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Food tours in Bariloche: what to eat and which tour to book
San Carlos de Bariloche, on the southern shore of Lake Nahuel Huapi in northern Patagonia, is known in Argentina for three things to eat and drink: chocolate, craft beer and Patagonian lamb. Calle Mitre, the main street, is lined with chocolate shops; breweries along the road to the Circuito Chico and in town pour their own beers; and parrillas roast cordero patagónico on a cross over open fire. Trout from the lakes, game such as venison (ciervo) and wild boar (jabalí), smoked meats and cheeses, and jams made from Patagonian berries round it out, along with the fondue left by the town's Swiss and Central European heritage. Ordinary Argentine food is everywhere too: empanadas, milanesas, pizza and steak.
Use this page to decide what to eat and where. The dishes and areas below say what each place does well and when to go. The tours listed are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; prices change, so confirm on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Bariloche
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patagonian lamb cordero patagónico al asador | Whole lamb split open and slow-roasted on an iron cross beside a wood fire, served in portions with salads or potatoes. | Parrillas in the centre and along the road to Circuito Chico; some have the lamb roasting in the window. | roughly €15–28 a portion; Argentine peso prices change quickly |
| Chocolate chocolate en rama and bombones | Bariloche's best-known product: 'en rama' (thin, ragged chocolate sticks), bars, filled bonbons and hot chocolate. | Chocolate shops along Calle Mitre and around the Centro Cívico; many have cafés serving hot chocolate. | roughly €3–6 for a hot chocolate; boxes priced per kg, often €30–60/kg |
| Craft beer cerveza artesanal | Bariloche has many small breweries making IPAs, stouts, golden ales and berry beers; it is one of Argentina's best-known craft beer towns. | Brewpubs in the centre and breweries with lake views along Avenida Bustillo and the Circuito Chico. | roughly €3–6 a pint; tasting flights about €8–14 |
| Lake trout trucha | Trout from the region's lakes and fish farms, grilled, in butter and almonds, or smoked and served as a starter. | Restaurants in town and lakeside restaurants on the Circuito Chico. | roughly €14–24 a main course |
| Game and smoked meats ciervo, jabalí, ahumados | Venison and wild boar served as stews, steaks or in smoked platters with local cheeses (tabla de ahumados). | Restaurants in town and delis (casas de ahumados) that sell smoked meats and cheeses to take away. | roughly €15–25 a main course; €18–30 for a sharing platter |
| Cheese fondue fondue | Cheese or chocolate fondue in the alpine style, a legacy of the region's Swiss and Central European settlers; popular in winter and at ski season. | Mountain-style restaurants in town and near Cerro Catedral. | roughly €18–30 per person |
| Berries and jams frutas finas, dulces | Raspberries, blackcurrants, cherries and other berries grown in the region (El Bolsón, south of Bariloche, is a well-known producing area) eaten fresh in summer, in pastries and ice cream, or as jam. | Ice-cream shops (heladerías), bakeries and regional-product shops in the centre. | roughly €3–6 for ice cream; €5–10 for a jar of jam |
| Empanadas | Baked or fried pastries filled with beef, chicken, ham and cheese, or regional fillings such as lamb or trout. | Empanada shops and bakeries; a cheap lunch. | roughly €1.50–3 each |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Calle Mitre and Centro Cívico
The main street running east from the stone-and-timber Centro Cívico square, with chocolate shops, cafés, ice-cream parlours and restaurants.
Avenida Bustillo and the Circuito Chico
The lakeside road heading west from town and the scenic loop beyond it, with breweries, smokehouses, tea houses and restaurants with views of the lake and mountains.
Colonia Suiza
A small settlement founded by Swiss immigrants, off the Circuito Chico, with a crafts fair and restaurants; it is known for curanto, meat and vegetables cooked over hot stones in a covered pit, served on certain days.
Downtown side streets
The streets south of Mitre have parrillas, brewpubs, pizza and empanada places, many cheaper and less crowded than the main street.
Food tours in Bariloche compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bariloche flavors tasting Walking Tour | 2 hours | from €89 per person | max 10 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Bariloche: Chocolate Tasting, Exotic & Regional Flavors | 1 hour | from €131 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Bariloche: Spirits and Aromas Gourmet Tour | 6 hours | from €240 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Bariloche: Patagonian Wine and Cheese Tasting Experience | 2 hours | from €103 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
Bariloche flavors tasting Walking Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Bariloche Stories Walking Tour
- Length
- 2 hours
- Price
- from €89 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 13 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 10
- Included
- Food and drinks offered for this tour by the venues during the walk Expert live local guide
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Meet at the entrance to the tourist information office on Bariloche Civic Center Square.
