Iguazú: Argentine Dinner Party & Empanada Class with Wine

Summary

Puerto Iguazú flavors, hands-on empanadas and shared laughter at the table

You’ll join fellow travelers at a communal table in Puerto Iguazú to mix Malbec cocktails, shape your own empanadas, taste Argentina’s best steak with local wine pairings, and learn the ritual of mate tea—all guided by a welcoming chef. Expect laughter, hands-on moments, and new friends over dessert.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the sound—glasses clinking and someone laughing in Spanish as we all crowded around a big wooden table in Puerto Iguazú. I’d barely sat down before our host handed me an apron and a chef’s hat (which looked slightly ridiculous on me, but everyone else was wearing one so I just went with it). There was this faint smell of grilled cheese and something sweet in the air, maybe from the alfajores they were prepping for later. We started by muddling Malbec into cocktails—sticky fingers, purple stains on my napkin—and right away it felt more like a dinner party than a class.

Li, our chef-guide, showed us how to seal empanadas using what she called “repulga” techniques. My first attempt looked like a squashed ravioli but she just grinned and said it had “character.” The table got noisy as people compared their creations—one guy from Berlin tried to make his look like a little fish. It was actually kind of fun not to be perfect at something for once. When the food came out, it just kept coming: provoleta cheese bubbling on a plate, smoky chorizo, slices of matambre that tasted like Sunday afternoons somehow. The main event was bife de lomo—tenderloin—juicy and pink inside, with grilled vegetables that tasted almost sweet after the meat.

I didn’t expect to care about mate tea but there was this quiet moment when Li explained how her grandmother used to make it every morning—she let us try pouring and sipping it ourselves. The yerba mate smelled grassy and sharp; I’m not sure I did it right but nobody seemed to mind. By then we’d assembled our own alfajores (mine fell apart instantly), and everyone was trading stories about where they’d been in Argentina so far. I still think about that table sometimes—the messiness of it all, the way everyone loosened up after the second glass of wine. It wasn’t fancy but it felt real.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Interactive dinner and wine tasting

• Make Malbec cocktail together
• Learn empanada repulga technique
• Enjoy empanada closing competition
• Taste grilled provoleta, chorizo, matambre
• Eat tenderloin with grilled vegetables
• Pair dishes with three wines
• Learn to prepare Yerba Mate tea
• Assemble alfajores with dulce de leche

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Argentine dinner experience in Iguazú?

No, hotel pickup is not included; you meet at the dining space in central Puerto Iguazú.

What dishes are part of the four-course menu?

The menu features empanadas (you make your own), provoleta cheese, chorizo, matambre, tenderloin steak with vegetables, alfajores for dessert, plus mate tea.

Do I need cooking experience for the empanada class?

No experience needed—the chef shows you how to seal them step by step.

Are drinks included during the dinner?

Yes, bottled water and three varieties of Argentine wine are included along with your meal.

How long does this interactive dinner last?

It’s a full evening activity; plan for several hours including all courses and activities.

Is this suitable for solo travelers?

Yes—it’s designed for mingling at communal tables with other travelers.

Will there be a guide or host during the experience?

Yes—a local chef guides you through each activity and shares stories about Argentine food culture.

What’s included

Your evening includes all food from appetizer through dessert, three expertly paired wines plus bottled water throughout the meal. You’ll join an empanada-making class (aprons provided), enjoy a four-course tasting menu featuring regional specialties like bife de lomo steak and provoleta cheese, learn about mate tea rituals with hands-on guidance from your chef-host, and finish with homemade alfajores before heading out into Iguazú’s night air.