Oui Oui
No Buenos Aires brunch list is ever going to be written without Oui Oui coming at the top of the list. Serving the original Palermo brunch, Oui Oui was so loved by customers it opened a second branch just down the road, which doubles your chance of getting a table. But be prepared: on a weekend, you will have to wait. Ignore your grumbling belly and stick with it, as the food here is well worth the delay. Buttery croissants and perfectly poached eggs are what this place is all about, along with great coffee and homemade lemonade. If it’s not a full brunch you’re after, sample some of their cakes and muffins – they’re really, really good.
Nicaragua 6068, Palermo Viejo, Buenos Aires, Argentina, +54 11 4778 9614
Malvón
Could Villa Crespo have even more cafes than Palermo? It’s a possibility, and choosing where to eat in the now-buzzing barrio of Villa Crepo is tricky. Let us make the choice easier, and for a brilliant brunch, we recommend Malvón. Their excellent bagels (not a common occurrence in Buenos Aires) filled with salmon and cream cheese are perfect for any time of the day. The stars of the brunch show here are the fluffy pancakes and eggs Benedict.
Serrano 789, Villa Crespo, Buenos Aires, Argentina, +54 11 4774-2563
Porota
Porota is a tiny little café that has only a few tables, but if you’re lucky enough to sit down at one of them (be prepared to wait at weekends), you’ll be able to sample their tempting savory tarts, sandwiches and spectacular-looking cakes. Soups and salads also feature on this little cafe’s menu, and while there’s no special brunch menu all these options are a solid shout for a mid-morning meal.
Gorriti 5881, Buenos Aires, Argentina, + 54 11 4770-9234
Cafe Crespin
Cafe Crespin, located in Villa Crespo, offers a great menu all day long, but its brunch specials are the meals that shine. Go for the ‘estrellado’, or ‘starry’ brunch to share. It includes coffee or tea, eggs Benedict, hash browns, hot cakes and two cakes of your choice. Now that’s quite the brunch.
Vera 699, Buenos Aires, Argentina, +54 11 4855-3771
Olsen
Get over the confusing menu at Olsen (there’s various sections to choose from, each offering different elements of brunch-y goodness), and there will be no limit with your culinary options at this Scandinavian-inspired restaurant. Whether you opt for topped rye bread, bratwurst sausage or homemade muesli, you won’t be disappointed. This was one of the first brunch spots in Buenos Aires and remains popular to this day.
Gorriti 5870, Palermo Hollywood, Buenos Aires, Argentina, +54 11 4776-7677
Hierbabuena
A sort-of veggie restaurant that also happens to serve meat, this little San Telmo spot is the place to take your vegetarian friends even if someone in the group still wants a bit of carne. Hierbabuena serves up amazing natural juices (they serve a yerba mate juice because, you know, this is Argentina), so get a health-giving juice before you pig out majorly on another share-between-two sort-of brunch deal. The deal includes hot and cold drinks, French toast, roasted veg, salad and there are muffins and cakes too.
Caseros 454, San Telmo, Buenos Aires, Argentina, +54 11 4362-2542
Bartola
You’ll be drawn to this cafe for its pretty pastel colored walls and the cute decor, and you should then stick around for some grub. A great place to people-watch on the outside tables, Bartola offers up the standard eggs, pancakes and yogurt-granola fare. With its great location and lovely decor, it’s the sort of place you’ll want to laze all day in.
Gurruchaga 1806, Palermo Soho, Buenos Aires, Argentina, +54 11 4831-3079
Magdalena’s Party
Boogie to your heart’s content on a Saturday night at Magdalena’s Party, popular with an Argentine and ex-pat crowd, then head on back over in the morning for its great brunch options served from 12pm. With sweet options like waffles and pancakes alongside bacon, bagels and eggs, there is something for everyone, with a fun, young, attractive crowd too.
Thames 1795, Buenos Aires, Argentina, +54 11 4833-9127
Las Violetas
Away from the trendy cafes of Palermo, Las Violetas is located in the upmarket and slightly more regal neighborhood of Recoleta. This is a Buenos Aires institution – it hasn’t been open 129 years for nothing. Soak up the Porteño atmosphere while you sip your coffee and nibble on a medialuna – the Argentine version of a croissant, what pretty much most of the city will eat for breakfast. Or, indulge in their sharing platter, which has lots of mini-breakfast items, and a fair bit of cake too.
Av. Rivadavia 3899 (Esquina Medrano) Capital Federal – Buenos Aires, Argentina, +54 11 4958-7387
Tea Connection
This place is part of a chain, but a really nice one. This branch in Las Cañitas is perfectly positioned on the corner of a beautiful street, the ideal place to sit back, grab a snack and watch the world go by. Tea Connection is a classy Buenos Aires chain that serves quality teas and great grub – their salads are some of the best in the city. For brunch you can go for perfectly cooked eggs and great granola and yogurt. Wash it all down with tea, available in more flavors than you ever knew existed.
Gorostiaga 1610,Las Cañitas, Buenos Aires, Argentina,+54 11 4776-5989