If Argentine barbecue is the first thing you want to try after arriving in Buenos Aires, the ideal thing is to go looking for it in Puerto Madero. In this modern and urban area of Buenos Aires you will find one of the most iconic Argentine barbecue restaurants: Siga La Vaca.
With more than 30 years lighting the embers of the grill, there is no Argentine or foreigner who passes by the door of Siga La Vaca without feeling “hypnotized” by the aroma of roasted meat.
Do you hate preambles and want concrete answers to enjoy Argentine barbecue in Buenos Aires? Perfect! Here we present Siga La Vaca and all the necessary information so you can visit this place as soon as possible.
Siga La Vaca (Buenos Aires): All The Information You Need For Your Next Visit
What is Siga La Vaca?
Siga La Vaca is an iconic Argentine barbecue restaurant, proudly calling itself the “authentic Argentine grill.” Located in the vibrant neighborhood of Puerto Madero, this restaurant has been delighting patrons for over 30 years. Whether you’re a foreigner, a young person, a family, a group of friends, a couple, or even a worker, Siga La Vaca welcomes everyone with its unique dining experience.
The restaurant is known for its “all-inclusive” system, also referred to as “parrilla libre” or free barbecue. By paying a single fee, you can enjoy unlimited Argentine barbecue, cold dishes, and salads. Unlike traditional restaurants where waiters take your order, at Siga La Vaca, their role is limited to clearing your table and refreshing your dinnerware. You are the one who takes your plate and asks the grill masters to serve you the cuts of meat you want. For salads, side dishes, and cold plates, you simply serve yourself from the trays available.
This place is particularly popular among groups who want to savor delicious Argentine meats while enjoying the sights of Puerto Madero. The spacious dining hall is large enough to accommodate the high demand for tables.
The restaurant is open from 12 PM to 1:30 AM from Monday to Sunday, with continuous service throughout the day. You can make reservations in advance, and there are three pricing tiers depending on the day and time of your visit:
- Weekday Lunches (Monday to Friday): This is the most affordable option and includes an all-you-can-eat menu, one beverage, and one dessert per person.
- Weekday Dinners (Monday to Thursday): This is the mid-tier pricing and includes the same offerings as lunch.
- Weekends: This is the most expensive time to visit, covering Friday nights, Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and the day before holidays.
Where is Siga La Vaca?
Siga La Vaca is located in the Puerto Madero neighborhood, specifically at Alicia Moreau de Justo 1714. This area of Puerto Madero boasts a dock right in front of one of the dikes, offering you a fantastic view of Buenos Aires.
Whether by day or night, Puerto Madero is a safe area to walk around and one of the most heavily guarded in Buenos Aires. The surrounding area is well-lit, so you won’t have any trouble finding your way to the restaurant or leaving it afterward.
Puerto Madero is more expansive in terms of length than width. To the north, it borders the Retiro neighborhood, and as you walk southward, the western boundary shifts, passing through the neighborhoods of San Nicolás, Monserrat, and finally, San Telmo.
East of Siga La Vaca is the Ecological Reserve Costanera Sur and the Río de la Plata. To the south, you can reach the La Boca neighborhood, while to the southwest and west lies San Telmo. Heading north, you’ll eventually reach the Plaza de Mayo area.
Nearby, you’ll find several tourist, commercial, and recreational attractions, including the Ecological Reserve, the docks and dikes of Puerto Madero, the Buenos Aires Casino, La Trastienda (a concert venue), the Cinemark Hoyts movie theater, and a bit further away, the San Telmo Market.
How to get to Siga La Vaca?
The best way to get to Siga La Vaca is by car or bicycle. While Puerto Madero is a bustling tourist area with a steady flow of people, public buses and subways that pass nearby require a bit of walking to reach the restaurant. Keep in mind that cars cannot access the pedestrian areas of Puerto Madero, so you’ll need to find a private parking lot if you’re driving.
If you plan to use public transportation, here are some bus lines that run close to Siga La Vaca and Puerto Madero: 20, 29, 33, 62, 103, 111, 126, 129, 130, and 159.
We recommend getting off the bus before it passes under the highways that connect to the Paseo del Bajo.
Taking the subway is a bit more challenging, as the closest stations (Independencia on Line C and Belgrano on Line E) are more than 10 blocks away from Puerto Madero, so you’ll need to walk or take a bus from there.
Why enjoy Siga La Vaca?
Cold Dishes
A good way to start your visit to Siga La Vaca is by sampling the cold dishes, which serve as a prelude to the main attraction—Argentine barbecue.
You can enjoy a variety of cold cuts, cheeses, and even pickled vegetables.
Remember, here you serve yourself freely, without waiting for a waiter.
Barbecue Side Dishes
Next, you’ll need to decide what side dishes you want to accompany your meats and traditional Argentine barbecue offal. Options include French fries, tortilla, roasted potatoes, and Swiss chard fritters.
If you’re looking for something lighter to balance the richness of the meats and offal, you can choose from a variety of salads.
Meats and Offal
Now comes the main event: take your plate and head to the grill section, where a master griller will ask what you’d like. Simply tell them your choice, and they’ll serve it freshly off the grill onto your plate.
We recommend pacing yourself and not overloading your plate on your first round. This prevents your food from getting cold and helps you avoid filling up too quickly.
It’s best to start with the chorizo and morcilla (blood sausage), then move on to other offal like chinchulín (intestine), riñon (kidney), and molleja (sweetbread). Finally, proceed to the grilled meats, including beef, pork, and chicken.
Desserts
Don’t forget that you can choose one dessert per person, which is included in the price you’ve paid. If you still have room and a craving for something sweet, you can choose from several options: flan, bread pudding, chocolate lava cake, Lanín dessert (ice cream and red fruits), rice pudding, dulce de leche pancakes, fruit salad, profiteroles, chocolate mousse, and ice cream cups.
Beverages
What’s a meal without a drink to wash it down? The price at Siga La Vaca includes one beverage per person.
You can choose from a variety of options, including red wine, white wine, soft drinks, beer, and mineral water.
Additionally, you can enjoy some coffee if you prefer to skip dessert.
