El Mercado — Restaurant in Autonomous City of Buenos Aires

Just landed in Buenos Aires and I am staying at the Faena. So we decided to eat at the restaurant in the hotel. The place was good, just not great.

The empanada was amazing, my girlfriend had the bone in filet which she devoured. It was 200g which I should have ordered but who wants to order the same thing at a restaurant.

My issue here is that I was “forced” to order a 350g steak. My favorite cuts are rib eye and skirt steak. They have 2 options for skirt steak. 175g for around 40 USD and 350g for 70 USD. The ribeye was also large and I just wasn’t that hungry. So I went to order the smaller portion.

They told me they were out of the 175g. First, there’s only 10 entrees on the menu, why isn’t the waiter letting the table know, they are out of one of them when handing the menus. It was still early on a Friday night. I even asked if they can’t ask the back to just cut it in half so I can eat a less indulgent portion. I just don’t know how that’s possible. Funny enough they serve the 350g steak cut in half! When it showed up, I just laughed. I honestly think they saw an American and just wanted to sell the bigger steak.

I don’t mind paying for good food and experience. But if you don’t want to sell the smaller portion, just remove it...

Summary: stunning steak. Go here.

A fabulous restaurant in quite an amazing building. Got in early on a Sunday lunch and sat outside. The wine list a fabulous array of Argentinean wine. We ended up with a tannat and eventually a Malbec. A surprisingly good price range. Anyway, the wine was excellent.

Food. Starters were some truly amazing little "bomboms" which were fat little sausages made of chopped pork and chorizo. The empanadas were made with slow cooked beef (see the pot in the pictures) and again excellent.

Then the main course. You're here for the steak. I am a great fan of less popular cuts. These guys have some properly aged skirt. Cooked perfectly. Delicious, incredibly beefy, and even better they were not afraid to add salt! Otherwise we had a medium rib, and a well done rib-eye. The latter was cooked perfectly, not the least bit dry.

Dessert was had but I was still having steak flashbacks. A...

Walk over after lunch based on online recommendations. Didn't realised its a hotel. Waa escorted by hostess when I info her I am here with my colleagues for a drink. Info hef I am not hotel guest. She escorted me to the bar. Waitress at bar asked again if i m hotel guest and I informed again I am here for a drink. Ordered a bottle of wine and ask of ok to sit outside as no air conditioning and very warm. Bar waitress say ok or could not understand me. The pool waiter again came and ask if I am a hotel guest. I say no I am here for a drink and fyi we Ordered a decent price wine. After waiting for another 5 minutes a different lady from bar came and informed us that only today we are not allowed to have a drink in the bar. After 20 mimutes and more ? Wow not sure if its communication or discrimination. Never going to this...