South America’s tropical climate and lush rainforests, paired with creative, energetic communities, make the continent a culinary powerhouse. You’ll be able to try foods that hardly exist in the United States, like the tucumã fruit of the Amazon, while also enjoying the finest examples of familiar cuisines like Argentinian steak and Brazilian barbecue.
These are the mouthwatering cities in South America you will crave:
Lima, Peru
Lima is the undisputed culinary capital of South America. On the streets, you won’t have trouble finding anticuchos (grilled beef heart skewers) and picarones (Peruvian doughnuts made from sweet potato and pumpkin). Ceviche is also a must-try regional delight, best enjoyed at a local cevichería, like La Mar or Pescados Capitales.
The city’s dining scene is diverse, ranging from Nikkei cuisine, a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian flavors at the likes of Maido, to traditional Peruvian fare at Astrid y Gastón a culinary institution by Gastón Acurio, the godfather of Peruvian cuisine.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
The appeal of Argentine fare extends well past the country’s borders. Though you can find Argentine steakhouses all over the world, there’s no better way to enjoy rich, juicy cuts of meat than in its place of origin at a parilla (steakhouse) such as Don Julio or La Cabrera. Stop by Mercado de San Telmo, one of the best markets in the world, for a casual approach to this cuisine.
There’s no shortage of local dishes to try in Buenos Aires: empanadas at El Sanjuanino or La Americana, Milanesa at El Club de la Milanesa, and torta Rogel at any local bakery. Thanks to the city’s heavy Italian influence, pizzerias like Guerrin or El Cuartito serve up an Argentine twist on pies, like the fugazzeta. Broccolino and La Parolaccia dish out homemade gnocchi, ravioli, and lasagna that satisfy cravings.
São Paulo, Brazil
Cosmopolitan São Paulo is a coming together of cultures and the epicenter of Brazilian barbecue. You’ll find some of the best Brazilian steakhouses in the country, refined tasting menus, Italian trattorias, and ultra-fresh Japanese restaurants, among others. When you arrive, go straight to a pastel spot like Pastel da Maria or Hocca Bar for gooey, savory, deep-fried pastries. Don’t leave the city without trying Feijoada, Brazil’s national dish, at Restaurante Bolinha.
The Japanese district of Liberdade is where you’ll find the city’s best sushi, such as that at Kinoshita or Jun Sakamoto. Over in Bixiga, diners fawn over gnocchi at Famiglia Mancini and the lasagna at Cantina Roperto. End the night with a taste of the city’s glossy nightlife scene at cocktail bars such as Bar dos Arcos and Guilhotina Bar, which receive international acclaim.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
True, Rio de Janeiro has sun-soaked beaches and samba rhythms, but between the energetic nightlife scene and laid-back culture is an exciting culinary culture that bridges humble local cuisine with upscale experiences.
There’s no avoiding piping hot coxinha (chicken croquettes) or a cold caipirinha (Brazil’s national drink) when strolling through Copacabana. Acarajé, a Bahian specialty of deep-fried black-eyed pea fritters filled with vatapá and shrimp, a must-try at Rio’s vibrant food markets like Feira de São Cristóvão.
Carnivores should dine at churrascarias where gauchos (Brazilian cowboys) serve skewers of perfectly grilled beef, pork, lamb, and chicken right at your table. When you’re looking for something more refined, go straight to Ipanema and Leblon where buzzy restaurants like NOSSO leverage high-end technique with Brazilian flair.
Santiago, Chile
Santiago is known just as much for its food as it is the gateway to the Andes. Being so close to the Pacific Ocean, Santiago boasts fresh seafood, best enjoyed at Head to Mercado Central, where you can feast on everything from ceviche to machas a la parmesana (razor clams with Parmesan cheese). The king of the market is undoubtedly the paila marina, a hearty seafood stew packed with mussels, clams, shrimp, and fish in a rich, flavorful broth.
For a modern twist on Chilean cuisine, make your way to Boragó, one of Latin America’s top restaurants. Here, Chef Rodolfo Guzmán serves artisanal dishes like Patagonian lamb with native herbs or sea urchin with avocado. Just as worthy of a bite is a completo from a street vendor, Chile’s answer to the hot dog, loaded with avocado, tomatoes, sauerkraut, and a generous squirt of mayo.
When you’re ready to escape city life, a short trip to the Maipo Valley will have you sipping on exquisite Cabernet Sauvignons and Carmenères. Many vineyards offer tours and tastings, where you can learn about the winemaking process while enjoying breathtaking views of the Andes.
