Restaurant
Don Julio
Palermo's celebrated parrilla, holder of a Michelin star and Green Star, serving dry-aged Angus and Hereford beef from a cellar-backed corner house.
El Preferido de Palermo
A modern take on the neighbourhood bodegón from the Don Julio team, set in a pink 1952 house in Palermo Soho, known for milanesa and house charcuterie.
At a glance
- Type
- Modern bodegón
- Area
- Palermo Soho, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Price
- $$$ · Upscale
- Official site
- elpreferido.meitre.com
Good to know
- Marble bar
- Open kitchen
- Natural wines
- Lunch and dinner daily
Why we recommend it
El Preferido de Palermo is the more relaxed sibling of Don Julio, run by the same team. Owner Pablo Rivero looks after the restaurant and its wine list, while the kitchen is led by Guido Tassi, a master butcher and charcutier. It opened in 2019 and entered the Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants list within a year; in 2025 it was ranked number 24.
The setting is a pink-painted house built in 1952 on a Palermo Soho corner, which was once home to one of the neighbourhood's first restaurants. The team kept the spirit of the old bodegón, the traditional local eatery, while giving it a more modern edge. Seating includes an L-shaped marble bar with a view of the open kitchen, a good choice if you are dining alone or as a couple and want to watch the cooks at work.
The menu revolves around bodegón classics prepared with care. The dish most people order is the crispy sirloin milanesa, and Tassi's homemade charcuterie is a strong reason to start with a board for the table. To drink, the restaurant is known for its vermouth and for a list of natural, small-production wines chosen by Rivero, which is worth exploring if you want to go beyond the big Malbec labels.
El Preferido opens for lunch and dinner every day, which makes it more flexible than many sought-after restaurants. It suits couples, friends and anyone who wants high-quality cooking in a casual neighbourhood atmosphere, at prices below those of Don Julio. Reservations are taken online through the restaurant's booking page, and it is wise to book ahead for dinner and weekend lunches; the restaurant can also be reached by phone.
The restaurant is at Jorge Luis Borges 2108, in Palermo Soho. Don Julio, at Guatemala 4699 in Palermo Viejo, is the place to go for a more formal meal from the same team, so if you are in the city for a few days you could try both and compare the two sides of their cooking: the grand parrilla and the neighbourhood bodegón. Lunch here also fits well into a day exploring Palermo, with Museo Evita and the Jardín Japonés in the same district.
El Preferido de Palermo FAQs
Who runs El Preferido de Palermo?
The Don Julio team: owner Pablo Rivero and chef Guido Tassi.
What should I order?
The crispy sirloin milanesa and a board of house-made charcuterie.
When is it open?
For lunch and dinner every day.
Can I book?
Yes, online through the restaurant's reservation page or by phone on +54 11 4774 6585.
What is the building?
A pink-painted house from 1952 that once held one of the area's first restaurants.
What is there to drink?
Vermouth and a list of natural, small-production wines.
Has it won any awards?
It was ranked number 24 on Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants in 2025.
Where is it?
At Jorge Luis Borges 2108, Palermo Soho.