Bariloche: Chocolate Tasting, Exotic & Regional Flavors
On GetYourGuide · run by Gray Line Argentina
- Length
- 1 hour
- Price
- from €131 per person
- Included
- Chocolate Tasting Explanation in Spanish, English and Portuguese Hotel pick-up and drop-off Optional gratuities
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Chocolaterie
Bariloche: Spirits and Aromas Gourmet Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Bariloche Travel
- Length
- 6 hours
- Price
- from €240 per person
- Included
- Transportation and ongoing support from a bilingual coordinator. Visits to 3 distilleries: Milvago – Vermouth distillery, Madoc – Whiskey distillery, Athos – Gin distillery Chat with the owners of each distillery Lunc…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
Bariloche: Patagonian Wine and Cheese Tasting Experience
On GetYourGuide · run by Gray Line Argentina
- Length
- 2 hours
- Price
- from €103 per person
- Included
- Three-step pairing, Cheese and sausage platter paired with 2 glasses of wine Explanation in Spanish, English and Portuguese Hotel pick-up and drop-off Optional gratuities
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Wine House Bariloche
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Street food is limited: empanadas, sandwiches and ice cream are the quick options. Most visitors eat cheaply at empanada shops, bakeries and pizza places.
Sit-down meals
Sit-down meals are at parrillas (grills) for lamb and steak, at brewpubs, and at restaurants serving trout, game and fondue. Dinner starts late, from about 21:00. Lakeside and ski-season restaurants book up in July and in summer (January–February).
Cooking classes
Cooking classes are uncommon. Food experiences in Bariloche more often take the form of brewery visits, chocolate tastings or chocolate-making workshops; check what is included.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | about €20–30 (in pesos): café breakfast, empanadas at lunch, pizza or pub dinner |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | about €45–70: two sit-down meals with beer or wine |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | about €100+: a lamb or game dinner with Argentine wine at a lakeside restaurant |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Manageable in town: pizza, pasta, empanadas with cheese, vegetables or corn (humita), salads and grilled vegetables. Parrillas are meat-focused but usually offer provoleta (grilled cheese) and salads. Vegan options exist in the centre but are fewer.
Halal: Halal food is very limited. Beef, lamb and chicken are common, but halal-certified meat is hard to find; fish, vegetarian dishes and pizza are the practical choices.
Gluten-free: Argentina has good coeliac awareness and uses the label 'sin TACC' (without wheat, oats, barley and rye) on certified products. Many restaurants and bakeries offer sin TACC options. Grilled meat and trout are naturally gluten-free; empanadas and most beer are not.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Poor exchange rates when paying in foreign currency, or price differences between cash and card. Exchange rules in Argentina change often. Check the current situation before you travel, compare the rate offered when paying in dollars or euros with paying by card, and ask whether there is a discount for cash.
- A 'cubierto' (cover charge) per person for bread and table service that you didn't expect. It is legal and common if shown on the menu; check before ordering.
- Chocolate and regional products in tourist packaging at high prices. Compare price per kg between several shops on Mitre and the side streets.
Top tours & activities in Bariloche
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
How should I pay in Bariloche?
Argentine pesos are the local currency, but prices and exchange rules change often, so check the current situation before you travel. Many places accept international cards; some offer a discount for cash. Compare the rate you would get paying with foreign cash against paying by card before deciding.
Do I need to tip?
In restaurants, about 10% is the normal tip, usually left in cash because card machines often don't include a tip option. A 'cubierto' cover charge on the bill is not a tip. In cafés and brewpubs, rounding up is common. Tour guides appreciate a tip but it isn't required.
What time do people eat?
Argentines eat late. Lunch is usually 13:00–15:00, merienda (afternoon tea, coffee or hot chocolate with something sweet) around 17:00–19:00, and dinner from about 21:00, often later. Many restaurants don't open for dinner until 20:00 or later; brewpubs and pizzerias serve earlier.
Which chocolate should I try?
Try chocolate en rama, thin twisted sticks of chocolate typical of Bariloche, and a cup of hot chocolate at one of the shops on Calle Mitre. Most shops let you buy by weight, so you can mix a few varieties. Prices are high by Argentine standards, so compare a few shops.
When is the best time for food?
Summer (December to February) brings fresh berries and long evenings at the breweries. Winter (June to September) is ski season, with fondue, hot chocolate and busy mountain restaurants; July school holidays are the busiest weeks. Book popular restaurants in both seasons.
How much should I budget for food per day?
Prices in Argentina change quickly, so treat these as rough euro equivalents: about €20–30 a day for a café breakfast, empanadas and a pizza or pub dinner; €45–70 for two sit-down meals with drinks; and €100 or more for a lamb or game dinner with wine at a lakeside restaurant.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.