El Baqueano - Cocina Autóctona Contemporanea — Restaurant in Salta

Dining at El Baqueano, perched on Cerro San Bernardo, was an extraordinary culinary journey that far exceeded my expectations. The experience began with a guided tour of the restaurant’s impressive facilities, setting the tone for what was to come. We were welcomed with a trio of petits bocados, each inspired by a different region of Salta and highlighting the unique fruits and crops of the area—a thoughtful and delicious tribute to local terroir.

The eight-course tasting menu with wine pairing was simply outstanding. Each dish was beautifully presented and expertly explained by the attentive staff, showcasing a deep respect for local Salteña cuisine. The main course was a highlight, with the chef himself coming to our table to describe the inspiration and techniques behind the dish, adding a personal and memorable touch. For the principal dessert, the pastry chef provided a detailed explanation, further elevating the experience. The wine pairings, all from the region, complemented each course perfectly and demonstrated the richness of Salta’s viticulture.

Having dined at several Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe, I can confidently say that El Baqueano is on par with the best, both in terms of creativity and execution. The entire evening was a celebration of local flavors and culinary artistry.

One small suggestion: during the welcome bites, no drinks were served, and instead, guests are given a menu to select a cocktail or aperitif. I believe the experience would be even more seamless if a signature cocktail or appropriate pairing were included as part of the welcome, ensuring the flavors of the bites are enhanced rather than potentially overshadowed by mismatched drinks.

Overall, El Baqueano is a standout restaurant that honors the best of Salta’s gastronomy. I was truly and pleasantly surprised by the level of excellence, and I wholeheartedly recommend this...

I usually don’t bother writing reviews after a bad restaurant experience, I just leave. But our dinner at El Baqueano was so awful that I had to speak up. Before the meal even began, we informed the staff—twice—that two of us (including myself) have a mild cilantro allergy that causes nausea and vomiting. Despite this, we were served a dish that our friends (seated separately, even though we were a party of eight) immediately identified as containing cilantro. When we asked the waiter to confirm, he simply snatched our plates away without offering replacements. The experience didn’t improve. There was no explanation of how the tasting menu would proceed, no written menu to guide us, and shockingly bad dishes, one even featured fish smothered in barbecue sauce. Each course was worse than the last. I took a single bite of each, just to give it a chance, but couldn’t keep eating, even though I was starving. We left after three hours, refusing to eat the 2 last dishes, still hungry and furious. Service was nonexistent. We kept sending dishes back, but no one asked why. Unlike a Michelin-starred restaurant we dined at days prior (similarly priced!!) where staff engaged with us throughout, this meal was painfully long and dull. To make matters worse, our server could barely describe the dishes, resorting to vague explanations like “something.” He was chaotic and not engaged with us at all. After nearly three hours, we asked for the manager, who offered us a single drink as compensation, for an entire uneaten meal. At that point, all we wanted...

Absolutely fantastic dinner last night! We ordered the tasting menu and wine pairing. The food was full of flavor— the llama tartar and the lamb topped with fresh herbs were particular favorites of mine. We have eaten at a number of Michelin-starred restaurants over the years, and this place holds its own at a very affordable price point.

All the wines are from the Salta region, including the sweet wine with dessert. I was surprised by the grape variety, because I had never had that wine in a sweet form before— definitely worth a taste. The service was excellent and the building itself is gorgeous, but the view over Salta is incredible. Come a little early (you can take a gondola up before 7) and enjoy the park at the top of the mountain with waterfalls and flowers before you walk to the restaurant. Then enjoy as sunset turns into a nighttime vista of twinkling lights as you sip local wine and taste course after course of...