Two soft round biscuits sandwiched with dulce de leche and finished in chocolate or rolled in dessicated coconut. Argentina's most-eaten sweet; Havanna's chocolate-coated Marplatense version is the international export.
The alfajor traces to Andalusian Moorish baking and crossed to South America with Spanish colonisation; in Argentina the Spanish almond-paste filling was replaced with local dulce de leche. The Marplatense (Mar del Plata) version, dipped in chocolate, was invented by Havanna in 1948 in Mar del Plata and now sells about 300 million units a year nationally.
4 editor picks for Alfajor in Buenos Aires, ranked by editorial score. All Buenos Aires signature dishes · Alfajor across every city.
Las Violetas ★ 4.5
almagro · Avenida Rivadavia 3899, C1204 Buenos Aires
Voted best Cafe Notable in Buenos Aires, opened 21 September 1884 at Rivadavia and Medrano. Belle-epoque stained glass, Italian marble, legendary merienda.
Gran Cafe Tortoni ★ 4.4
microcentro · Avenida de Mayo 825, C1084 Buenos Aires
The oldest cafe in Buenos Aires, founded 1858 and on Avenida de Mayo since 1880. Cafe Notable, a Site of Cultural Interest; Borges and Gardel were regulars.
Confiteria La Argentina ★ 4.3
caballito · Avenida Rivadavia 5969, C1424 Buenos Aires
Caballito panaderia opened 1907, one of the oldest active bakeries in the city. Pasta frola, palmeritas, alfajores de maicena and a full factura counter.
Havanna (flagship) ★ 4.0
microcentro · Florida 273, C1005 Buenos Aires
Argentina's most recognised alfajor brand, founded 1948 in Mar del Plata. Now in every airport; the Florida pedestrian-street store is the busiest outpost.