Head-to-Head

Anchoíta vs El Mercado

Anchoíta for the kitchen; El Mercado for the room.

Anchoíta

Buenos Aires · Modern Argentine · $$$

Food 9.5 · Ambience 9 · Value 7.5

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El Mercado

Buenos Aires · Modern Argentine · $$$$

Food 9 · Ambience 9 · Value 7.5

View full review →

The Verdict

Anchoíta for the kitchen; El Mercado for the room.

Anchoíta runs the stronger kitchen — food at 9.5 vs 9 on our scoring.

Both kitchens cook Modern Argentine in Buenos Aires, but the rooms read differently. Anchoíta works for first date, birthday; El Mercado works for close a deal, impress clients.

El Mercado runs heavier ($$$$) than Anchoíta ($$$). For one-off occasions, the higher tier reads correctly; for a regular table, the cheaper one carries.

Which One for Which Occasion

Occasion	Editorial Pick
First Date	Anchoítaedges on the combined editorial score.
Close a Deal	El Mercadotagged for this occasion in our editorial; the other isn't.
Birthday	Anchoítaedges on the combined editorial score.
Impress Clients	El Mercadotagged for this occasion in our editorial; the other isn't.
Proposal	Anchoítaedges on the combined editorial score.
Solo Dining	Anchoítatagged for this occasion in our editorial; the other isn't.
Team Dinner	Anchoítatagged for this occasion in our editorial; the other isn't.

The Numbers

Our scoring puts Anchoíta at 9.5/9/7.5 (food / ambience / value) and El Mercado at 9/9/7.5. Pick the dimension that matters most to your evening and follow it.

How to Book

Both restaurants sit in Buenos Aires's top scoring tier — neither takes same-week walk-ins for prime weekend slots. Set booking alerts on the platform each uses (check the practical-info card on the linked detail pages above). Weekday and earlier-seating windows are the realistic targets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Anchoíta or El Mercado?

On our editorial scoring, Anchoíta leads (9.5/9/7.5 vs 9/9/7.5 for food / ambience / value). That said, the better pick depends on the occasion — see the table above for the per-occasion call.

How much do Anchoíta and El Mercado cost?

Anchoíta sits at $$$ ($120–250 per person); El Mercado at $$$$ ($250+ per person). Add 30–40% for pairings.

Which is harder to book, Anchoíta or El Mercado?

Both sit in Buenos Aires's top tier — same-week tables are rare. Prime weekend slots fill within minutes of release at either; weekday and earlier-seating slots are the realistic targets. Set booking alerts on whichever platform each restaurant uses.

What's the best occasion for Anchoíta vs El Mercado?

The occasion table above maps each of the seven RFK occasions to the editorial pick. In short: pick the restaurant whose room and format match the moment, not the higher absolute score.

Can I do both Anchoíta and El Mercado on the same trip?

Yes — both are in Buenos Aires. Pace at least one full day apart; at this price tier each is a full-evening commitment. If you're optimising for one over the other, the per-occasion verdict in this guide is the right tiebreaker.