"Argentina's most respected vegetarian kitchen, run by Mauro Massimino for 17 years. Worth a detour for solo diners and first dates."
About Buenos Aires Verde
There is no vegetarian restaurant in Buenos Aires more respected than this one, which is a strange sentence to write about a city built on the parrilla. Mauro Massimino opened Buenos Aires Verde in Palermo around 2008, before plant-based eating had any foothold here, and it has outlasted every trend since. The menu is vegetarian, vegan and raw, made from organic produce without chemical preservatives, and a meal runs about $17 a head. At Gorriti 5657 he serves grilled tofu tiradito, quinoa maki and raw vegetable lasagna to a room of regulars who never needed convincing.
The Kitchen
Mauro Massimino is not a conventional chef. He studied organic horticulture at the UBA agronomy school and naturist nutrition before opening Buenos Aires Verde, and he later hosted Más Sano, Más Rico on the El Gourmet channel. His cooking starts from the produce: organic, pesticide-free, much of it built around what is good that week. The signature plates are a grilled tofu tiradito with vegan mayonnaise, quinoa maki, a curried yamani-rice risotto and a raw lasagna layered from seasonal vegetables, plus a plant-based power pizza. Desserts are built to look like small sculptures. A meal runs about $17 per person, which for the quality and sourcing is a genuine bargain in Palermo.
Seventeen years in, the kitchen is the reference for vegetarian, vegan and raw cooking in Buenos Aires, name-checked by La Nación and the city's veggie guides whenever the subject comes up. Massimino's argument was never that you should give up meat. It was that vegetables, cooked with intent, are worth a destination dinner of their own.
The Room
Buenos Aires Verde sits on Gorriti in Palermo, and the room is calm and green rather than designed to impress. Plants, warm wood and soft light set a relaxed, conversation-easy mood that suits a solo diner with a book as much as a quiet first date. Tables are reasonably spaced, the volume stays low, and there is no dress code to speak of. It opens evenings, Monday to Saturday from 5pm, and also runs takeaway and delivery. Service is informal and knows what is vegan, raw or gluten-free. It is an easy, unhurried place to eat well.
Best for a Relaxed First Date or Solo Dinner
Book Buenos Aires Verde for a low-pressure first date or a solo dinner because the room is quiet, the lighting is soft, and the menu gives both vegetarians and the curious plenty to talk about. Nothing here demands the formality of a tasting counter, the prices are gentle at around $17 a head, and the plant-based range means dietary needs never become an awkward negotiation. It is equally good for an easy group dinner with mixed eaters. See more Buenos Aires dining and the global best vegetarian restaurants.
Not for
Skip it if you came to Argentina for the parrilla. There is no meat here, and the casual room suits a relaxed evening rather than a formal celebration.
Frequently Asked
Is Buenos Aires Verde worth it?
Yes, especially if you want a break from Argentine beef or eat plant-based. It is the most respected vegetarian, vegan and raw kitchen in Buenos Aires, open 17 years in Palermo, and at around $17 a head it is very fairly priced. The cooking is built on organic produce and genuinely satisfying rather than worthy. Go for a relaxed dinner; skip it if you are set on a steak.
What is Buenos Aires Verde known for?
Buenos Aires Verde is known for proving that plant-based cooking could thrive in a meat-obsessed city. Chef Mauro Massimino opened it around 2008 and built a following with dishes like grilled tofu tiradito, quinoa maki and raw vegetable lasagna. It draws vegetarians, vegans and curious omnivores alike, and remains the benchmark other Buenos Aires veggie restaurants are measured against. The sourcing is organic and preservative-free.
What should I order at Buenos Aires Verde?
Order the grilled tofu tiradito with vegan mayonnaise, the quinoa maki and the raw seasonal-vegetable lasagna to see the range across cooked, raw and vegan. The curried yamani-rice risotto and the plant-based power pizza are reliable mains, and the sculptural desserts are worth saving room for. Ask what is freshest that week, since the menu follows the organic produce in season.
Is Buenos Aires Verde good for a date?
Yes. It suits a relaxed first date well. The room is quiet and green, the lighting is soft, and the casual, unhurried mood makes conversation easy without the pressure of a formal tasting menu. Prices are gentle and the plant-based menu sidesteps any dietary awkwardness. For more low-key options, see our best restaurants for a first date.
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Reserve at Buenos Aires Verde
Direct · also takeaway and delivery
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Practical Information
AddressGorriti 5657, Palermo, Buenos Aires
NeighbourhoodPalermo
CuisineOrganic vegetarian, vegan and raw
SignatureGrilled tofu tiradito
Average spendabout $17 per person
HoursMon–Sat, 5pm–midnight
Dress CodeNo-rules
DietaryVegetarian, vegan, raw, gluten-free options
