By The UNCHARTED® editors · 4 min read
One of the best ways to get to the essence of a place is to explore its food, its ways of connecting and celebrating over meals–and that is especially true in South America. Our expert contacts in these gateway cities can recommend wonderful dining experiences for the start or end of an adventure with UNCHARTED.
There are so many cultural experiences that get to the heart of South America’s gastronomic riches–from markets, indigenous cooking, and street vendors to pioneering chefs, luxury dining, and Michelin stars.
Due to the continent’s colonial legacies, many restaurants draw on Spanish, Arabic, and African cuisines, as well as the flavors and textures of the Oriente, Andes, and Amazon regions. With vibrant colors and buzzing eateries, dining in this part of the world is a true feast for all the senses.
Before jetting off to El Chaltén in Patagonia, it is a must to enjoy the steak and wine Argentina is known for by visiting a parilla–or grill–in Buenos Aires. Parillas are intimate neighborhood spots that cater to generations of porteños (capital natives), revealing the pace and warmth of the community. These places usually don’t open till eight or nine at night. But, like clockwork, families dine first, followed by retirees and couples, and lastly, the younger crowd.
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We also suggest taking a self-guided food safari through Bogotá’s shopping and farmers’ markets. Make sure to try the city’s signature dish, ajiaco–a chicken, potato, and corn stew accompanied by toppings of capers, avocado, cream, and homemade hot sauce. Plaza de Mercado Paloquemao's friend plantain, tamale, and cheese-stuffed arepa stalls cannot be missed.
Whether you want to enjoy cocktails and fine dining overlooking a city skyline or lunch in a splendid square surrounded by colorful adobe buildings, these southern cities offer the whole menu.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
The opportunities to eat well in Buenos Aires are endless, and a new generation of chefs is pushing the boundaries of Argentine cuisine. Parilla Los Pinos and Parilla Pena, both located in Recoleta, are our top choices for small steakhouses. For something completely different, Marti is a gem serving up innovative vegetarian tapas in a glass-enclosed courtyard, and the locale is popular with the hip crowd. Lastly, cooking and eating with a porteño family in their home is as authentic as it gets: savor small batch Merlots, empanadas, and tango music.
As crazy as it sounds, our experts have recommended time and time again Andrés Carne de Res, a restaurant with electric salsa and merengue club music. The original Andrés Carne de Res sits in the town of Chia, an hour north, and it is often called Colombia’s wildest party. But lucky for us, they’ve opened a satellite spot in the city’s Zona Rosa. Order a refajo colombiano–a beer and soda cocktail similar to a shandy–to get things started! For something more low key, La Candelaria is another popular Bogotá district, with many cafes and galleries in the area.
After a week traversing the Galapagos, get to know Quito’s local cuisine with a nine-course tasting menu at Ecuador’s only stand-alone Relais & Chateux restaurant, ZAZU. Nuema, a restaurant run by husband-and- wife team Alejandro Chamorro and Pía Salazar, has been named one of the 50 best restaurants of Latin America. For a less urban experience, head to historic Hacienda Zuleta, an UNCHARTED Outpost. Owned and operated since 1898 by the same family (which includes two of Ecuador’s past presidents), the Hacienda is rich with history and charm. Incredible farm-to-table fare and platters of artisanal cheese can be enjoyed in front of roaring fireplaces after days of horseback riding through the Andes.
A frontrunner in the Chilean food scene revolution, Boragó uses ingredients sourced strictly from diverse areas across the country. Olam is a haute-cuisine restaurant by one of the best chefs in Chile, Sergio Barroso. It focuses on fresh fish and seafood, with a menu of dishes to share with the table. It's also the first certified zero-waste restaurant in the country. No matter where you end up, shrimp and octopus ceviche are plentiful in this city–add a squeeze of lime and a spoonful of pebre sauce, and you’re good to go.
Everyone is eager to get to Machu Picchu when landing in Peru, but that means passing up the opportunity to experience the hotbed of South America's culinary scene: Lima has the honor of hosting four of the 10 top eateries on Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants list in 2022. Central, Maido, and Astrid y Gaston are our recommendations. Making reservations at least three months out is advised!
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