If I had to choose a favorite restaurant in Buenos Aires for the best all-around dining experience, it would be Anchoita (besides the process of getting a table, more on that later). It is top-notch in regards to food menu, wine list, ambiance, and service. When I first went in 2019, it was the first restaurant in Buenos Aires where I felt they cared about the service. It was also the first place where the operation felt like millions of dollars were invested. It was like some new hip restaurant in New York City or Miami (in a good way) and whoever opened it spent way too much money for Buenos Aires and would never see their money back. This might be true, as the owner is Enrique Piñeyro, who Wikipedia describes as “an Argentine-Italian ex-airline pilot turned film actor, producer, crash analyst, aeronautical physician, film director and screenplay writer.” The last two times I have been, he has been in the kitchen cooking and bringing plates out to guests. So, a rich guy splurging and losing money on a pet restaurant project? It could be, but the way it is going, he may be getting his initial investment back.
I have been back twice since 2019. Let's get the “getting a table” topic over with. Anchoita opens up reservations for the whole year in early January. This year, I randomly saw them mention this on instagram and went on the reservation site precisely the second the reservations opened. I selected dates in April or May, thinking there wouldn’t be any demand that far out. I spent around 20 minutes choosing different dates throughout the year and came up empty. It felt like trying to get concert tickets and having every seat become unavailable. The site would load slowly, and then the date would say “fully booked.” Trying to get a table the second the reservations went on sale, I came up empty-handed!
So, with no reservation, how do you get a table? You need to wait in line and hope for the best. This usually involves going around 7:30 p.m. or earlier and waiting until they open at 8 p.m. Depending on whether all the reservations show up, you might get lucky and be let in right away or given a spot for later in the night, around 10 p.m.
The second time I went, in May 2023, my wife and I were trying to go to Picaron, a restaurant nearby, on a Friday night. At the time, Picaron didn’t take reservations, and we showed up too late. So we needed a new place to go and decided to try our luck at Anchoita. We showed up at 8:30 p.m., not expecting anything. But to our surprise, we were let right in and given a table. Something we didn’t expect at all, especially on a Friday night.
On our most recent visit a few weeks ago, on a Wednesday night, our party of 4 showed up and waited in line, starting at 7:30 p.m. A few minutes after 8, we made it to the front and were given the option to hang out at the bar until a table opened at around 10 p.m. We took it and grabbed a spot at the bar, where we ordered a few bottles of wine and snacked on some snacks like nuts. We were taken to our table around 9:40 p.m., earlier than expected. Not bad.
A tip: The Maître d mentioned that Wedensday and Thursday nights are usually the easiest to be seated without a reservation.
Now, I wouldn’t usually be a fan of restaurants where you have to wait in line for over half an hour and then hang out at a bar for over an hour before getting a seat. But I make an exception for Anchoita.
Anchoita stands out as a place to savor shared plates. A winning strategy is to order a generous selection of small plates for communal enjoyment, complemented by one or two main plates for the whole group (group of 4). The cuisine is a contemporary take on Argentine flavors, drawing inspiration from all corners of the country and reimagining traditional dishes. Here are some of the standout plates I've had over the years (besides that bone-in bife de chorizo in the photo up top!):
These items don’t even scratch the surface. There are many more things to try.
Opting for the more affordable wines on the list, Anchoita offers excellent value. On our most recent visit, our group of 4 enjoyed three bottles of wine, various waters, four small plates, and one main plate. The bill came to around 40 USD per person, a reasonable price for what I consider the best all-around restaurant in Buenos Aires.
The wine list is one of the best in the city and offers many pricey bottles. So, how much Anchoita dents your pocketbook will depend on what you spend on wine.
Bottom Line: The only restaurant worth waiting in a line for. Go! Remember to give me hell in the comments if you went, waited in the line, waited at the bar and didn’t enjoy it!
Anchoita
Juan Ramírez de Velasco 1520, Chacarita.
Open 8pm - 1am Tuesday-Sunday.
Mondays Closed.
Going tonight will let you know what I think!
We totally agree. It’s got great food- the long pasta is a winner. Also their bakery around the corner is fantastic!