Bogotá, Colombia
High in the Andes, Bogotá is a city that marries traditional Colombian flavors with a fresh, innovative approach. Start with a hearty bowl of ajiaco, a chicken and potato soup that’s quintessentially Bogotá. Then, for a true taste of Colombian street food, head to the bustling Paloquemao Market to try an arepa, a corn cake topped with cheese, avocado, or shredded meat.
Bogotá’s elevated culinary scene does not disappoint. Make a reservation at Leo, one of Latin America’s top restaurants, where Chef Leonor Espinosa crafts innovative dishes using local, sustainable ingredients. Also worthy of your time are Mesa Franca, El Chato, and Salvo Patria. End your night with a shot of aguardiente, a traditional Colombian spirit with a licorice flavor, or sip on a craft cocktail or beer made with local ingredients at Sánchez Cervecería Artesanal, where nightlife and nature come together.
La Paz, Bolivia
Traditional cuisine in La Paz mixes indigenous ingredients and Spanish influences. Salteñas are one of the city’s most worthwhile plates. These savory pastries are stuffed with meat, potatoes, peas, and a spicy, slightly sweet sauce. At markets like Mercado Lanza or Mercado Rodríguez you can try anticuchos—grilled beef heart skewers marinated in spices and served with a spicy peanut sauce.
With over 200 potato varieties grown in the Andes, you’ll find countless forms of them in La Paz. Papas a la huancaína is one of these forms—sliced potatoes drenched in a creamy, slightly spicy cheese sauce.
At the other end of the city’s dining spectrum, at Gustu, the brainchild of Noma co-founder Claus Meyer, chefs are on a mission to elevate Bolivian cuisine with dishes like llama tartare and charque (dried meat) served with quinoa.
Medellín, Colombia
This city, nestled in the lush Aburrá Valley, is vibrant and exciting, with a dining scene to match.
If you only try one dish in Medellín, make it bandeja paisa, a heaping plate filled with beans, rice, ground beef, chicharrón (crispy pork belly), fried egg, plantain, avocado, arepa, and morcilla (blood sausage).
For breakfast, sit down at Pergamino Café in El Poblado, one of the most iconic coffee shops in the city. Here, you can sip on some of the country’s best coffee while dining on mouthwatering breakfast plates. For a midday snack, find a street vendor selling buñuelos. These deep-fried cheese balls are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Finally, snag a dinner reservation at El Cielo, which is considered the pinnacle of fine dining for Medellín’s stylish crowd. Chef Juan Manuel Barrientos creates a unique dining experience rooted in Colombian flavors.
Quito, Ecuador
High in the Andes at an altitude of 9,350 feet, traditional Ecuadorian flavors are reason enough to visit Quito. Combat the city’s cool climate with locro de papa, a creamy potato soup topped with cheese and avocado. For breakfast, dig into tigrillo, made with mashed green plantains, scrambled eggs, cheese, and sometimes a touch of chorizo that will fuel you for a full day of sightseeing.
Hit the streets to try some empanadas de viento, airy, deep-fried pastries filled with cheese and dusted with sugar, along with llapingachos, potato patties stuffed with cheese and served with a peanut sauce, fried eggs, and chorizo.
When you’re ready for an elevated dining experience, sit down at Urko Cocina Local, where the tasting menu takes you on a journey through Ecuador’s diverse regions and ingredients. Over in the heart of Quito’s historic center, you’ll find Casa Gangotena housed in a beautifully restored mansion. The menu offers a modern take on Ecuadorian cuisine, using locally sourced ingredients to create dishes that are both sophisticated and deeply flavorful.
Montevideo, Uruguay
Mercado del Puerto—Montevideo’s iconic food market and a paradise for meat lovers. Filled with parrillas (grill restaurants) serving up some of the best asado (barbecue) you’ll ever taste, the market is a dream for carnivores, much like Montevideo on the whole. At parrillas like La Pulpería or El Palenque, where you can indulge in everything from tender ribs to chorizo sausages and morcilla (blood sausage).
Uruguay’s robust Italian community means the city has many pizzerias and pasta joints. One standout is Rodelu, known for its wood-fired pizzas. Visit La Pasiva for a chivito, Uruguay’s answer to the burger—a towering sandwich filled with steak, ham, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and a fried egg, all nestled between two soft buns.
