San Telmo food tour Buenos Aires: 5+ tastings with local guide

Taste your way through San Telmo's hidden food stops and centuries of neighborhood history

A 3.5-hour walking food tour of San Telmo, Buenos Aires' oldest neighborhood, with a local guide who leads you through historic streets and four to six local establishments. You'll taste five or more traditional Argentine dishes (empanadas, choripán, alfajores and dulce de leche), while learning the stories behind the landmarks and the people who shaped the district. The tour opens at one of the city's most famous traditional bars from the 1860s and closes at the Museum of Modern Art with specialty coffee and a handmade alfajor. Vegetarian and gluten-free menus are available. Vegan diets cannot be accommodated.

Step-by-step itinerary

San Telmo food and culture tour

• Start at historic cafe notable
• Visit traditional bodegon restaurant
• Explore Mercado de San Telmo grill
• Walk around market shops
• Enjoy coffee and alfajor at Modern Art Museum

The experience

What makes San Telmo different from the rest of Buenos Aires? Start at one of the city's most famous cafés notables, a traditional bar from the 1860s, where you'll sip a local aperitif before the walking begins. From there, the tour moves through the neighborhood's oldest streets, stopping at a modern bodegón (old-style restaurant serving traditional Buenos Aires dishes) and then the Mercado de San Telmo, where you'll sample from the best grill in the market and browse the small antique shops scattered through the stalls. The guide weaves the neighborhood's transformation over centuries into each stop, so the food and the history arrive together.

By the time you reach the Museum of Modern Art of Buenos Aires, you've walked an average of five blocks between each establishment and tasted five or more authentic Argentine dishes. The final stop pairs a handmade alfajor with specialty coffee. A deliberate close that lets you sit with what you've learned and eaten. The whole route stays on foot. Public transportation options are nearby if you need them, and the pace suits all fitness levels as long as you're comfortable walking that distance between stops.

The guide speaks English or Spanish, and you can request a vegetarian menu when you book. Gluten-free options are also available on request. Gratuities and any transportation beyond the walking route are separate from the tour price.

What’s included

• 3.5-hour walking tour with a local guide in English or Spanish.
• five or more tastings of traditional Argentine cuisine including empanadas, choripán, alfajores and dulce de leche.
• visits to four to six local establishments (a historic 1860s bar, a bodegón, the Mercado de San Telmo, and the Museum of Modern Art).
• specialty coffee and handmade alfajor at the final stop.
• vegetarian and gluten-free menu options available on request.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDepartures at 11:30 and 16:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Sherpa Food Tours

Is this one for you?This tour is built for walkers who want the neighborhood's story alongside the food: the guide ties the history to each stop, so you're learning as you eat. If you prefer to sit down for a long meal rather than move between multiple small tastings, or if you need vegan options, a different food experience would suit you better.

Traveler reviews

4.97★★★★★★★★★★

1,126 verified traveler reviews

5 ★1,105

4 ★14

3 ★4

2 ★1

1 ★2

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly do you eat on this San Telmo food tour?

You'll taste five or more traditional Argentine dishes across four to six stops: empanadas, choripán, and alfajores at various establishments, plus a specialty coffee with a handmade alfajor at the Museum of Modern Art. The stops include a historic bar, a bodegón, and the Mercado de San Telmo's best grill.

How long is the walking tour and what's the walking distance between stops?

The tour runs 3.5 hours total. You'll walk an average of five blocks between each restaurant and market stop, so comfortable shoes and a moderate pace matter.

Can you do this tour if you're vegetarian or have a gluten allergy?

Vegetarian and gluten-free menus are both available. Just let the operator know when you book. Vegan diets unfortunately cannot be accommodated on this tour.

What is the Mercado de San Telmo and what will you do there?

The Mercado de San Telmo is the neighborhood's iconic market, full of antique stalls and food vendors. On the tour, you'll stop at the best grill in the market to sample local treats, then wander through the small shops to see how the market has evolved.

Is there a minimum age for this tour?

Yes, the tour is for guests 18 and older.