Gluten-Free Travel Guide to Buenos Aires

Looking for gluten-free food in Buenos Aires? This guide will give you all the details!

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure page for more information. Please be sure to check the current travel restrictions and guidelines for traveling to Argentina. Restaurants and protocols for celiacs may have changed since I visited in 2019. Please contact restaurants directly for the most up to date information. Guide last updated March 2022. Thanks!

Buenos Aires is a bustling, cosmopolitan city with a romantic flair. Tango dancers, soccer games, and a good asado are just a few things that make this city so full of energy and possibility. We spent five days exploring Buenos Aires with the help of two residents - my friend Mike and his lovely girlfriend Carla. They were the best tour guides and also extremely helpful in guiding me toward the best gluten-free spots!

NOTE & DISCLAIMER

Everyone’s experience with celiac disease is different.  Dedicated gluten-free facilities are usually the safest places to go, and you’ll see those listed here. For non-dedicated facilities and restaurants, I only recommend places I have visited or where clear protocols are in place for celiac diners.

My experience is not your experience. This is a guide – a list of suggestions to point you in the right direction. Restaurants can change. Use your own judgment and only eat where you feel safe doing so.

Gluten-Free Buenos Aires

This guide was originally written and published online for Gluten-Free Living. I have updated and condensed the information here to include the most accurate and up-to-date spots for celiac travelers. Guide last updated March 2022. Please contact restaurants directly or check their social media page for more information on current menus.

About Buenos Aires

Argentina has a history of receiving immigrants from all over the world. You can find many different types of food here due to the city’s multicultural background. The Argentine diet is heavily focused on bread and pasta, due to its European roots, but you can find dedicated bakeries and products for gluten-free versions. The other large component of the Argentine diet is meat - Asado.

Most asados are naturally gluten-free but always double-check. They roast a variety of meats with little extra ingredients. Everything is mouthwateringly good. There is every cut of meat you can imagine! They are served with sides like potatoes, vegetables, cheese, and more! Be brave and try something outside your comfort zone, like blood sausage or intestines (they are tasty!) or stick to the classics like beef with chimichurri sauce or ribs.

How To Find Gluten-Free Food in Argentina

Locating gluten-free food can be tough when you're traveling - especially abroad. And while it's critical to speak to the restaurant directly to make sure their protocols work for you, sometimes you just want to get an idea of what's available. One of the best ways to do that while traveling is by doing your research first, on an app/website like FindMeGlutenFree.

FindMeGlutenFree can help you get an idea of what gluten-free restaurants, bakeries, and safe menus are available in Argentina. Yes, this website and app are used around the globe, not just in America! And with a Premium Subscription, you can filter by most celiac friendly, see what's open now (so you don't drive all the way to a bakery for breakfast and discover it's closed), and what's gluten-free in the direction you're headed. It's like Google Maps, but a gluten-free version. And no Ads!

I've been a FMGF user for over a decade, but I think their Premium version is much more effective. Take $5 off a Premium Subscription with the code THENOMADICFITZ to make your trip to Argentina less stressful.

Gluten-Free Restaurants & Cafes

In our short five days in Buenos Aires, Dylan and I primarily ate at dedicated gluten-free restaurants, or parrillas (barbecues). We found these places to have the best options for me and were the safest. I have not included information about non-dedicated restaurants in this guide because the overwhelming amount of gluten-free eaters are so high, you shouldn't have much difficulty finding a celiac safe place to eat, or finding gluten-free products you can cook yourself! Always ask questions and follow these tips to eat safely as a celiac abroad.

Luckily, the awareness in Buenos Aires regarding celiac disease is very high, but things can get lost in translation. A great way to clarify with the restaurant about your gluten-free food is to have a gluten-free restaurant card in Spanish!

Gluten-Free Restaurant Card: Spanish

As a former Spanish teacher, I can tell you that speaking with proper colloquialisms, grammar, and vocabulary makes a big difference in comprehension. A restaurant card properly translated into the local language allows your host, server, or chef to know what foods you can and cannot eat, and how the preparation of your food is critical to your health and safety.

This Spanish restaurant card from Jodi of Legal Nomads has been carefully written and translated by a local to be sure you are completely understood when eating in restaurants, cafes, or shops in Buenos Aires. Additionally, another more succinct but equally effective card can be found here from Equal Eats. I recommend both of these cards wholeheartedly.

If you don't speak Spanish, be sure to look for the words "Sin TACC"!

What does Sin TACC mean?

“Sin T.A.C.C.” stands for “sin trigo, avena, cebada, centeno” - “without wheat, oats, barley, rye”. It is the official labeling system in Argentina for identifying gluten-free foods. These are the words to look for on products, menus, restaurant windows, and grocery stores as opposed to the words "gluten-free".

1 in 100 Argentine citizens has celiac disease, making gluten-free food and celiac diners more commonplace in Buenos Aires. You will see a label with the abbreviation "Sin T.A.C.C" that looks something like this - so keep your eyes peeled!

Dedicated Gluten-Free Facilities

Buenos Aires has an AMAZING number of dedicated gluten-free facilities!

I've never been anywhere that had so many (except maybe Italy). Even Dylan was impressed with the overwhelming list of safe places for me to eat. I've put together a large list here (but restaurants can open or close, so be aware!) with a brief description and how to find them online. You can also refer to the map above for more information.

Get ready, and get excited - because there are so many safe places to eat!

Dedicated Gluten-Free Facilities in Buenos Aires

GOUT Gluten Free is a gluten-free cafe and bakery with cakes, pastries, empanadas, and awesome gluten-free versions of a milanesa, a local sandwich with ham and cheese. This cafe (with multiple locations) has everything for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, dessert, or a cup of coffee. Follow GOUT on Instagram or Facebook and get their full menu on their website. It's also my favorite place!

