So, it’s Christmas Day. You have no leftovers from Christmas Eve dinner, and it’s one of the few days Buenos Aires actually quiets down, and most of its shops are closed for the day. Luckily, there are quite a few savior choices of restaurants and bars that will open on December 25 for either a hangover-extinguishing lunch or a good old Christmas night out.

Here are some of our favorites:

SHEIKOB’S BAGELS (Uriarte 1386) —  Home of our Herald Nights this year, Sheikob’s Bagels is our friend and favorite. A piece of New York here in the city, Sheikob’s is bringing tradition straight from the Big Apple, where only cinemas and Chinese restaurants open on the 25th. The event is called ‘Jewish-Chinese Christmas’ and will combine Sheikob’s own menu — which includes a vegetarian option — with a Christmas movie, yet to be announced. There will be two shifts, one at 12:30 p.m. and the other at 2:30 p.m. To book a spot, you must contact the restaurant through Instagram direct messages.

HIERRO (Boulevard del Mirador 220, Costa Rica 5602) — A step up from your classic Buenos Aires parrilla, Hierro (Spanish for ‘Iron’) honors the national asado tradition, offering 30-day-aged Angus Black beef in the form of classics like ribeye and T-bone steaks. The menu includes barbecued season vegetables — with an innovative twist — an Argentine wine selection, and signature cocktails. Hierro will open both of its Argentine branches: Nordelta from noon to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. until midnight and Palermo all throughout the day, from noon until Christmas Day is officially over. 

LA PESCADORITA (Humboldt 1905) —-  Opened by chef David Ribulgo, La Pescadorita offers a seafood-only menu, an unusual feat in a Buenos Aires ruled by parrillas and pizza places. All of their fish and seafood comes straight from Argentina’s oceans and rivers, like Bariloche trouts and Mar del Plata squid. You can also try Ecuadorian red tuna or Patagonian pink salmon, all served in different, creative ways and with a decent selection of Argentine wines. Don’t forget to say hi to the big bearded merman statue right outside the door.

 

SKY BAR (Maipú 907, 13th floor, Pulitzer Hotel) — Located on the top floor of the Pulitzer Hotel in downtown Buenos Aires, Sky Bar will open on the 25th at 5 p.m. (your Christmas Eve hangover should be gone by then.) Apart from its wide array of cocktails, Sky Bar’s menu includes finger food and a charming view of the city from its outdoor terrace on the 13th floor. 

MADRE ROJAS (Rojas 1600, 7 p.m. to 12.30 a.m.) – Founded by Argentine chef, sommelier, and livestock producer Juan Ignacio Barcos, Madre Rojas offers a classic Argentine experience — beef and wine, that is — with a modern twist. The menu’s highlights is the Argentine wagyu beef, in classic cuts such as ribeye and T-bone steaks. The restaurant boasts an extensive wine cellar, and while one might expect it to be stocked with red wine to pair with red meat, the staff considers that notion to be outdated and encourages guests to try some really good white wines instead. The jury is still out on whether it works (it does for us), but it’s definitely worth finding out for yourself.

SIFON SODERIA (Av. Jorge Newbery 3881, y Av. Corrientes 1660) — From 7 p.m. until 1 a.m., Sifón Sodería will offer all the cult classic porteño cocktails: vermouth and siphon soda, tinto de verano (roughly translated as “summer red,” which combines red wine with soda), and some of their own creations. The food menu includes finger food to accompany the drinks. The restaurant is set in an architectural icon of Buenos Aires, the Casa Chorizo, a mid-20th-century house style known for being narrow but elongated.

Cover photo: Hierro restaurante