Valentine’s Day in South America’s Capital of Romance

In the city of good airs, love always seems to be floating around. Passion, sensuality, public displays of affection and an overall vibrant sexual energy, there’s no doubt that Buenos Aires is the romance capital of South America.

In a city that celebrates so much love, lust, and all those complications in between, it’s only natural that many have started to embrace Valentine’s Day, getting in the starry eyed mood with chocolates, flowers, romantic dinners, or just a freaky romp fest.

Whether you’ve been married for years, in a long term relationship, going on a first date (on Valentine’s Day?!), or looking for a one night stand, it’s time to practice your sultry bedroom eyes in the mirror, bust out your favorite romantic clichés, or put on your Sunday’s best Anti-Vday bitch face, to get in the lover’s day mood and begin to prepare for February 14th.

Tiracuyá salmon at Sipan, by Allie Lazar
Tiracuyá salmon at Sipan; by Allie Lazar.

Valentine’s Day Traditionalist Celebrations

Valentine’s day purists, you happen to be in luck. Even though Día de los enamorados is still a young holiday in Buenos Aires, each year February 14th love fests are becoming more mainstream and popping up all over the city. With so many great restaurants offering special romantic evenings, we’ve narrowed it down to the best of the best ways to ring in romance day 2014.

Astor (Ciudad de la Paz 353, Colegiales):
Astor takes us back to Rome in the 3rd century to experience a menu that honors the true tale of Valentine’s Day. The six-course menu brings on the almond, the key symbol from the story of Saint Valentine, which represents love and long lasting friendship. Think dishes like oysters topped with toasted almonds, tomatoes, fresh basil and hibiscus spiced olives or octopus served with garlic, almonds and strawberries, lemon and herbs.
Price: AR$230 (without wine pairing), AR$370 (with wine pairing).

La Locanda (Jose Leon Pagano 2697, Recoleta):
Dia de los enamorados partygoers can enjoy a special candlelit 3-course Italian dinner with a menu featuring either sea or turf specialties like a shrimp and crab salad or pappardelle with lamb ragú. The menu is accompanied by the ever-so sexy Rutini wines.
Price: AR$400

Hernán Gipponi Restaurant (Fierro Hotel, Soler 5862, Palermo Hollywood):
HG will be hosting three nights of restaurant love making from the 13th to 15th of February. The five course tasting menu with wine pairings from Alfredo Roca (including the tri-varietal blend “Te Amo,” made especially for Valentine’s Day) is going to include some of Gipponi’s most well received dishes like jumbo trout, rice from Entre Rios with baby squid, and lamb with eggplant, squash and pancetta.
Price: AR$550

Pony Line (Posadas 1086, Four Seasons, Recoleta):
Get crazy in love with Pony Line’s romantic offerings in a casual upscale bar setting. The three-course meal includes Familia Zuccardi cocktails, and ends on a sweet note with their signature Dolce Morte’s Amor Amore ice cream and “Sex & Bites.” Sister restaurant Elena will also be hosting a more elaborate VDay celebration, while the hotel is offering special lover’s day promotions on suites.
Price: AR$350 (Pony Line)

Pony Line Bar, photo courtesy of Pony Line
Pony Line Bar; photo courtesy of Pony Line.

Kokoro Sushi (Delivery):
What’s the point of going out for Valentine’s Day when you can order romance that delivers? Ditch dealing with Valentine’s restaurant crowds and instead of eating out, stay where you wanted to finish the night anyway. Kokoro Sushi is your sexy sushi answer, a San Valentín sushi boat with rolls delivered in the form of a heart (let’s say it together: awwwwwwww).
Price: AR$355

Combinado San Valentin, photo courtesy of Kokoro
Combinado San Valentín; photo courtesy of Kokoro.

Olaya (Humboldt 1550, Palermo Hollywood):
A vibrant colorful space that pulsates action, slurp down sensual Peruvian fusion delights with newly opened Olaya’s four course tasting menu. Each couple receives a bottle of MUMM sparkling wine that they can sip while listening to a live Jazz and Bossa Nova band.
Price: AR$450

Toro777 (Address given upon reservation, Villa Crespo): All romantic nights out should be at Toro777. Only discovered via word of mouth, this intimate puerta cerrada has Valentine’s Day dinner written all over it. The five course menu will be offered Thursday, Friday and Saturday night to fully take advantage of the holiday.
Price: AR$220


Chef Guillermo de Saavedra Coria prepares an intimate dinner at closed door restaurant Toro777; photo by Allie Lazar.

Casa Cruz (Uriarte 1658, Palermo Soho):
Revamped, refurbished with a revitalized menu, this perfect romantic date spot is celebrating Valentine’s Day all week long with a three course dinner February 10th to 15th. The special menu puts a modernized spin on classic Argentine favorites, featuring dishes like matambre (stuffed flank steak) and bife de chorizo (sirloin strip). The dinner also includes Familia Zuccardi Serie A wines and sparkling Alma 4 espumante.
Price: AR$640 (per couple)

Romantic Casa Cruz
Romantic Casa Cruz.

