Our obsession with Argentine pizza began long before we arrived in Buenos Aires, thanks to our friends Jurgen and Mike’s fantastic and comprehensive book, ’91 Days in Buenos Aires,’ where they shared their own passion for pizza. Now, coming from Chicago, Jesse and I have indulged in pizza for over a decade, having devoured it in Italy 12 times, so sitting down to savor pizza is our mutual favorite.
Starting with this book, I began researching more pizza places in the city, and my list grew longer before we even touched down. Despite my plans conflicting with the healthy eating habits Jesse told us about, I decided to give them all a try. We systematically checked off each pizzeria on my list and even randomly walked into some (I swear we had plenty of salads too).
Buenos Aires taught us a lesson about pizza quickly: while there are pizza joints on every corner, the quality varies from delicious to unforgettable, from mediocre to nauseating.
Though you may not be as obsessed with pizza as we are, we hope you won’t just sit in front of the red-checkered tablecloth praying for the best. In the spirit of research, we were more than willing to sample over 15 different well-known pizzerias in six weeks to form our expert opinions, so we can bring you the following pizza recommendations!
The Best of Argentine-Style Pizza
Argentine pizza falls somewhere between the deep-dish Italian and Chicago styles – it’s thick, cheese-laden, and typically light on the sauce. The toppings aren’t baked with the cheese but generously piled on just before serving, adding a fresh touch that nicely offsets the thickness of the gooey cheese layer.
El Cuartito
Coincidentally, our inaugural stop on the pizza quest was El Cuartito, conveniently located just a five-minute walk from our Buenos Aires apartment. This establishment, established in 1934, still exudes all the classic charm, with its walls adorned with sports posters and live football matches on TV. Even though there’s nearly always a line outside during peak dinner hours, we seldom saw any other tourists here (yes, we visited more than once… or twice…). Our recommendation: The Napolitana is our cherished Argentine pizza, and El Cuartito perfects it. The Napolitana boasts mozzarella cheese (referred to as ‘muzza’ in Argentina), thick slices of fresh tomatoes, and a generous scattering of pitted olives.
When you visit El Cuartito, you can expect top-notch service and a warm welcome. The staff is typically very friendly and willing to assist you in choosing from the various pizza styles and toppings on the menu. They are often able to offer recommendations about the different pizzas to cater to your taste and preferences.
The restaurant generally provides efficient service to meet the needs of diners. While the restaurant may get crowded during the evening rush, the staff typically handles orders and food delivery promptly. Furthermore, El Cuartito is renowned for its traditional and classical dining ambiance, immersing you in a rich Argentine atmosphere.
El Cuartito not only serves delicious pizza but also offers an outstanding dining experience, including excellent service and amiable staff that make your meal here a delightful experience. It’s the perfect place to savor authentic Argentine pizza while enjoying a pleasant dining experience.
El Cuartito Buenos Aires Address: Talcahuano 937, Buenos Aires
Second Place: Los Inmortales
For Jess, Los Inmortales stands shoulder to shoulder with El Cuartito, making it the second-best in the Argentine pizza category. Los Inmortales is a chain with five outlets in Buenos Aires, known for its abundance of vegetables and slightly less cheese than El Cuartito (although only a smidgen less!). We had meals at their Recoleta branch and the one right across from the legendary El Güerrín (which we’ll discuss below).
One of the great aspects of Buenos Aires pizza is that you can always split the toppings in half and pay full price for the pricier half. At Los Inmortales, we divided the Napolitana into two halves: one adorned with cooked eggs (check out the intriguing pictures below), and the other half generously layered with fresh arugula, and yet another one heaped with an abundance of freshly chopped basil. What sets Los Inmortales apart is the dough’s quality. We immediately noticed it in the basket of bread before our meal, in the pizza crust itself, and most remarkably in the meat-stuffed empanadas. Despite already feeling quite full, we somehow managed to savor a Caprese cheese and a goat cheese empanada, both ranking among the best we’ve ever had in this city.
Argentine Egg Pizza
Argentine egg pizza (Napolitana) is a renowned variant of Buenos Aires pizza, celebrated for its unique flavor combination. Here’s a more elaborate description of this pizza:
Dough Quality: One of the standout features of Argentine egg pizza is the exceptional quality of its dough. The crust is typically very thin and incredibly crispy, delivering a distinct texture and flavor. This dough quality imparts a delightful crunch to the pizza’s base.
Split in Half: One of the most intriguing aspects of this pizza is the ability to split it in half, allowing you to choose different toppings for each half while paying the full price for the pricier half. This offers diners more choices and flexibility, enabling them to savor a variety of flavors in a single pizza.
