have stuck to restaurants in the most touristy areas, and there are plenty of them. But we chose to venture beyond the most traditional neighborhoods, like the city center, Palermo, or Recoleta, so you dare to go a little further. You'll see for yourself: the experience of eating well and cheaply at Buenos Aires bodegones improves infinitely when the dishes are paired with the porteño essence that not everyone knows.
Here are our recommendations:
Los Bohemios (Atlanta)
In the heart of Villa Crespo, next to the stadium of the legendary Club Atlético Atlanta, you'll find Los Bohemios. It's a gastronomic experience that combines classic flavors with generous, shareable dishes. Fried calamari, pasta, bondiola prepared in various ways, meats, and much more await you at this Villa Crespo classic. You can check the menu and prices here.
A great idea is to combine lunch or dinner at Los Bohemios with a stroll through Villa Crespo, one of the neighborhoods where the Jewish community settled in Buenos Aires.
Useful info
Address: Humboldt 538
Hours: Monday 8 PM to 12 AM – Tuesday to Sunday: 12 PM to 4 PM / 8 PM to 12 AM.
Phone: 4856-9260 / 4855-1207 / Whatsapp 11-631-3810
El Boliche de Nico
If you're wondering where to eat well and cheaply in Buenos Aires, but specifically grilled meat, here's your answer. In the neighborhood of Villa Urquiza you'll find one of the best steakhouse bodegones in the city: El Boliche de Nico. You'll find classic cuts, full mixed grills, provoleta prepared in various ways, and excellent traditional desserts. A recommendation? Combine several cuts, especially the flank steak with the short ribs.
Getting to El Boliche de Nico is really easy by car. You can park on the street and the neighborhood is extremely pleasant to walk around and explore. Very nearby, you'll find the famous gastronomic hub of Donado and Holmberg. A great idea is to have lunch or dinner, and then go for drinks at one of the bars on Donado street.
A tip: in 2025 El Boliche de Nico expanded and has a new location in Palermo. We recommend visiting the original to truly experience the neighborhood vibe up close.
Useful info
Address: Av de Los Incas 4257
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 12–4 p.m. and 8 p.m.–12 a.m
Phone: 116-758-3930 //4554-7018:
GEVS (Gimnasia y Esgrima de Vélez Sarsfield)
We venture a little further and arrive at Villa Santa Rita, one of those neighborhoods that has remained unchanged over time. Few apartment buildings, houses from the 1950s and 1960s, clubs that managed to rise again after many crises. One of them is Gimnasia y Esgrima de Vélez Sarsfield, popularly known as GEVS. Today, besides being a hub for local football, it is a bodegón that draws people from all over the city.
What are the dishes like? Generous, meant for sharing, and with truly local flavors. Empanadas, special milanesas, pasta, and meats prepared with their own touch are some of our recommendations.
Even though it's far from the city center or the most well-known neighborhoods, getting there is simple and it's an extremely safe area. Don't hesitate to eat and then take a walk through its streets.
Useful info
Address: Joaquin V. Gonzalez 1511
Hours: Monday to Saturday from 7:00 AM to 12:00 AM – Sunday closed
Phone: 4648-2337 / 4963-8916
El Ferroviario
If the question of where to eat well and cheaply in Buenos Aires hasn't been answered yet, this option will be the one. In the western part of the city, literally next to the Vélez Sarsfield stadium, is one of the most famous grills: El Ferroviario. The concept is simple: all-you-can-eat grill, all kinds of cuts, and you eat whatever you want. Plus, if you prefer a lighter option, you can order individual dishes.
What makes this place wonderful is that it's not all about the food. A central part of the experience is its atmosphere and service. Nothing goes unnoticed and there is a constant attention to making sure guests have a spectacular time.
A tip: make a reservation or arrive early, especially on weekends. And don't worry if you don't eat meat! There are other dishes for you.
Useful info
Address: Reservistas Argentinos 219
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 12 PM – 4 PM and 8 PM – 12:30 AM
Reservations at this link
Spiagge di Napoli
On Independencia avenue, right in the Boedo neighborhood, you'll find this Italian bodegón founded almost 100 years ago: Spiagge di Napoli. Here, tradition is front and center, and the dishes have that touch that takes you back to the flavors of your childhood. The classic Italian décor, the incredible service, and the generous pasta portions take you to a Buenos Aires of the past.
The specialty? Homemade fucciles with the sauce of your choice. After lunch or dinner, you can take a walk through the Boedo neighborhood, which holds some secrets of porteño tango.
Useful info
Address: Av. Independencia 3527
Hours: Monday to Sunday from 12–4 p.m. and 8 p.m.–12 a.m. Sunday evenings closed.
Bar Alemán
In this article we want to cover a large part of the city, and we still needed a bodegón where eating well and cheaply in Buenos Aires is also an experience from a different origin. In the Devoto neighborhood, you'll find Bar Alemán, a place with a Central European feel and its -of course- traditional dishes from different regions of Germany.
True, on their menu you'll find not only typical German dishes, but also others like pasta and milanesas. But we have no doubts: order the goulash and the German sausages with sauerkraut.
Useful info:
Address: Av. San Martín 5992
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m
Phone: 4501-0814
What's the best way to get to the traditional eateries to eat well and cheaply in Buenos Aires?
All the bodegones we suggest have the added bonus of being located in neighborhoods away from the most central and touristy areas. This means two things: that traffic to get there is lighter and that there are parking spaces available (and if you decide to pay for parking, it is cheaper).
So now you know, open Waze or Google Maps and let yourself be guided through the streets of Buenos Aires.
Tips for enjoying your trip in Buenos Aires
- Plan your routes ahead of time. Buenos Aires is large, and getting from one place to the bodegón you chose takes time. So, put together an itinerary to optimize your time and explore several neighborhoods in a single day.
- Rent a car if you're going to move outside the city center. Buenos Aires traffic is intense, but outside the most central areas you can drive with ease.
- Try every dish you dare. It may seem obvious, but don't miss out on anything.
- Walk through the neighborhoods. Of course, you should take the usual precautions of any large city.
- After a great dinner, enjoy the nightlife. There are options ranging from tango shows to bars and milongas, the city has something for every taste.
Travel with Rentennials and enjoy eating well and cheaply in Buenos Aires
The capital of Argentina is a box of surprises. To discover them, you need to dare to step off the beaten path. First, you need to find out where you can eat well and cheaply in Buenos Aires, and then make up your mind to head out through its streets to reach that place everyone has been telling you about.
The best way to get to know a place is on your own terms, without depending on others and doing exactly what you have been wanting to do. That is why, at Rentennials we make the entire car rental process easy for you, so you can explore one of the most incredible cities in the world at your own pace.
