Ushuaia is commonly referred to as the city at the “End of the World”. Located at the southernmost tip of Argentina, this city is the last stop on the way to Antarctica and as such, most cruises to Antarctica depart from the port in Ushuaia.
In January 2023, I found myself here with my partner after spending a couple of weeks exploring the other Patagonian regions of El Chalten, El Calafate, and Torres del Paine National Park (in Chile).
While I knew that the landscapes and wildlife in Ushuaia would be stunning, what I did not expect to find in this city at the End of the World was a diverse culinary scene. The astounding selection of seafood, Argentinian, and Italian Ushuaia restaurants is incredible.
After spending a few days eating our way through the city, these are the 7 must-eat Ushuaia restaurants to check out when visiting.
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The Top 7 Restaurants In Ushuaia, Argentina
María Lola Restó
Gdor. Deloqui 1048, V9410 Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina // +54 2901 42-1185
Type Of Cuisine: Argentinian/Seafood
María Lola Restó is one of best restaurants in Ushuaia. It ranks at the top of any list of the best Ushuaia, Argentina restaurants, and for good reason. Since Ushuaia is a coastal city, it’s well known for its local seafood selection, particularly Fuegian crab.
We came to María Lola Restó in search of the best seafood in the city, and we definitely found it. The best king crab in Ushuaia is here, at this unassuming restaurant overlooking the city.
As one of the best seafood restaurants in Ushuaia, the venue is spacious and has an upscale air to it compared to some of the more casual joints in town. It’s a place to put on the nicest outfit in your suitcase or backpack and treat yourself for the night.
Indulging was the name of the game so we started with the Fuegian king crab appetizer, Centolla au Natural. This was a simple yet delicious plate of crab with lemon and dressing.
The presentation was beautiful and we were left wanting more. The menu recommends pairing this appetizer with a Humberto Canale Estate Patagonia Sauvignon Blanc, which was a nice touch.
For mains, we tried the Risotto di Mare and the Linguini del Canal. Both were fantastic yet completely different. They seafood risotto was thick, creamy, and rich. Packed with flavor it was a warm, soul-filling dish that is perfect on a cool Patagonian evening.
The Linguini del Canal is a pasta with pieces of Fuegian king crab and scallops in it. The dressing is more of a vinegar-base rather than a creamy rich sauce, giving it a much lighter, refreshing flavor that is ideal for the summer.
Pro Tip: Make a reservation at least 24 hours in advance because this is a very popular spot in Ushuaia.
El Mercado
Av. San Martín 1488, V9410BGO Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina // +54 9 2901 55-0137
Type Of Cuisine: Argentinian and Italian
El Mercado is a casual dining venue on one of the main streets in Ushuaia that blends a marketplace with a sit down restaurant. It is a beautiful venue filled with natural light during the day and warmly lit for a cozy, intimate atmosphere in the evenings.
The menu features a selection of Italian foods, some traditional and some with an Argentinian twist. Pasta and pizza lovers will find more than a few favorites on the menu, are also tartas, empanadas, omelettes, pastries, and wines to choose from.
The squid ink ravioli with salmon in a cream sauce was our selection and it was mouthwatering. The ravioli was cooked to perfection, the salmon was flavorful and the sauce was rich yet not overpowering.
We timed our visit as a late lunch so the restaurant was extremely empty, but the night before the line was out the door at dinner time, so be sure to book ahead or arrive early during peak hours to get a seat.
El Turco
Av. San Martín 1410, V9410 BGO, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina // +54 2901 42-4711
Type Of Cuisine: Argentinian
El Turco is a budget backpacker’s best friend when traveling through Ushuaia. As the southernmost city in Patagonia (and the world), Ushuaia sees a lot of travelers finishing up a backpacking trip after hiking in Torres del Paine or El Chalten.
This means that some of the more expensive restaurants in the city just aren’t in the budget for someone trying to see the region without splurging. Fortunately, El Turco is a low-cost spot to try some traditional Argentinian cuisine in the middle of the city.
We ordered the ravioli and a Milanese chicken here, both of which were generous portion sizes for such a low price. My ravioli was around $4 USD (when using the Argentinian Blue Dollar rate) so this is certainly a great spot to get a hearty meal for cheap.
In terms of quality, they say you get what you pay for, and that is true here. The quality of the food at El Turco isn’t comparable to the more expensive pastas at El Mercado, for example. But it’s a cozy atmosphere and is one of the best places to eat in Ushuaia on a budget.
