Looking for a great food tour in Buenos Aires? Here’s my review of the Sherpa Food Tour Buenos Aires – a great way to explore the city’s fantastic restaurants and food culture.
If you’re coming to Buenos Aires, do yourself a favour and plan at least part of your trip around food. This is a city that rewards appetite: neighbourhood bodegones, pizza served by the slice, bottles of quality wine at affordable prices, a daily ice cream ritual and yes, plenty of excellent steak.
But Argentine food isn’t just steak and Malbec. The cuisine in this country is shaped by migration and tradition, and there’s a lot to learn if you want to eat like a porteño (a Buenos Aires native).
One of the easiest ways to get your bearings is to join a Buenos Aires food tour, especially if you’re only in the city for a few days. You’ll try a range of classics in a short window, learn the context behind what you’re eating and (helpfully) get the confidence to properly order food for the rest of your trip.
There are plenty of food tours in Buenos Aires, but in this review I’m sharing what it’s like to do Sherpa’s Buenos Aires Local Foodie Adventure – a laidback, very filling wander through Palermo that pairs generous tastings with neighbourhood insight. It’s one of the best food tours in Buenos Aires if you want to understand food culture beyond steak and wine.
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Snapshot: Sherpa Food Tour Buenos Aires
If you want a fun way to taste a big cross-section of classic Buenos Aires food in one hit, Sherpa’s Buenos Aires Local Foodie Adventure is a solid pick. It’s especially good for first-time visitors who want to try traditional Argentine foods with a side of historical and cultural context, plus the confidence to order properly for the rest of their trip.
If you do the Sherpa food tour in Buenos Aires, I’d recommend doing it early in your visit – you’ll get a lot more out of the experience that way.
- Duration: 3-4 hours (starts at 11am or 5.30pm, so it can replace lunch or dinner)
- Neighbourhood: Palermo (they also have a food tour in San Telmo)
- Group size: Small group (around 8-12; we had 6 in our group, and I liked that small size)
- What’s included: 10+ tastings plus drinks (wine and non-alcoholic options) – you will be full by the end!
- Dietary needs: Can cater for vegetarian and gluten free
- Price: US$115 per person
What to expect on the Sherpa Buenos Aires food tour
I did Sherpa’s Buenos Aires Premium Local Foodie Adventure, which is based in Palermo – the city’s trendiest neighbourhoods (and a great place to spend time even if you’re not doing a tour).
The format is simple: you’ll walk a few kilometres between stops, with tastings along the way at a mix of local favourites and more iconic places. In between bites, you’re not just power-eating your way through the neighbourhood – you’ll also get a feel for Palermo itself by stopping to look at street art, wandering through markets (especially if you’re there on a weekend), learning about mate, spotting fileteado, and getting plenty of tips from your guide about what else to see, do and eat while you’re in Buenos Aires.
Our group had six people, which made it easy to chat with everyone and didn’t make us feel conspicuous while walking around the streets. And our guide, Stan, was excellent – warm, organised, and great at explaining Argentine history and culture in an engaging way.
One thing to know upfront: you do walk a fair bit over the four hours, but it’s broken up constantly by stops (and honestly, the walking is what makes the amount of food manageable – you’ll be grateful for the breaks!). And treat the tour like a proper meal replacement. Don’t have a big breakfast or lunch beforehand – you’ll regret it.
Sherpa is a global tour company with food tours in Amsterdam, London, Mexico City, Lima and Paris – but their first tour was in Buenos Aires, so they’re a local company.
Not the right tour for you? Sherpa also runs a Traditional Local Foodie Adventure in Palermo and Street Food and Market Expedition in San Telmo. These tours are US$90 and US$69 respectively and the start times vary slightly.
Our Sherpa food tour Buenos Aires experience
For a lot of people in our group, it was their first time trying some real Buenos Aires staples, and Stan didn’t just hand them over and move on. He explained what to look for, how locals eat them and the little pointers to help you look far less like a tourist when ordering dinner.
(Case in point: you’ll never cut an empanada with a knife and fork again.)
I won’t spoil the surprise by providing every location we visited in this Buenos Aires food tour review, but here’s what we ate across the evening.
Stop 1: A classic pizza place
We met the rest of our group at a local pizza place in Palermo at the respectable hour of 5.30pm. Of course, that’s far too early for an Argentine to eat, but it did mean most places we went to during the evening were still pretty quiet.
We started with an Argentine classic: empanadas de carne, fried (my favourite way) rather than baked. While we ate them, we got a quick masterclass in repulgue – the empanada sealing style that tells you what filling is inside.
We also tried fugazzetta, the iconic oniony, cheesy pizza. I’m not an onion person at all (I actually despise it), but I managed to scrape the onion off and happily devoured the pillowy pizza base.
Stop 2: A steak restaurant
Next up was the classic parrilla stop. There are so many great steak restaurants in Buenos Aires, and this was a new one for me.
We started with a refreshing cocktail of grapefruit soda and red vermouth.
Food-wise, this was where we started seeing the staples of Argentine meals: cheese, bread and meat, and… a token nod to greens (“some lettuce”, as Stan joked).
Here we ate a lot more than I expected: bubbling provoleta (always my favourite), choripán with beef chorizo and ojo de bife (ribeye), accompanied by a lovely Malbec from the Uco Valley in Mendoza.
Stop 3: A bodegón
A bodegón is an old-school, no-fuss neighbourhood restaurant: simple comfort food and a menu that usually reflects Argentina’s immigrant roots. While bodegones aren’t typically “trendy” restaurants, there is a resurgence in the bodegón scene, with many restaurateurs reviving and modernising them.
