Ten country restaurants with activities for adults and children

The traditional barbecue is beyond question when it comes to identifying the main attraction that sustains the magnetism of country restaurants.

However, to extend the stay of adults and children with good entertainment , in some of these gastronomic establishments, the grilled meats and other typical flavors - such as empanadas, homemade pastas and platters of cold cuts, cheeses and pickled foods - are complemented with different recreational activities for children and adults .

Depending on the case, and without paying anything extra, those who enjoy getaways can find there the possibility of combining lunch with activities such as a horse or carriage ride, rural games, children's attractions or guided visits to a farm.

Here are ten country restaurant options with programs that run from just before noon until sunset . All of them are located in the province of Buenos Aires , within a radius of no more than 120 kilometers. Most of them also have a swimming pool .

Activities for visitors begin at 12:15 with a Criollo horse riding lesson led by the experienced Guillermo Sigmund, creator and owner of this establishment near the intersection of Route 25 and the banks of the Luján River. The outdoor lesson is followed by a reception featuring empanadas and homemade wine .

After lunch, until the announced snack time for the children, the recreational and educational segment continues with a carriage ride , a bread kneading and baking workshop in a clay oven, boat navigation on an artificial lake, field games , mini zip line, soccer, volleyball and shuffleboard.

Outside of the program, you can also book a fishing trip , a survival course , meditation and yoga classes, a climbing wall and fishing.

• How to get there . From the city of Buenos Aires it is 60 km via Panamericana Campana branch; in Escobar turn right and continue along 25 de Mayo, Belgrano and San Martín avenues, which continues as route 25.

• How much does it cost? Empanadas, homemade wine, all-you-can-eat barbecue with side dishes and dessert, snacks for the children and activities, $52,000; from 4 to 10 years old, $42,000; 2 and 3 years old, $32,000.

• Where to find information: 4773-5091 / (155) 7514715 / [email protected] / www.pequenaholanda.com.ar

One of the most comprehensive rural tourism options in the area surrounding Buenos Aires. Long before sitting down to enjoy the barbecue, a visit to the animal farm is just the starting point for a very enjoyable day in the countryside, which also includes tractor rides or a horseback ride.

There are also children's and outdoor games such as toad, shuffleboard, horseshoes and cup-and-ball, foosball, soccer, volleyball, basketball and the grand finale of a folkloric show in the park, to liven up the afternoon snack.

• How to get there. From the city of Buenos Aires it is 109 kilometers via Acceso Oeste to Luján and route 7.

• How much does it cost? Breakfast of fried cakes and infusions, empanadas, cold cuts platter, all-you-can-eat barbecue with side dish, non-alcoholic beverage, dessert, afternoon snack and activities, $75,000; from 3 to 10 years old, $37,500.

• Where to find information. (156) 6594177 / [email protected] / www.estanciachica.com / Facebook: Estancia Chica.

While the barbecue is the main attraction in the century-old historic center of La San Antonio, diners are also treated from 11 am onwards to sulky and bicycle rides , a guided group horseback ride , visits to the farm and dairy , children's games , ping pong, volleyball, soccer and walks along the park's paths.

• How to get there. From Buenos Aires, it's 52 kilometers via Hipólito Yrigoyen Avenue (formerly Pavón) from Avellaneda, which continues as Route 210 to Guernica. Option: Ricchieri Highway, Ezeiza-Cañuelas Highway to Canning, Castex Avenue (Route 58) and Presidente Perón Highway.

• How much does it cost? All-you-can-eat barbecue with snack, folk show and activities, $55,000; from 4 to 10 years old, $30,000.

• Where to find information. (155) 5929019 / (153) 8025660 / (156) 1650524 / [email protected] / www.lasanantonio.com.ar / Facebook: La San Antonio – Miniturismo.

Between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., on the large 6-hectare property where the dining hall and park are located, a tour takes place in which a guide tells the rural history of the humid pampas , field games, a folklore and tango show with popular dance, carriage and horse rides for children , soccer, volleyball, ping pong and foosball tournaments and a visit to the farm.

• How to get there. From the city of Buenos Aires to Open Door it's 82 kilometers via Acceso Oeste; in Luján, turn right onto route 192 and continue for 7 km. Another option: route 8 (Panamericana Pilar branch); at Parque Sakura turn left onto route 6.

• How much does it cost? Reception of empanadas and drinks, barbecue, snacks and activities, $50,000; from 4 to 10 years old, 50%.

• Where to find information. (152) 2429199 / [email protected] / www.chacraelrancho.com.ar / Facebook: Chacra El Rancho.

Along with the barbecue, empanadas and pastries, the Creole skills ( ring race, taming and Indian horsemanship ) and the one-hour horseback rides guided by the experienced rider Juan Pablo Cairo are the main specialties of this late 19th century country house.

