Where to eat in Villa Pehuenia: the best of the local food scene
Restaurants, grills and regional products. What’s worth trying.
Villa Pehuenia has a surprising food scene for such a small town. With just a handful of restaurants concentrated between the civic center and the Lake Aluminé waterfront, the town has been gaining ground as one of northern Patagonia’s gourmet destinations: signature cuisine, traditional grills, the country’s only Mapuche restaurant, and products made with piñón, the fruit of the araucaria tree that gives the town its name.
Here we’ve put together the most recommended places to eat in Villa Pehuenia, based on the kind of experience you’re looking for, so you can plan your own food tour during your stay.
Before you head out: a few recommendations
Villa Pehuenia’s food scene has a limited number of spots, so during high season it’s worth planning ahead.
Before you go
- Book ahead at the smaller restaurants (Borravino and We Folil have few tables and tend to fill up during high season).
- Most places are concentrated in the shopping area and along the food-focused waterfront, within walking distance of each other.
- Several restaurants offer delivery to cabins: if you’d rather stay in, it’s a good option for the cold winter nights.
- Prices in Villa Pehuenia tend to be higher than in big cities, which is common in mountain tourist towns.
Summary: where to eat in Villa Pehuenia
Before getting into the details of each place, this table works as a quick reference:
| Place | Style | Must try | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Marino Amarrado | Signature cuisine | Wood-fired pizzas, wine list | A special dinner with a view |
| Borravino | Fine dining | Signature menu, wine pairing | Special occasions (booking required) |
| Mandra | Homestyle regional cooking | Lamb goulash, trout | Lunch or dinner with family |
| Alfonsina | Homestyle cooking | Homemade pasta | A good meal without overspending |
| We Folil | Mapuche cuisine | Recipes with produce from their own garden | A one-of-a-kind cultural experience |
| Los Radales | Grill / traditional tavern | Corderito Los Radales, empanadas | Hearty, traditional food |
| Drumlin | Craft brewery | Small plates and draft beer | After a hike |
| Sobrelagua (Moquehue) | Lakeside cuisine | Trout | An intimate dinner by the water |
Signature cuisine and fine dining
If you’re looking for something more elaborate, Villa Pehuenia has two clear standouts. El Marino Amarrado operates inside the Amarras inn, led by chef Andrés Marino: you don’t need to be staying there to go eat. A good wine list, carefully prepared dishes, and highly recommended wood-fired pizzas.
Borravino, with Matías Tesoriero as chef and owner, is one of the most praised food spots in the area: a signature menu focused on textures and flavors, a good wine cellar, and pairing recommendations. It’s a small place, so booking ahead is practically a must during high season.
Regional cuisine and homestyle dishes
For a more relaxed meal, Mandra is one of the town’s oldest restaurants: famous for its lamb goulash, with a solid pasta menu, trout and several vegetarian options. Alfonsina, with few tables and a cozy atmosphere, specializes in homemade pasta at affordable prices, with a pleasant little terrace for sunset.
We Folil: the country’s only Mapuche restaurant
Along the Five Lagoons circuit, on land belonging to the Puel community, you’ll find We Folil: Argentina’s first and only Mapuche restaurant. The kitchen is run by Alberto Puel and his family, using produce from their own garden and farm animals, in a natural setting that’s as much a part of the experience as the food itself. It’s a must-stop if you’re exploring the trails in the area.
If you haven’t planned your hiking itinerary for the area yet, our guide to the best hikes around Villa Pehuenia might help — it passes close to this very circuit.
Grills and timeless classics
Los Radales is the town’s most traditional restaurant: it opened in 2005 and today operates as a tavern-grill with views of Pollo Lafquen lagoon and a heated gallery for year-round dining. It specializes in local meats — lamb, goat, deer, wild boar and trout — as well as homemade pasta. Its signature dish is the Corderito Los Radales, slow-cooked, and the criolla empanadas are still made by the same cook who’s been there since the place opened. Delivery to cabins is available.
Craft brewery: Drumlin
Drumlin is the town’s signature brewery, a great spot to share some small plates and a draft beer after a day out exploring. It’s a gathering point for both tourists and locals alike.
In Moquehue: Sobrelagua
If your route takes you as far as Moquehue, Sobrelagua is a stop worth making: a restaurant with just 15 seats, inside the Apart Hotel La Búsqueda, with over a decade on the shores of Lake Moquehue. It specializes in trout, with good pasta and meat dishes too. It only operates by reservation, so it’s best to call ahead.
Chocolate and regional products
Along the Lake Aluminé waterfront, near the Golfo Azul pier, Chokolhaa makes artisanal chocolates and ice cream with products from the region: fine fruits, dairy cream from farms in Aluminé and Bajada del Agrio, and varieties made with Neuquén Pinot Noir wine or local dark beer. It’s a classic stop after lunch at one of the waterfront restaurants.
Villa Pehuenia is also part of the Neuquén Gastronomy Seal of Distinction, an initiative that promotes the use of regional products — like piñón, the fruit of the araucaria or pehuén tree, as well as local mushrooms and pears — on the menus of local restaurants.
Villa Pehuenia as a food base
Almost all of the town’s food scene is concentrated between the shopping area and the waterfront, just a few minutes by car from Bahíamía. You can pair dinner at one of these restaurants with an afternoon of relaxation at the cabin, right on the shore of Lake Aluminé.
Frequently asked questions about where to eat in Villa Pehuenia
Do I need to book to eat in Villa Pehuenia?
During high season (January, February, winter break), yes. The smaller restaurants, like Borravino, We Folil or Sobrelagua, have few tables and tend to book up in advance.
What are the typical dishes worth trying?
Patagonian lamb (spit-roasted or slow-cooked), trout from the area’s lakes, lamb goulash and criolla empanadas are the local classics. For dessert, the artisanal chocolate is a must-stop.
Are there vegetarian options?
Yes, although the offering mostly revolves around meat. Mandra, for example, has several vegetarian options on its menu, and most restaurants offer pasta and meat-free dishes.
Do the restaurants deliver to the cabins?
Several places, like Los Radales, offer delivery within Villa Pehuenia. It’s a good option for the colder nights, especially in winter.
Is food in Villa Pehuenia expensive?
Prices tend to be higher than in a big city, which is common in mountain tourist towns. Even so, there are options for different budgets: from traditional taverns to more exclusive signature offerings.
Still haven’t chosen where to stay?
Book your dates at Bahíamía and use our cabins on the shore of Lake Aluminé as your base for exploring all of Villa Pehuenia’s food scene.
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