The bodegón we visited was one of those places that would normally require planning well ahead, but on the tour we breezed straight in and sat down (and no, it wasn’t Don Julio, don’t get excited – but it was a related restaurant that’s one of the most popular places to eat in Buenos Aires, hint hint).
This stop leaned into the immigrant influences that shape Argentine cuisine, particularly Spanish and Italian, with a spread of bread and olives and a chorizo calabrese (which was more salami-like than chorizo-like, and made from a mix of pork and beef).
We also tried fainá, a thin, savoury chickpea flour flatbread. In Argentina, people eat it with pizza – they literally stack carbs on carbs by placing the slice of fainá on top of the pizza slice.
Next up was a typical Spanish-style tortilla de papa, which we could eat with a spicy sauce made from Turkish peppers that actually had some bite – which, if you’ve eaten around Argentina much, you’ll know is not exactly the norm.
Stop 4: A sweet hit
Our second-last stop was an ice cream place… but instead of gelato, we went for conos. These tasty little morsels are like alfajores but in the shape of a cone: a crunchy biscuit base topped with dulce de leche and covered in crispy chocolate. They take all of 90 seconds to inhale.
Stop 5: Ice cream
And then, yes, we finished with helado – because ice cream in Argentina is a serious business, and you’ll see locals lining up for it year-round. It’s rich, creamy, and closer to Italian-style gelato than American ice cream.
I normally go with dulce de leche, but I decided to take Stan’s recommendation and taste the Patagonian fruits – it was delicious.
After this final stop, we were absolutely stuffed.
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Is Sherpa Food Tour Buenos Aires worth it?
For first-time visitors, Sherpa’s Buenos Aires Local Foodie Adventure is a great addition to your Buenos Aires itinerary. You get a proper spread of Buenos Aires classics and learn the cultural context behind what you’re eating.
Pros
- A very filling, well-curated cross-section of porteño food in 3-4 hours (as a former Buenos Aires resident, the food we ate was exactly what I’d show to a visitor)
- You can taste a lot of different things because you’re sharing it with a group – that would be difficult if you went to a restaurant solo or as a couple or small group
- Palermo is an easy neighbourhood to keep exploring before or after the tour
- You learn the “how” as well as the “what” (ordering, sauces, eating customs)
- Small group tour so you won’t feel like you’re being herded about
Cons
- It’s not a cheap activity, so it won’t suit every budget
- You will walk a few kilometres – manageable, but not ideal if mobility is limited
Sherpa Buenos Aires food tour: Final thoughts
Buenos Aires is a city where eating well is part of the point of being here, and Sherpa’s food tour is a great way to plug straight into that. It’s good value, filling and hits the highlights of Argentine food. If you’re only in Buenos Aires for a short visit, this is a great way to explore the city’s foodie scene.
FAQs: Sherpa food tour Buenos Aires
Is it filling enough for dinner?
Absolutely. Even though some tastings are smaller portions (half portions, shared plates, etc.), it adds up quickly across 10+ tastings and drinks. Treat it as a full meal – you won’t be hungry afterwards!
Can vegetarians enjoy this tour?
Yes. Sherpa can cater for vegetarians, and you won’t be left nibbling on side dishes. They can also cater for gluten free. Make sure you let them know ahead of time if you have any dietary restrictions.
How much walking is involved in the Sherpa Buenos Aires food tour?
You’ll walk a few kilometres over the evening, but it’s at a relaxed pace and broken up constantly by stops. The walking actually helps (you’ll appreciate the breaks between tastings).
Is Sherpa Buenos Aires food tour suitable for solo travellers?
Definitely. It’s an easy, low-pressure way to meet people for a few hours, and you’ll often find others in the group are travelling solo too.
What neighbourhood does it cover?
This tour focuses on Palermo, but Sherpa offers another tour through the popular San Telmo neighbourhood.
Do I need to tip?
Tipping in Argentina isn’t a necessity but it is appreciated. If you loved the tour, budget to tip your guide at the end (around 10% is a common benchmark). The guides accept cash (in both USD and Argentine pesos) and even have a QR code you can scan.
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Got any questions about the Sherpa food tour Buenos Aires? Drop them in the comments below.
Related posts
Before you go, you might like these Buenos Aires travel guides.
- How to Spend 3 Days in Buenos Aires
- What to Do in Buenos Aires: Top 25 Ideas for Your Itinerary
- Where to Eat in Buenos Aires: My Favourite Restaurants
- Where to Stay in Buenos Aires: The Best Neighbourhoods
- The Best Food Tours in Buenos Aires
- Asado Adventure Review: An Authentic Asado Experience in Buenos Aires
- Betty and Marcelo Review: A Family Asado Experience
- The Argentine Experience Review: Is It Worth It?
- Fogón Asado Review: Is This Buenos Aires Asado Experience Worth It?
ARGENTINA TRIP ESSENTIALS
- Book your flight to Argentina online with Skyscanner. I like how this site allows you to find the cheapest days.
- Find a great hotel in Argentina. Check prices on Booking.com and Expedia online.
- Check out the huge range of day tours throughout Argentina on GetYourGuide or Viator. I love a good food tour in particular!
- Saving money? Check out the range of free walking tours across Argentina with GuruWalk (don’t forget to tip!).
- Keep those bottles of wine you’ll be buying safe in these wine bags.
- A copy of the Lonely Planet guide to Argentina will be handy. Also pick up a Spanish language phrasebook to help you navigate your visit.
- One thing I always purchase is travel insurance! Travel Insurance Master allows you to compare across multiple policy providers, while SafetyWing is great for long-term travellers and digital nomads.
PIN IT FOR LATER: SHERPA FOOD TOUR BUENOS AIRES
Save this guide to Sherpa’s Buenos Aires food tour to Pinterest so you can plan your trip later.
