Constitución is a complicated neighborhood to define. Train station, bus terminal, constant movement of people passing through but not staying. It’s not a tourist neighborhood, not trendy, and has that rough area reputation that makes many porteños avoid it.
But Constitución is right next to San Telmo. And on that blurry border between both neighborhoods, there are parrillas and bodegones that have been serving choripanes for decades. Places that survived everything: economic crises, the neighborhood’s bad reputation, and San Telmo’s transformation into a tourist area.
Important note: The places I mention are all in the Constitución/San Telmo border area. Some you could consider from one neighborhood, others from the other. What matters is they’re there, they work, and they serve good choripán.
Desnivel - The San Telmo Bodegón (Near Constitución)
📍 Defensa 855, San Telmo (border with Constitución) ⏰ Daily 12pm-4pm and 8pm-midnight | 💰 $6,500-8,500 ARS ($5.85-7.65 USD) 📞 (011) 4300-9081
Desnivel is technically in San Telmo, but so close to Constitución you can walk there from the station in 5-10 minutes. It’s a classic porteño bodegón that’s been serving neighbors and workers in the area for years.
The place has that neighborhood bodegón spirit: wooden tables, relaxed atmosphere, honest food. It’s not San Telmo’s most famous bodegón (those are closer to Plaza Dorrego), it’s the one serving people who work and live in the area.
The choripán is traditional Argentine. Parrilla chorizo from local butcher, grill cooking, French bread, homemade chimichurri. It’s well made, at a reasonable price ($6,500-8,500 ARS / $5.85-7.65 USD).
Good to know:
- Open daily
- Split hours (lunch and dinner)
- 5-10 minutes walking from Constitución Station
- Neighborhood bodegón atmosphere
- Accept cards (confirm)
Tip: If you arrive at Constitución and don’t want to stay in the station area (which can be rough), walk 10 minutes toward San Telmo. Desnivel is a good option to eat nearby without being in the Plaza Dorrego tourist chaos.
La Brigada - The Famous Border Parrilla
📍 Estados Unidos 465, San Telmo (near Constitución) ⏰ Daily 12pm-midnight | 💰 $8,000-10,000 ARS ($7.20-9 USD) 📞 (011) 4361-5557
La Brigada is a well-known San Telmo parrilla, but it’s in the area bordering Constitución. It’s more expensive than classic bodegones ($8,000-10,000 ARS / $7.20-9 USD), but it has a reputation as a good parrilla that’s been maintained for years.
The place works as a serious parrilla. Good meat cuts, professional cooking, attentive service. The choripán maintains the level of the rest of the menu: quality product, well executed.
Good to know:
- Open daily
- Parrilla with San Telmo history
- Prices a bit higher than average
- Near Constitución (walking)
- Weekend reservations recommended
Tip: If you’re coming from Constitución and want something more polished than a basic bodegón, La Brigada is a good option. It’s near the station, has serious parrilla level, and the price is reasonable for the quality.
Bar El Federal - The Historic Café
📍 Carlos Calvo 599, San Telmo (border with Constitución) ⏰ Daily 8am-2am | 💰 $7,000-9,000 ARS ($6.30-8.10 USD) 📞 (011) 4300-4313
Bar El Federal is a historic San Telmo café that opened in 1864. Yes, over 150 years on the same corner. It’s Buenos Aires heritage, with that old porteño café air that barely exists anymore.
The place is beautiful: high ceilings, antique wooden bar, tables with history, that coffee and time smell only century-old places can have. It’s on Carlos Calvo, near the border with Constitución.
The choripán isn’t the house specialty (El Federal is better known for its coffee, toasted sandwiches, atmosphere), but they do it well. Quality product, well executed, in an atmosphere worth knowing even if you don’t come for the chori.
Good to know:
- Over 150 years of history (since 1864)
- Historic café, not specialized parrilla
- Open from 8am to 2am
- Century-old porteño café atmosphere
- Near Constitución
Tip: Come for the complete experience. El Federal isn’t just eating a chori, it’s sitting in an 1864 café, having a cortado, eating calmly while looking at walls full of history. If you’re around Constitución and have extra time, it’s worth the detour.