Sintaxis is a gluten-free restaurant with pasta, pizzas, cakes, empanadas, plus take-home meals and products. At Sintaxis they bring gluten-free bread to your table, which is such a treat! Get Sintaxis's full menu on their website.

Campobravo is a dedicated gluten-free steakhouse - the perfect restaurant to try out all of those great asado dishes mentioned above! They have two locations. Follow Capobravo on Facebook and Instagram.

Despacho de Sabores is a dedicated gluten-free cafe and restaurant. They make salads, sandwiches, burgers, pastries, and offer delicious coffee and drinks. Follow Despacho de Sabores on Facebook and Instagram and get their full menu on their website.

Celigourmet has three locations in Buenos Aires. They are a dedicated bakery with parties, cakes, bread, cakes, and more. Follow Celigourmet on Facebook and get their full menu offerings on their website.

JANA Gluten-Free Got a craving for pizza? Jana Gluten-Free is a dedicated gluten-free pizzeria with multiple locations! The toppings on pizza in South America might be a bit different than you are used to - expect to see olives! In addition to delicious pizza, JANA also has pastries, cakes & sweets for sale. Follow JANA Gluten-Free on Instagram and get their full menu offerings on their website.

La Pastroneria is a dedicated gluten-free restaurant with steaks, salads, pizzas, and desserts. Their hummus is one of their top dishes! Follow La Pastoneria on Facebook to see their latest menu offerings.

Cocelia is the perfect place to enjoy a cappuccino with a gluten-free pastry. This dedicated cafe and bakery offer sitdown and takeaway options for breakfast, lunch, and snacks. Follow Cocelia on Facebook and Instagram and get the full menu on their website.

Pizzeria La Tentación is a dedicated gluten-free restaurant with pizza (hence the name), pasta, and a parrilla (barbecue). They also have sandwiches, burgers, snacks, and of course, great pastries and desserts. Follow Pizzeria La Tentación on Facebook and Instagram and get their full menu on their website.

La Arepería De Buenos Aires Do you like arepas? They are a corn-based pastry filled with meat, cheese, vegetables, and other tasty ingredients - and I only just tried them recently - in Canada! While originally from Venezuela, arepas are a great choice for gluten-free eaters because they are corn-based. La Arepería is 100% gluten-free. Follow La Arepería De Buenos Aires on Facebook to get their full menu.

RN Burger Sin Gluten Sometimes you just need a burger! As my friend Mike told us, don't be surprised to find a fried egg as a common topping. This burger joint is completely gluten-free. Visit RN Burger Sin Gluten's website to see their burger choices and current menu.

Rica & Celi Located in the Palermo neighborhood, this gluten-free restaurant and cafe has outdoor seating so you can watch the hustle and bustle of Buenos Aires. With salads, pastries, pasta, and sandwiches, Rica & Celi is a great choice to spend an afternoon. Follow Rica & Celi on Facebook for more information.

While you're in Palermo - make sure to visit the Rose Garden!

Gluten-Free Ice Cream

Ice Cream is delicious and always a welcome treat, and Freddo is a Buenos Aires ice cream chain that has multiple locations across the city. Their celiac protocols are detailed and efficient. Ask for the "menu sin T.A.C.C." to see what flavors are gluten-free - there are lots! The staff will use fresh tubs of ice cream and clean scoops as well.

Try the dulce de leche flavor - a true Argentine favorite! Check their website for current flavors.

How To Find Gluten-Free Groceries in Buenos Aires

Grocery stores in Buenos Aires are where you can find some of the largest selections of gluten-free food products. If you are staying in a hostel, Airbnb, or lodging with a kitchen, you can always make your own food! Get more tips for eating gluten-free when traveling. When looking for gluten-free products in Buenos Aires, here are some general tips of how to find them in supermarkets.

Many supermarkets will have dedicated aisles for celiacos which will be labeled "sin T.A.C.C". Coto is one of those supermarkets. Coto is a supermarket chain in Buenos Aires. They have a dedicated gluten-free aisle for products, snacks, and foods. You can find everything from bread and pasta to snacks, cookies, crackers, flour, and more.

Be on the lookout for products from companies like Gullón, which make gluten-free rice cakes, cookies, and sweets that are reasonably priced and tasty. Dos Hermanos makes rice-based chips including cheese puffs that are Sin T.A.C.C. - check for the label on the front of the bag!

Vichenzo has gluten-free pasta and raviolis made in a dedicated gluten-free facility. If you are looking for authentic and delicious pasta, this is the place to get them!

If the supermarkets do not offer the gluten-free products you need, try SuperCeli, a dedicated gluten-free grocery store, or Almacen Libre. La Esquina de las Flores also offers gluten-free products at their health food store.

Having gluten-free food available for snacks, outings, and day trips is an excellent way to avoid hanger pangs. (Yes, I said hanger.)

Final Thoughts on Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires was one of our first big cities to explore on our travels last year. I didn't know what to expect when it came to gluten-free food, but I was pleasantly surprised and also thrilled with the awareness, availability, and dedication to those with celiac disease in Buenos Aires.

I can't wait to return to Gout and enjoy a medialuna with a cup of cafe con leche. Buenos Aires has all of the vibrancy of South America with a hint of European history - some of my favorite things. Speaking Spanish, discovering history, and eating gluten-free food? Talk about a win-win-win for an amazing adventure abroad - and Buenos Aires did just that!

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Get my gluten-free travel guides to Boston, New York, Madrid, Italy (plus many more) here!

Have you ever been to Buenos Aires?

What did you think of the gluten-free food choices?

Tell me what delicious gluten-free Argentine foods you tried in the comments below!