El Muelle (Club de Pescadores, Costanera & Sarmiento, Costanera Norte):
One of the only spots in the city with a beautiful airy water view, nothing quite beats the intimate vibe at El Muelle. Their week long menu (Tuesday-Sunday) for enamorados is a seafood and fish lovers wet river dream, starting off with oysters and sparkling wine, grilled fish, and shrimp with avocado and mango. The three-course dinner includes a bottle from Bodego El Esteco or Ciclos.
Price: AR$300 or AR$390 (depending on wine selection)

Green Bamboo (Costa Rica 5802, Palermo Hollywood):
Throw away the fork and the chopsticks, and get dirty (in a good way) with Green Bamboo’s finger food Valentine’s night. This Southeast Asian restaurant will focus on five flavors in every bite, each representing fire, earth, metal, water or wood. Another tipsy bonus: every course comes with a Vietnamese cocktail shot.
Price: AR$550 (per couple)

Te Mataré Ramirez (Gorriti 5054, Palermo Soho):
For those planning a sensual Buenos Aires night, why not go for dinner and an erotic show at BA’s premiere erotic dining club with Aphrodisiac theater. Sexually put in your mouth dishes like “Escurre aromas y sabores la tibieza de tu pubis” or “The warmth of your pubis drips aromas and flavors” which is basically the fish of the day with grilled vegetables, a moqueca emulsion and black olive dust. After dinner stick around for Pulsión Porteña, a show featuring erotic dancers and acrobats – naked tango, anyone?
Price: AR$550 (cash), AR$650 (credit card)

Te Mataré Ramirez, photo courtesy of Te Mataré Ramirez
Te Mataré Ramirez; photo courtesy of Te Mataré Ramirez.

Sipan + Isabel Bar (Uriarte 1648, Palermo Soho):
Two sexy restaurant powerhouses are teaming up for the ultimate Valentine’s Day bash. Begin in Sipan with a Peruvian-Japanese three-course meal (which also includes a pisco sour and bottle of Chandon or Terrazas de los Andes) before moving along next door to one of the city’s top bars, Isabel, to end the night with a duo of cocktails. Go big or go hotel and end the night at the Hotel Palermitano, right above Sipan.
Price: AR$700 (per couple), AR$1800 (per couple with hotel room).

Cocktail Duo at Isabael, photo courtesy of Allie Lazar
Cocktail Duo at Isabael; photo courtesy of Allie Lazar.

Festival de Amor (Centro de la Cooperación – Sala Osvaldo Pugliese, Av. Corrientes 1543, Centro):
Valentine’s Day isn’t all about eating a fancy meal and getting drunk. Festival de Amor (February 12-16) is back for the third consecutive year with four romantic plays that celebrate love: Rotos de Amor, Kinema, Poeta en Nueva York, A lo mejor sería feliz.
Price: AR$70

Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

Milena Chocolates are preparing a beautiful basket filled with decadent chocolates that just scream I Love You! (Literally, with “Love” written on the wrapper), while top Recoleta bakery Smeterling will be baking sex in cake form with their mini Cakes de San Valentín – chocolate and almond base filled with chocolate raspberry ganache and topped with fresh raspberries and a chocolate heart. Flowers will never go out of style, head to Florería Atlántico so that you can pick up a bouquet before you can pick up her skirt.

Milena Chocolates Valentine's Day pack courtesy of Milena Chocolates
Milena Chocolates Valentine’s Day pack; photo courtesy of Milena Chocolates.

Anti-Valentine’s Day Celebrations

Valentine’s Day sure isn’t for everyone. Whether you’re happily single, unhappily in a relationship, or looking to fall in lust for one night only, combat the whole love and happiness nonsense and partake in your own Anti-Valentine’s Day celebration.

You probably won’t find many couples out for a romantic evening in Korea Town, so head out with a group to 007 Karaoke Club (Bacacay 2919, 3rd Floor) to make a fool out of yourself the old fashioned way. Of course no trip to Flores is complete without some kind of Asian flavors, so it’s almost essential to hit up secluded gems like Daore (Bacacay 3236) for Korean BBQ or Miyako (Nazca 388, 6th Floor) for a sushi feast.

What says I couldn’t care less about whatever day is today than heading out to Buenos Aires’ beloved Guerrin (Corrientes 1368, Centro) and digging into slices of Argentine pizza before heading to a prime cocktail bar like Verne Club (Medrano 1475, Palermo) or Doppelganger (Av Juan de Garay 500, San Telmo) to drink away any sorrows.

Looking to fall in love for just the night? You’re sure to get some action at parties like 2GTHR (Pueyrredon 2501, Recoleta), Fiesta Fiebre at Club Cultural Matienzo (Pringles 1249, Villa Crespo), or the Buenos Aires Pub Crawl’s Cupid is Stupid.

Mini Cake de San Valentin Smeterling
Mini Cake de San Valentín at Smeterling.

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Allie Lazar

Allie Lazar

Allie is a freelance eater based out of Buenos Aires. An ex-vegetarian born and raised in Chicago, she was lured by the carnivorous spell of chorizo in 2006 and never turned back. She has managed to channel her unhealthy obsession for all things culinary and travel-related into something a bit more socially acceptable: writing about food, wine and travel. She is also known for her master utensil-using skills, covering the BA gastronomy scene on her blog Pick Up The Fork.


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