How many meals a day do Argentines eat in Buenos Aires? Traveling to a new country means adapting to its customs and codes of coexistence. Nor is it a question of subordinating oneself to force, but rather of finding a synthesis between one’s own habits and those of the country one visits.
In Buenos Aires it is customary to eat four times a day: breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner. In turn, each of these meals has its time intervals.
Now, don’t think that Argentinians prepare to eat by looking at the clock. In everyday life it is not always possible to respect the 4 meals and weekdays are very different from Saturdays or Sundays.
In this article we will review what the four meals are and at what times they are carried out. This way, you can prepare in advance to live in Buenos Aires and organize your agenda during the trip.
Why is it Important to Know the Meal Times in Buenos Aires?
- Accommodations, food stores, restaurants, cafes, and bars organize their commercial activities based on the four meals and their respective times.
- Knowing the times for each meal allows you to adapt your schedule and routines as a foreigner in Buenos Aires.
- For your body, the differences between meal times in your home country and Argentina should be gradually assimilated.
- Although it is customary in Buenos Aires to have four meals, it does not mean you must strictly adhere to them.
How Many Times a Day Do You Eat in Buenos Aires?
Breakfast
Breakfast in Buenos Aires is the first meal of the day. It typically takes place between 6 and 11 a.m., depending on each person’s routine.
In some cases, breakfast is held at home, either before leaving for work or school, or when working remotely or virtually.
The most popular drinks among Argentines for breakfast are coffee and mate. In truth, both overshadow any other alternatives like tea or fruit juices.
As for what is eaten for breakfast, the options are more varied. However, the most common items are bakery products (pastries, croissants, medialunas), toast, sandwiches, fruits, cookies, jams, dulce de leche, alfajores, and to a lesser extent, the typical American breakfast (eggs, bacon, etc.)
The importance of breakfast is due to it being the first meal of the day and, therefore, key to starting a work or school day.
Lunch
Lunch is the second meal of the day in Buenos Aires. It usually takes place between 12 and 2 p.m., during midday.
In places like offices and workplaces, an hour is set aside for lunch, during which workers can eat what they have brought from home or go to a restaurant or store.
This meal differs between weekdays and weekends. On weekdays, lunch is usually a quick meal that doesn’t take much time, while on weekends, it takes on a different character, especially in a family gathering context.
Additionally, weekday or workday lunches tend to be light, as heavy meals can affect performance and cause fatigue.
Afternoon Snack
The third meal of the day in Buenos Aires typically takes place between 4 and 7 p.m. It precedes dinner, and the closer it is to the fourth meal, the lighter it tends to be.
Not everyone dedicates time to the afternoon snack. In some cases, it is reduced to a mate, coffee, or an infusion accompanied by some cookies or a snack. It is also common in Argentina to have the afternoon snack in a cafe or bar.
For office workers and professionals, the afternoon snack often turns into what is called “after-office.” That is, instead of coffee or an infusion, it becomes an opportunity to have a beer or any alcoholic drink in a bar or pub.
In short, the afternoon snack in Buenos Aires is the least “formalized” meal of all.
Dinner
The fourth and last meal of the day in Buenos Aires is dinner. It takes place between 8 and 10 p.m., although in some cases, it may be earlier or later.
Along with breakfast, dinner is the most important meal for Argentines. Not only because it is often the only family gathering time of the day, but also because it marks the longest fasting interval until the next meal (the following day’s breakfast).
In Buenos Aires, dinner is always had, whether at home, in restaurants, alone, with family, with friends, or in any other way. Additionally, since it has no time constraints, it is the meal that takes the most time of all the meals of the day.
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