If you know anything about Mente Argentina, you know that we are helado super fans. Rain or shine, we are always down for an ice cream run, and those visits might be daily during the brutal summer months to beat the heat. Argentina is famous for it’s ice cream, you can learn more about it’s history in our post about Argentine ice cream. But this is going to be a little introduction to some of our favorite helado spots in the city. Pretty much all heladerías offer vegan options as well, so look out or a ask for the “al agua” options.
Rapanui
Let’s start with a Mente Family favorite: Rapanui. Originating in Bariloche (in the south of Argentina), Rapanui provides the most important products of all: chocolate and ice cream. Perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth, you can pick up some chocolates to take home or snack on the walk home after finishing your helado. One to definitely try is their famous franui, which is whole raspberries coated in a layer of white chocolate and wither milk or dark chocolate. Also for chocolate lovers: their chocolatada (hot chocolate) is to die for– essentially chocolate gravy. There are few Rapanui locations in Buenos Aires, and most just happen to be close to Mente housing and program locations in Palermo, Recoleta and Retiro.
Distinguished Flavors: 80% Cacao (dark chocolate), Lemon Pie (lemon merengue pie), Frambuesa Nevada (raspberry with chocolate and merengue), Glaciar de Cococ (coconut with dulce de leche and merengue), Gianduia Di Torino (hazlenut and chocolate)
Lucciano’s
Now let’s talk about another gourmet Buenos Aires heladería chain: Lucciano’s. They have locations all over the city and the country, with several located near Mente housing and the Mente office. Lucciano’s offers a wide variety of creamy options, plus their signature ice pops that are in fun any fancy shapes. Lucciano’s is a great place to try out some classic Argentine flavors, I’ll list some below.
Distinguished Flavors: Dulce de Leche con Dulce de Leche (speaks for itself), Marscapone (marscapone cheese with mixesd berries), Super Sambayon (egg yolk and wine), Vasubeda (vegan – lemon and basil)
Cadore
It’s impossible to talk about heladarías without paying homage to the Buenos Aires classic: Cadore. After generations of perfecting family recipes in Italy, the Olivotti family opened Cadore in 1957 on the iconic Avenida Corrientes. Cadore was even named by National Geographic as one of the top 10 ice cream places in the world. While visiting Buenos Aires you’ll definitely find yourself close-by at some point so whether you just ate some pizza, went to the theater, bought some books, or all of the above, stop by Cadore.
Distinguished Flavors: Chocolate al Cointreau (chocolate with orange liqueur), Dulce de Leche Granizado (dulce de leche with chocolate shavings), Mousse de Limón (lemon mousse)
Finde
Now let’s talk about a new Buenos Aires favorite that’s the talk of the town: Finde. Located in Palermo, Finde just opened its doors in 2020 and pride themselves on their innovative flavors all made with top-notch ingredients. With a pastel, retro aesthetic, Finde also offers other signature desserts and savory snacks to accompany their absolutely fabulous selection of helados. Their flavor options may vary depending on the day and season (they tend to use seasonal fruits and flavors) but of course classics like dulce de leche and chocolate will always be there alongside some of their signature gustos.
Distinguished Flavors: Flat White, Pistacchio, Peanut Butter, Mango Maracuyá (mango and passionfruit), Crema de Almendras (almond)
Now whether it’s a cadena or an heladería del barrio, everyone has their top spot for ice cream in Buenos Aires. These were just a few of our favorites to go to with the Mente family. So come to Buenos Aires, try these and all of the other heladerías that the city has to offer!