Casimiro Bigua
Av. Maipú 395, V9410 BJG, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina // +54 2901 43-1214
Type Of Cuisine: Argentinian Grill
Casimiro Bigua Parrilla and Restaurante is one of the best restaurants in Ushuaia. It didn’t come up in our research of where to eat in the city but as we walked past it one evening close to dinner time and saw it bustling with customers, we decided to check it out.
Friendly service and a lively atmosphere enhanced the experience of dining here at this traditional Argentinian asado restaurant. This is a great place to dine if you’re hoping to try a good cut of Argentinian steak or traditional Patagonian lamb.
This was our last dinner in Argentina at the end of our trip, so we got a little bit of all our favorites including the Patagonian lamb, provoleta, mashed pumpkin, and chorizo. All of it was top notch, but the provoleta was a stand out.
This traditional Argentinian dish of grilled cheese was topped with olives, tomatoes, and herbs, creating a sensational flavor that you don’t get with every version of this dish.
When we saw the presentation of the dessert at a neighboring table, we couldn’t resist ordering a bowl of ice cream with Calafate berries.
Laguna Negra
Av. San Martín 513, V9410 Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina // +54 2901 43-1144
Type Of Cuisine: Chocolate Shop
Laguna Negra is a chocolate shop in Ushuaia with an astounding selection of sweets and other goodies. It’s products are from the southernmost chocolate factory in the world and the shop claims to bring the magic of Patagonia to travelers around the world.
While the front of the venue is a shop, the back of the shop is a cafe with a quaint seating area. This is where we seated ourselves to try some of their cafe con leche and pastries. Specifically, we came in search of chocotorta.
Chocotorta is a traditional Argentinian recipe, often served as a birthday cake, that is made with the cookies called chocolinas. The cookies are layered in the cake with a frosting of dulce de leche and cream cheese.
The choco torta at Laguna Negra is astounding. It’s fresh, decadent, and extremely rich. If you’re traveling with a friend or spouse, you can certainly split one of these large pieces between two people.
Tante Sara
Av. San Martín 701, V9410 Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina // +54 2901 42-3912
Type Of Cuisine: Coffee Shop
Tante Sara was established 1977 and is a charming cafe in Ushuaia that is always busy whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It’s open from 8 AM to 11 PM daily and serves a wide variety of foods from breakfast dishes to empanadas and Milanesa.
Tante Sara became our breakfast spot of choice while in Ushuaia, drawing us back multiple times throughout our stay. Their Argentinian breakfast deal of three medialunas (with Patagonian berry jam and cream cheese) plus orange juice and cafe con leche for around $5 USD per person (at the Blue Dollar rate) was just too good to resist.
Dublin Pub
9 de Julio 168, V9410DDD Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina // +54 2901 63-1840
Type Of Cuisine: Irish
As with many things in Ushuaia, the Dublin Pub’s claim to fame is being the southernmost of its kind in the world. That is, the southernmost Irish pub in the world. Naturally, we had to check it out.
The interior of the bar is lively and most nights, its packed to capacity. The dim lighting and banners hanging from the ceiling create a comfortable space to settle in for a long chat with friends.
Besides the bar area in the center of the venue, there are plenty of rustic tables for dine-in seating. The food menu features traditional pub-style meals while the list of beers on tap is extensive.
We took this as the perfect opportunity to try the local draft beer (Birra Terada). The roja (Beagle Red Ale) was well balanced with a caramel color and creamy texture. There is still carbonation to contrast the soothness.
The hoppy beer has some notes of citrus and has a slight bitterness to it. The beers at this Ushuaia restaurant are the perfect drink to toast to the end of a trip at the end of the world!
Final thoughts: The Best Restaurants in Ushuaia, Argentina
Overall, Ushuaia’s restaurant scene is one of the most exciting reasons to visit this city in southern Patagonia. Besides incredible nature and hiking trails nearby in Tierra del Fuego National Park, the best restaurants in Ushuaia will have you wanting to come back to visit over and over again.
Visiting other destinations in South America? Check out our other delicious guides:
- The 13 Best Restaurants In Mendoza, Argentina
- 17 Best Lima Restaurants
- The 17 Best Bogota Colombia Restaurants
- 17 Best Lima Restaurants
- The 13 Best Cusco Restaurants
Robynne Trueman is a Canadian writer and traveller, with a BA in English from the University of Waterloo. She is always searching for her next destination and loves sharing travel information with others. When she’s not writing, you can find her hiking with her dog, practicing yoga, or jet setting somewhere on her bucket list. To view some of her original works, check out her personal blog at www.truemantravels.com.