Buenos Aires’ Closed-Door Restaurants
One of the most interesting trends in the Buenos Aires restaurant scene is closed-door restaurants, also known as restaurantes a puertas cerradas or simply puertas cerradas. These restaurants aren’t really restaurants at all but rather dinners served in the homes of private chefs, or in exclusive private clubs.
Alejandro Langer, chef at La Cocina Discreta in Villa Crespo, describes them as “an environment that is intimate, exclusive and familiar at the same time. The people feel like they are having dinner in the home of a friend. But at the same time enjoy gourmet cuisine and a high-level of service.”
“I don’t feel like it’s a restaurant, I feel like people come to eat to my house”, says Diego Felix, chef at Casa Felix, a popular, informal puerta cerrada in Palermo.
Closed-door restaurants are typically open only certain nights of the week with limited seating. Prices tend to be high by Buenos Aires standards. For example, Casa Saltshaker charges 150 pesos (US$43) per person for a five-course meal with matched wine, or 110 pesos (US$32) without wine.
Menus are usually fixed by the chef. Some chefs feel this format allows them to be more creative and adventurous with their cooking.
Reservations are essential. You can’t just show up at the door and expect to be seated. Expect to pay in cash. Few closed-door restaurants accept credit cards.
Here’s a list of a dozen or so closed-door restaurants in Buenos Aires for you to explore.
Casa Felix (Palermo)
- Chef Diego Felix cooks up “pescaterian” cuisine with exotic flavors and spices. Only 12 seats.
- http://www.diegofelix.com
Treintasillas (Colegiales)
- Chef Ezequiel Gallardo changes the menu weekly.
- http://www.treintasillas.com/
- Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Max. capacity is 18.
- http://www.lacocinadiscreta.com
Casa Coupage (Palermo)
- Buenos Aires first private wine club and restaurant.
- http://www.casacoupage.com.ar
Casa Saltshaker (Barrio Norte)
- One of the better-known closed-door restaurants. Proprietor: Dan Perlman.
- http://www.casasaltshaker.com/
Kensho (Boedo)
- Specializes in organic and vegetarian dishes.
- http://kensho-restaurante.blogspot.com/
Paladar Doña Fela (Almagro)
- Cuban food and drink.
- http://www.paladardoniafela.com.ar/
Ocho7ocho (Palermo Soho)
- Bar/restaurant named for its location at Thames 878.
- No website – Tel: 4773-1098
Caracoles para Da Vinci (Villa Crespo)
- Opens just two days per month. Seats 35.
- http://www.caracolescatering.com.ar/
Casa Roca (Micro Centro)
- Private restaurant located downtown.
- http://www.casa-roca.com.ar/
Tipo Casa (Almagro)
- Eat, drink and enjoy in Almagro.
- http://www.tipo-casa.com.ar/
El Poney Pisador (Villa Urquiza)
- Also offer delivery or catering to your home.
- http://www.elponeypisador.com.ar/
MAAT Club Privado (Belgrano)
- Large, sophisticated private gourment club.
- http://www.maatclubprivado.com.ar/
March 9th, 2009 at 8:45 am
Nice little article and a good round-up, though, Maat and 878 aren’t exactly in the same category. Maat is a membership club that has as one of its benefits a restaurant, though you can go to the restaurant as a non-member, you just pay more. And 878 is, while great fun, just a large bar and restaurant that advertises, you can just walk into, and isn’t like eating in a private space – it just doesn’t happen to have a sign in front.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Thanks for the info, Damien. If anyone knows of any other closed-door restaurants in BA, pls post them. I’d love to check them out. Thanks.
April 12th, 2009 at 1:22 am
CJ, This is great! Thanks for the list.
Another great closed door restaurant in BA is “A Little Saigon”, http://www.alittlesaigon.com . They serve Vietnamese food on the 2nd and 4th weekends, Friday – Sunday. I think they seat 14 max but you could write Thuy to find out more.
Thanks again!
Dat
March 3rd, 2010 at 4:05 pm
My husband and I are traveling to BA at the end of this month and are very interested in the closed door restaurants. We are always seeking more authentic, less touristy, experiences in our travels. Our Spanish is pretty rusty though… will that be a problem?
March 3rd, 2010 at 6:57 pm
Alyssa, that shouldn’t be a problem. At least some English is spoken at most closed door restaurants in BA.
March 27th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
[…] about Filipino food featuring adobo. But those adobos seriously pale to THE ONE at Cocina Sunae, a puerta cerrada in the Chacarita barrio, owned by the very talented […]
January 29th, 2011 at 1:14 pm
Los invito a darse una vuelta por Los Panistas de Palermo.
Restaurante a puertas cerradas en palermo con mini galeria de arte y terraza.
Especialidad: comida fusión latinomaericana.
http://www.lospanistasdepalermo.blogspot.com
Salut!
August 13th, 2012 at 10:39 am
This was our 6th trip to Argentina and we never leave without taking home at least 3kg extra around the belly. We love all the restaurants in all the local barrios but somehow while at home we learned about “closed door” dining. Must say the idea of sitting in some strangers home and eating sounded crazy! Let me say, the first night we went out to try this “closed door” thing, we were blown away, the attention you are afforded is like no restaurant, the look and feel of our first home was amazing and we were served by the chef, owner and sommelier we went for a 3 course dinner and after hearing about their 7 course tasting menu and wine pairings we were sold! we stayed about 3 hours, not because they were slow but because of the attention given to us. I have been an avid traveler since the early 90’s and love to leave the country and experience the world. We have many neighbors that have never left the US and don’t have a global perspective how wonderful the world’s, food and culture can be. We have now gone each night so far of our 6 night stay to “closed door” dinners and have reservations at 3 more. no two are alike but the attention is equal. Now this trip I plan to take home more like 4.5kg around the belly and I will smile while tugging to get my pants buttoned. joke
November 6th, 2012 at 7:29 pm
We opened a small closed-door restaurant for meat lovers in Palermo Hollywood and would love to meet new people who share our passion for food. We speak English, French and Russian. Our site with more info:
http://casarosemary.com/
Just write us a note!
April 5th, 2014 at 3:31 pm
I need to know about a French closed door Restaurant in San Isidro, If someone knows about it, please tell me, Thanks a lot!