For their recreation, visitors can also enjoy the attraction of horses grazing nearby , cows, calves, chickens and sheep.

• How to get there. From the city of Buenos Aires it is 113 kilometers by route 8 (Panamericana Pilar branch); turn left onto route 41, continue 1 km and turn right 1 km onto Av. Dr. Durán.

• How much does it cost? Reception of empanadas, juice and wine, barbecue with salad, soda, wine and dessert, snack and activities, $60,000; up to 12 years old, $30,000.

• Where to find information. (02326) 15400109 / Facebook: La Florita, day out.

In the enclosed dining room or under the shade of a dense grove of trees, this restaurant in the Luján district offers two lunch options (an affordable set menu on Saturdays and an all-you-can-eat barbecue) and organizes leisurely horseback rides of between half an hour and an hour through the streets of Carlos Keen, a tour of the La Arbolada grounds —also on horseback—and longer excursions, day or night , to San Andrés de Giles , with prior reservation. There is a playground for children in the park.

• How to get there. From the city of Buenos Aires to Carlos Keen it is 86 kilometers via Acceso Oeste and route 7; pass Luján and turn 10 km to the right on the road to Carlos Keen and Villa Ruiz.

• How much does it cost? Empanada and pickled appetizer, mixed grill with side dish, dessert and afternoon snack, $20,000; all-you-can-eat mixed grill, cold cuts platter, non-alcoholic beverage, dessert and salad, $28,000.

• Where to find information. (153) 6632311 / (155) 3942312 / Facebook: La Arbolada Keen.

Well before reaching the destination, the lush grove of the La Señalada restaurant stands out next to the shoulder of Route 40, in a semi-rural area that anticipates the urban center of low houses and gardens of Las Heras.

In its large green space , around the pool , La Señalada offers, in addition to the barbecue, a soccer field, an inflatable castle , walks along paths among the trees and a foosball table.

• How to get there. From the city of Buenos Aires to Las Heras it is 100 kilometers via Ricchieri, Ezeiza-Cañuelas highway, route 6 to Marcos Paz and route 40.

• How much does it cost? Tickets, all-you-can-eat barbecue with fries and salad, dessert, afternoon snack (pastries and teas) and activities, $39,000; from 5 to 10 years old, 50%.

• Where to find information. (154) 1917079 / (154) 1917084 / (157) 0802258 / [email protected] / Facebook: La Señalada Eventos.

An essential stop on the way to the Atlantic Coast along Route 36, in the district of Magdalena. The biggest surprises appear in the back of the century-old country store where Italian immigrant Donatella Petriella prepares her homemade specialties: a pelota court and a seven-a-side grass soccer field available for diners to use.

In addition, visitors have a wooded park ideal for enjoying mate after lunch.

• How to get there. From the city of Buenos Aires to Paraje Starace it is 96 kilometers via the La Plata Highway, Route 2 and Route 36.

• How much does it cost? Starter (pickled vegetables, cold cuts and vegetables) and main course, $26,000. You can choose between pork belly with flank steak and chorizo ​​or pasta with stew (tagliatelle, ravioli or green gnocchi).

• Where to find information: (0221) 491-1915 / (0221) 155477003 / [email protected]

The unique attraction of this place, ideal for enjoying some recreation with good food, is the ascent of two or three people in a hot air balloon that is always kept tethered to the ground, although the basket with the passengers goes up and down about 20 meters high.

During the "Chacra Day" program, which runs from 12 pm to 8 pm, this unique experience is complemented by paddle tennis, soccer, volleyball, ping pong, and bicycles. Chacra de Globos opens on select dates each month, which are announced on social media.

• How to get there. From the city of Buenos Aires to Lobos it is 106 kilometers via Ricchieri, Autopista a Cañuelas and route 205.

• How much does it cost? Barbecue with french fries, salad, non-alcoholic beverage, dessert, snack and activities, $86,000; from 3 to 9 years old, $46,000.

• Where to find information. (154) 0804625 / [email protected] / www.chacradeglobos.com.ar / Facebook: Chacra de Globos – Events + Balloons.

Located on the side of the road from Luján to Carlos Keen , this restaurant is part of the Los Leones mansion and social events complex.

The recreation and gastronomy program includes lunch - you can choose between à la carte specialties and a free field menu - soccer, tennis, inflatable games, trampoline, lookout tower , horse and sulky rides and feeding farm animals.

• How to get there. From the city of Buenos Aires it is 80 kilometers via Acceso Oeste and route 7; pass Luján and turn 4 km to the right on the road to Carlos Keen and Villa Ruiz.

• How much does it cost? Entrance, main course, non-alcoholic beverage, dessert, snack and activities, $55,000; from 3 to 10 years old, $40,000; retirees and pensioners, $45,000.

• Where to find information. (153) 1138561 / [email protected] / www.complejolosleones.com / Facebook: Complejo Los Leones.