El Bodegón de Marga - The Area’s Secret
📍 Av. San Juan around 400 (Constitución/San Telmo border area) ⏰ Check hours | 💰 $6,000-8,000 ARS ($5.40-7.20 USD)
El Bodegón de Marga is that type of place you find because someone tells you. It doesn’t have a big online presence, the address is approximate (San Juan area near the station), it’s a small neighborhood bodegón for those who work and live nearby.
It’s the most “Constitución” place on this list. It’s not in the nice San Telmo area, it’s in the work area, movement, passing people. And it survives serving honest food at fair prices to those who work at the terminal, shops, in the area.
The choripán is traditional, simple, cheap ($6,000-8,000 ARS / $5.40-7.20 USD). Don’t look for innovation or polished atmosphere. Look for real food at working-class neighborhood prices.
Good to know:
- Small neighborhood bodegón
- Approximate address (San Juan around 400)
- Very affordable prices
- Check hours before going
- Cash only (very likely)
Tip: Ask shopkeepers in the Constitución area. Small bodegones without online presence are local secrets. Those who work nearby all know them.
🔥 Constitución: Survival Guide for Eating Choripán
The neighborhood context:
Constitución is not a gastronomic destination. It’s a train station, bus terminal, passing area. It has a bad reputation (somewhat justified), and most porteños don’t come here for pleasure.
But it’s right next to San Telmo. And on that border there are places worth knowing.
Best day to go:
During the week Constitución has constant movement of people working in the area. It’s a good time for bodegones serving that audience.
Weekends the area calms down (less work movement), but San Telmo explodes with tourism. If you go Saturday/Sunday, better stay in the San Telmo area (Desnivel, La Brigada, El Federal) which is safer and has better atmosphere.
Real 2026 budget:
- Very affordable: $6,000-8,000 ARS ($5.40-7.20 USD) (El Bodegón de Marga)
- Affordable: $6,500-8,500 ARS ($5.85-7.65 USD) (Desnivel)
- Medium: $7,000-9,000 ARS ($6.30-8.10 USD) (Bar El Federal)
- Medium-high: $8,000-10,000 ARS ($7.20-9 USD) (La Brigada)
Survival tips:
Safety: Constitución has rough areas. During the day it’s passable with care. At night stay in the San Telmo area. Don’t take out your phone on the street, bag in front, watch your things.
Transportation: Constitución Station (trains), Subway C (Constitución), various buses. Super connected but be careful in the terminal area.
San Telmo nearby: All these places are 5-15 minutes walking from the station. Better to move away from the terminal toward San Telmo.
Hours: Don’t stay too late around Constitución. Places close midnight/1am, come back before it gets too late.
Cash: Always bring it. San Telmo places accept cards, but confirm. El Bodegón de Marga probably cash only.
The Final Verdict
If I have to choose just one: Bar El Federal. Not for the choripán (which is good), but for the complete experience. It’s an 1864 café, Buenos Aires heritage, worth knowing even if you don’t come specifically for the chori.
For good choripán near the station: Desnivel. Honest bodegón 10 minutes from Constitución.
For serious parrilla: La Brigada. More expensive but with professional parrilla level.
For the cheapest: El Bodegón de Marga (if you find it).
Honest recommendation:
Constitución is not a place to come eat choripán. It’s a passing place. If you arrive here by train/bus and you’re hungry, these places save you. But it’s not a gastronomic destination.
The reality is all these places are closer to San Telmo than to Constitución’s heart. And that’s fine, because the terminal/station area isn’t a place to stay and eat calmly.
If you’re around here, eat quickly and move toward San Telmo or wherever you need to go. Constitución is a transit neighborhood, not for staying.
Last updated: February 2026. Constitución is a complicated area, be careful. All mentioned places are on the border with San Telmo, a safer area.
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