Toppings: Argentine egg pizza is typically divided into two halves, each featuring a different combination of toppings. One half is adorned with slices of cooked eggs, a signature element of this pizza. The cooked eggs are often thinly sliced or wedged and evenly distributed on the pizza. The other half is usually generously layered with fresh arugula, a leafy green vegetable that adds a refreshing crunch and taste. Finally, the remaining half might be generously topped with fresh, finely chopped basil, an herb that imparts a delightful fragrance and unique flavor to the pizza.
Cheese and Meat Empanada: Additionally, Argentine egg pizza can also be complemented with a cheese and meat empanada, another Argentine culinary delight. This empanada typically includes Caprese cheese and goat cheese, both of which offer rich flavors and textures. The cheese and meat empanada can be part of the pizza, enhancing the entire dining experience.
Argentine egg pizza, with its unique topping combinations, top-notch dough, and the flexibility of customizing each half, is a distinguished part of Buenos Aires pizza culture, providing a fantastic opportunity to explore a variety of pizza flavors in one delightful meal.
Locations: Four branches in Buenos Aires.
El Guerrin
El Guerrin, a Buenos Aires icon, consistently hums with a bustling crowd whenever we make our way there. Even though the eggs on our spinach and egg pizza aren’t cooked, the Neapolitan pizza more than compensates for it. In Buenos Aires, you’ll find several pizzerias that provide a designated area for patrons to grab a slice or two and stand while savoring their meal, and El Güerrín is unequivocally one of the most popular choices. It’s a faster, simpler, and more cost-effective option as you’re exempt from table service charges, which is why we decided to revisit the place. We opted for multiple slices and indulged in a side of faina, a unique treat at El Güerrín. Faina (depicted in the image below) takes the form of a pizza slice but with a thinner profile; it’s made from chickpea flour and can be placed directly on top of the pizza slice, essentially creating a pizza sandwich. While faina undoubtedly has its Italian roots, it’s a novelty we’d never come across in Italy. After sampling it multiple times, we concluded that, although it’s tasty, it doesn’t necessarily enhance the pizza experience and ends up taking up valuable stomach real estate that could be better used for more pizza!
Pizzeria El Guerrin Buenos Aires Address: Avenida Corrientes 1368, Buenos Aires.
The finest Italian-style pizza
While Argentinians have cultivated their distinctive pizza style over the years, thin-crust Italian-style pizza is still readily available in this region.
Siamo nel Forno
Siamo nel Forno, a cozy restaurant in Palermo Hollywood, is often considered the top choice for Italian-style pizza. This charming eatery is located in the trendy Palermo neighborhood, which also means it comes with a higher price tag. Their ‘Pizza del Dia’ can go for as much as 90 Argentine pesos (18 dollars), but the high-quality ingredients, rich homemade sauce, and the light, crispy crust are well worth the splurge. With two pizzas and beverages, our total bill came to around 50 dollars.
Address: 5886 Costa Rica, Buenos Aires
The Best Dessert Pizza at Bacano
Bacano
This affordable pizza joint serves up delicious Argentine-style pizzas (our go-to is the Napolitana here), but regardless of what you order, you must save room for dessert – because Bacano makes dessert pizzas.
The concept is simple and brilliant. They craft sweet pizzas using pizza dough, such as milk sauce pizza with vanilla ice cream, or peanut butter pizza with ice cream, or brownie banana chocolate pizza, or topped with fruit and cream, and more. It’s a dessert lover’s dream.
Bacano’s Milk Sauce Pizza
Buenos Aires has two branches: Agüero 1669 and Jeronimo Salguero 2695.
The Best Hangover Pizza
Kentucky Pizza
Despite the seemingly counterintuitive name, Kentucky Pizza has carved out a distinctive niche in the culinary scene of Buenos Aires. It’s gained a reputation as an affordable and go-to spot, particularly for those seeking a post-party indulgence. This widespread chain can be found all over the city, with a heavy concentration in the Palermo district and its surroundings. While it may not be the pinnacle of pizza perfection, it certainly ranks as one of the best options for quality pizza we’ve encountered so far.
At Kentucky Pizza, you have the flexibility to either order an entire pizza or savor it by the slice. What truly stands out are their enticing slice-and-drink combos, offering a choice between beer or wine. After gauging the generous size of their wine glasses, I promptly opted for a combo that included two delectable pizza slices and a glass of wine, all for the reasonable price of 23 Argentine pesos (4.70 dollars). I left with a satisfied palate and a subtle hint of merriment.
Kentucky Pizza Buenos Aires While the empanadas inspired by the state of Kentucky looked temptingly appealing, our multiple visits saw us consistently opting for pizza and faina, with an unfortunate lack of time to sample these tantalizing empanadas.
Address: You can find numerous Kentucky Pizza outlets scattered throughout Buenos Aires.