Visit during the annual Fiesta de la Patria Gaucha for ample food adventures, which celebrates Uruguay’s rural traditions with plenty of asado, traditional music, and folk dancing. Or visit during Carnaval, when the city comes alive with colorful parades, music, and street food stalls serving up delicious snacks like tortas fritas (fried dough) and churros.
Guayaquil, Ecuador
Your foray into Guayaquil’s seafood-heavy culinary scene should start with nothing other than ceviche, the city’s crown jewel. Unlike its Peruvian cousin, Ecuadorian ceviche bursts with flavor, consisting of shrimp, fish, or a mix of both marinated in a tangy, tomato-based sauce with lime, onions, and cilantro. Encebollado, a comforting fish soup that’s a beloved hangover cure and everyday delight, is also popular here, which is made with fresh albacore and yuca and topped with pickled red onions.
Wander through Malecón 2000, and you’ll find vendors selling a variety of street food. Try the empanadas de verde, made with green plantain dough and filled with cheese or meat. Or go for a classic like humitas, which are steamed corn cakes wrapped in corn husks, similar to tamales but with a unique Ecuadorian twist.
When you’re ready for dessert, indulge in tres leches cake. This decadent dessert is soaked in three kinds of milk (evaporated, condensed, and heavy cream) and topped with a cloud of whipped cream. Alternatively, morocho, a creamy, spiced corn pudding, can be enjoyed as a warming dessert or breakfast dish.
Cusco, Peru
Cusco is best known for being the gateway to Machu Picchu and several other day trips, but its interest doesn’t end there. Cuy (guinea pig) is one of the city’s most unique dishes, which is roasted or fried until crispy. During the Inti Raymi festival, guinea pig is also used in chiri uchu, a cold mix of roasted guinea pig, chicken, sausage, seaweed, and rocoto peppers topped with cheese and roasted corn.
Another traditional dish to try is lomo saltado. This Peruvian stir-fry combines tender strips of beef with onions, tomatoes, and fries, all tossed in a savory soy sauce blend. Chicha, a restaurant by famed chef Gastón Acurio, serves a top-notch version of this dish.
Visit the San Pedro Market to see Peruvian superfoods in their natural state and sample local specialties like quinua atamalada (quinoa stew) and papa a la huancaína (potatoes in a spicy cheese sauce). Pair your culinary adventure with classic Peruvian cocktails. Try a refreshing pisco sour—Peru’s national drink made with pisco, lime juice, simple syrup, egg white, and a dash of bitters. Chicha morada, a traditional drink made from purple corn, pineapple, and spices, is hardly found elsewhere.
Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena has it all—rainbow-colored colonial architecture, beaches, and an incredible culinary scene. Anthony Bourdain seems to agree—he’s raved about La Cevicheria, a ceviche restaurant with exceptionally fresh fish.
Arepas de huevo are a quintessential breakfast found on the streets of Cartagena. These cornmeal pockets are stuffed with eggs and fried to golden perfection. For a sweet finish, grab a cocada, a delightful coconut treat that’ll make you feel like you’re biting into a piece of paradise.
That’s not to say that Cartagena’s culinary appeal is only on the streets. Restaurants like Carmen and Alma offer contemporary Colombian cuisine with locally sourced ingredients in restored republic houses. The city is also home to Alquimico, an innovative cocktail bar currently ranked ninth in the world by The World’s 50 Best.
Valparaíso, Chile
As a coastal city, Valparaíso offers some of the freshest seafood you’ll ever taste. You’ll find the biggest concentration of it at Mercado Cardonal, where you can try a plate of reineta or congrio, grilled to perfection and served with a side of tangy pebre—a Chilean salsa that adds just the right kick.
La Concepción and Pasta e Vino are just two spots where you can enjoy gourmet dishes while soaking in breathtaking views of the harbor. Given that Valparaíso is near many of the best wine-growing regions in Chile, you’ll find several local options to pair with your meal at these restaurants. Savor a plate of pastel de jaiba (crab pie) while sipping on a glass of Chilean wine and watching the sunset over the Pacific.
Mendoza, Argentina
Mendoza is the heart of Argentina’s wine country, and it’s practically a rite of passage to indulge in the local Malbec. Wineries like Bodega Catena Zapata and Bodega Salentein offer world-class wines and gourmet meals that pair perfectly with their vino. If you’re short on time, stop by for a tasting. For those with a few hours, stay for a full winery tour.
