Cafayate's food identity is regional and unfussy: Salta-style empanadas baked in wood ovens, locro and tamales, lamb and trout from the valley, and - because so many restaurants sit beside or inside wineries - a lot of good wine pairing without much pretense. The picks below span a chef-driven tasting menu at the top end, two long-running empanada houses that locals actually eat at, a plaza-facing regional restaurant, and a handful of cafes for coffee and slower mornings. Almost everything is within a few blocks of the plaza, so a day of eating here doubles as a walking tour of the centre.
Where to Eat in Cafayate
1
Restaurant
Pacha Cocina de Autor
Cafayate's top reservation, run by chef Tomás Casado: a seasonal tasting menu of contemporary 'cocina de autor' built on regional Calchaquí Valley ingredients, served from an open kitchen.
Centro / near main square
2
Restaurant
Terruño Cocina Gourmet
A long-running restaurant facing the main plaza, serving regional and international dishes - rabbit, lamb, trout, house-made pastas - paired with wine from its own small boutique winery.
Centro, facing the main square
3
Restaurant
La Casa de las Empanadas
Family-run since 1985, serving classic Salta-style beef empanadas with spicy sauce alongside locro, humita and tamales in a large open-air patio - one of the most traditional stops in town.
Centro, half a block from the main square
4
Restaurant
Las Chuecas Empanadas y Restaurante
A small, locally loved eatery a short walk from the plaza, known for wood-oven-baked empanadas in varied fillings, from classic meat to matambre, tripe and humita.
Centro, near the main square
5
Market
Mercado Municipal de Cafayate
For a non-touristy lunch, the municipal market houses a small, home-style eatery serving affordable traditional dishes alongside the everyday produce stalls.
Centro
6
Cafe
Café de las Viñas
A cafe-bar right on the main square with a large terrace overlooking the plaza - coffee, beer and simple fare like tostados, sandwiches and omelettes.
Centro (main plaza)
7
Cafe
Chinita Casa de Libros y Café
A quiet bookstore-cafe two blocks from the plaza, pairing specialty coffee with a curated selection of books - a local favorite away from the main tourist strip.
Two blocks from the main plaza (corner of Rivadavia y Buenos Aires)
8
Cafe
Café del Viento
A small neighborhood cafe half a block from the square, serving coffee and light fare on weekday afternoons and Saturday mornings.
Centro (half a block from the main plaza)
FAQ
- What food is Cafayate known for?
- Salta-style empanadas (often baked in wood ovens), locro, humita, tamales and regional dishes like lamb and trout from the Calchaquí Valley - almost always eaten alongside a glass of local Torrontés or Malbec.
- Do I need reservations in Cafayate?
- For the top tasting-menu spot, Pacha Cocina de Autor, yes - book ahead, especially for a weekend dinner seating. The empanada houses, market eatery and cafes are much more casual and rarely need a reservation.
- What's the best budget option in Cafayate?
- The two empanada houses, La Casa de las Empanadas and Las Chuecas, are both excellent and inexpensive, as is the eatery inside the Mercado Municipal for a genuinely local, no-frills lunch.
- Are there vegetarian options in Cafayate?
- Cafayate's cuisine leans heavily on meat, but humita (a corn-based dish) and tamales often have vegetarian versions, and the cafes serve straightforward sandwiches and light fare that can be adapted. It's worth asking directly, as menus aren't always labeled.
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