Argentina may be most famous for its beef, but Buenos Aires restaurants don’t cater only to carnivores. Like New York, Buenos Aires is a city built by immigrants, and its diverse culinary offerings reflect a multitude of traditions. We had beautiful meals based on fresh seafood and seasonal produce, in addition to a steak feast or two. Unfortunately, the stylish vegetarian restaurant we tried has since closed. As an alternative, consider Gioia Cocina Botánica in the Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt hotel, which offers an upscale vegan menu.

Crizia
» Gorgeous gourmet seafood in stylish surrounds

In the fashionable Palermo Hollywood neighborhood, Crizia has a sleek, dark dining room with tables lit by candles and spotlights. The exquisite nine-course seafood tasting menu had nary a misfire. After a set of pretty amuse-bouches came a sweetly briny Patagonian oyster, garnished by a shallot vinaigrette reduction and Tabasco. The wine pairing, a brut rosé from Buenos Aires Province, had both classiness and verve. Another delightful course centered on baby squid from the Islas Malvinas (Falkland Islands): a crispy ink chip topped by crunchy-tender tentacles and a little bowl of black risotto with soft squid and savory white sausage. A small-production Malbec worked startlingly well with a flawless rockfish fillet enhanced by scallop-prawn foam and seaweed chips. And a pretty dessert, a sort of deconstructed Pavlova, ended the meal on a high note. Crizia makes the most of Argentina’s impeccable seafood.

Crizia 
Fitz Roy 1819. Tel. (54) 11-4776-5005