Though you’ll find many traditional Argentinian parrillas in the city serving juicy steaks, Mendoza has embraced modern culinary trends, blending local ingredients with global techniques. Restaurants like 1884 Francis Mallmann and Siete Cocinas offer innovative dishes that showcase the region’s bounty in new and exciting ways.
Recife, Brazil
Recife’s vibrant African heritage is reflected in its cuisine, particularly in dishes like acarajé and vatapá. Acarajé are deep-fried black-eyed pea fritters, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, typically served with spicy shrimp paste. Vatapá, on the other hand, is a creamy, spicy dish made from bread, shrimp, coconut milk, and peanuts. You’ll find these and other Afro-Brazilian delicacies in the neighborhood of Olinda, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its colorful colonial architecture and lively food scene.
Stroll through the streets of Recife and you’ll encounter vendors selling all sorts of tempting treats, from grilled cheese skewers (queijo coalho) to pastel—crispy pastries filled with cheese, meat, or shrimp. Try bolo de rolo, a traditional rolled cake with layers of guava paste and thin sponge cake for a sweet treat.
At restaurants like Leite and Ponte Nova, chefs use local ingredients to put together creative dishes like a perfectly seared fish filet topped with a zesty passion fruit sauce, or a succulent cut of beef served with a rich, smoky black bean puree.
Asunción, Paraguay
The first dish you try in Asunción should be Paraguay’s national dish: sopa paraguaya. Unlike its name suggests, this isn’t a soup but a dense cornbread filled with cheese, onions, and sometimes meat. Another traditional food in the city is chipa. These little cheesy bread rolls are a staple in Paraguayan cuisine made with manioc flour and cheese, giving them a slightly chewy texture.
No visit to Asunción would be complete without a visit to one of the city’s many asados (barbecue joints). Paraguayans take their grilled meats seriously, and you’ll be treated to a carnivore’s paradise, from juicy steaks and tender ribs to perfectly seasoned sausages cooked over an open flame. Pair with a side of mandioca (cassava) or a fresh ensalada de rúcula (arugula salad) for a balanced meal.
Rosario, Argentina
Rosario is home to some of the finest parrillas in Argentina. Sink your teeth into a perfectly cooked bife de chorizo (sirloin steak) or a juicy ojo de bife (ribeye) with meat so tender it practically melts in your mouth.
Situated on the Paraná River, Rosario’s waterfront is one of the best places in the city for a bit. Charming restaurants and cafes line the area, offering stunning views and delicious food such as fresh river fish, grilled meats, and decadent desserts.
Rosario has a sweet side that’s impossible to resist. Alfajores, filled with dulce de leche and coated in chocolate or powdered sugar, are a beloved treat in Argentina, and Rosario’s bakeries make some of the best. Another local favorite is rogel, a multi-layered cake with thin, crispy layers separated by creamy dulce de leche and topped with meringue. It’s a sugar rush like no other.
Manaus, Brazil
Manaus is the gateway to the Amazon, giving it a culinary scene unlike that of Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo. The city’s cuisine fuses indigenous, Portuguese, and African influences in dishes like tacacá, a traditional Amazonian soup made with jambu (a local herb with a tingling effect), dried shrimp, and tucupi (a yellow sauce extracted from wild manioc).
Tambaqui, a fish native to the Amazon River is revered for its rich, buttery flavor. In Manaus, you’ll find it grilled and served with a side of farofa (toasted cassava flour) and vinagrete (a Brazilian salsa). For a tangy twist to your meal, try tucumã, a local fruit often used in sandwiches and salads.
Manaus borders the state of Pará, which accounts for over 90 percent of Brazil’s açaí production. Trying the superfood while in Manaus is not to be skipped—açaí in northern Brazil is more pure than it is in the south, where it’s sweetened and treated like frozen yogurt.
Florianópolis, Brazil
Florianopolis is an island pulling in fresh, abundant seafood. The island’s most famous oyster spot, Ribeirão da Ilha, offers the opportunity to bring the ocean to your plate. Meanwhile, the annual Tainha Festival celebrates the fish of the same name, offering it grilled, baked, or in a hearty fish stew called caldeirada.
Travelers on a budget will love bouncing around Florianopolis’ food truck scene. Explore the city, and you’ll find trucks serving up everything from gourmet burgers and artisanal pizzas to exotic Brazilian street food. For a one-stop shop, go to the Mercado Público in downtown Florianopolis where vendors sell everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to local delicacies like coxinha (chicken croquettes) and brigadeiro (chocolate truffles).
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Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
