Argentina is the land of meat eaters, and Buenos Aires is the capital of beef. More beef is consumed here per capita than any other country, so it's no surprise that there are some fantastic places for a steak all over the city. To kick things off, ask the concierge at the Park Tower for his or her favorite parrilla, or steakhouse. Or just head straight for Cabaña las Lilas, widely considered the top of the considerable heap — it made it onto famed New York Times food critic R.W. Apple's list of 10 restaurants worth flying to visit. Despite its status, the atmosphere is relaxed and the dress policy is casual, though known to be expensive.

Another option is La Cabrera in the trendy Palermo Hollywood neighborhood. Huge, perfectly grilled cuts of beef come accompanied by a plethora of sides. If the line is too long, try the sister location, La Cabrera Norte, just down the block, or head to one of the pre-gentrification hold-outs, Bar del Gallego, where steaks share the menu with hearty porkchops and many Italian specialties.

A tip for ordering your steak: tend to like theirs medium-well to well done. The term for medium is a punto, and rare is jugoso; make sure to specify when you order.