Tomás Jofré: The Asado Town That Only Opens at Weekends and on Holidays

Tomás Jofré is a small town located about 100 km from Buenos Aires, approximately a 1 hour and 15-minute drive via Acceso Oeste and RN5. This unique destination is home to 19 restaurants that are open exclusively on weekends and holidays, with the exception of one restaurant that serves midweek.

On weekends, all restaurants stay open until 17:00-19:00. However, only three restaurants—Silvano, Fronteras, and La Casona—extend their hours to serve dinner on Fridays and Saturdays.

The price for adults ranges from ARS 35,000 to ARS 45,000 (approximately US$23 to US$30) per person, covering a fixed-price meal that includes picada, pasta, asado, and dessert, typically with drinks. Children aged 6 to 10 pay half price, and children under six eat for free.

The town's visitor numbers typically reach around 7,000 per typical Sunday, so it is expected to be similarly crowded on the holiday Monday, 17 August, which is a national holiday in Argentina. This day commemorates General José de San Martín, Argentina's liberator, and many people take advantage of the holiday to visit the town for a long lunch.

The main attractions in Tomás Jofré include the delicious picada (a selection of local cheeses, cold cuts, and salame quintero), homemade pasta dishes like sorrentinos, ravioli, or tallarines, and the star of the show—the asado al asador (slow-cooked meat over wood). Desserts usually consist of homemade flan, chocotorta, or fresh fruit, accompanied by coffee and a digestive.

Most restaurants in Tomás Jofré follow the tenedor libre or a fixed cubierto format, where one price covers a complete meal, including drinks. La Querencia de Jofré, the only restaurant that remains open on a weekday, serves from Tuesday to Sunday, with lunch and dinner service available. Other restaurants, such as Fronteras and La Casona, offer dinner service on Fridays and Saturdays, while Silvano operates only on weekends and holidays.