Tomás Jofré: The Asado Town That Only Opens at Weekends and on Holidays
Argentina · Travel
Key Facts
—Where: Tomás Jofré, partido of Mercedes, Buenos Aires province. Official GPS name: Jorge Born.
—Distance: About 100 km from Buenos Aires city, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes via Acceso Oeste and RN5.
—Opening days: 15 of 19 restaurants open only Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. One serves midweek.
—Hours: Kitchens close 17:00–19:00; only Silvano, Fronteras, and La Casona serve dinner (Fri/Sat).
—Price: ARS 35,000–45,000 per adult (about US$23–30 at the 14 Aug 2026 Banco Nación rate of 1,515/US$).
—Format: Tenedor libre — one fixed price covers picada, pasta, asado, and dessert, usually with drinks.
A 100-km drive from Buenos Aires, this tiny town’s 19 restaurants open almost exclusively on weekends and holidays. Monday 17 August is your rare weekday chance — but arrive early and check the hours.
Monday 17 August is a national holiday in Argentina, Paso a la Inmortalidad del General San Martín. That makes Tomás Jofré worth a special trip.
What and where is Tomás Jofré
The holiday turns a normal Monday into a golden opportunity for an asado day trip. You’ll join thousands of others doing the same thing, so plan ahead.
A local operator told the press that about 7,000 visitors show up on a typical Sunday. Expect similar numbers this Monday, so arrive by 12:30 to get a table.
The good news is that most restaurants — 15 of the 19 — open their doors on holidays just like weekends. The catch is that if you try on a regular Monday, everything is shut.
Monday 17 August commemorates General José de San Martín, Argentina’s liberator. Banks, schools, and many offices close for the day.
This creates a rare midweek window for people who cannot visit on weekends. Families flock to the countryside for a long lunch.
The town’s rhythm is built around these dates. Restaurants prepare extra meat and fresh pasta for the expected crowds.
Getting There by Car or Train
Drive from Buenos Aires city on Acceso Oeste, then Ruta Nacional 5, and turn at KM 91.5 onto Ruta Provincial 41. The town is about 100 km away, and the trip takes roughly 1 hour 15 minutes.
No passenger train serves Tomás Jofré directly. The tourist train from Mercedes has been suspended since May 2024, when a truck wrecked the bridge over RP41.
Your public transport option is the Línea Sarmiento from Once station, changing at Moreno for the Moreno–Mercedes branch. From Mercedes, 12 km away, grab a taxi or remis to the town.
Take the Acceso Oeste from the city toward Luján. Continue to RN5 and follow signs for Mercedes.
At kilometre 91.5, turn onto RP41. You will see the town entrance a few minutes later.
The road is well-paved and suitable for any car. GPS users should search for ‘Jorge Born’ for the official location.
Allow extra time on holiday mornings because traffic increases. Many visitors leave the city between 9:00 and 11:00.
What to Eat and What It Costs
The format is tenedor libre or a fixed cubierto. One price covers a picada, homemade pasta, asado al asador, and dessert, typically with drinks included.
You won’t find à la carte here. La Querencia de Jofré publishes ARS 45,000 per adult on its own website.
Children aged 6 to 10 pay half, and under-sixes eat free. La Catalina de Jofré’s ‘menú día de campo’ was reported at ARS 35,000 per person in March 2026.
Convert at the Banco Nación selling rate of 1,515 pesos to the dollar, quoted on Friday 14 August 2026. That is about US$23 to US$30 a head.
This is remarkable value for a multi-course meal with drinks. The picada typically includes local cheeses, cold cuts, and salame quintero.
Homemade pasta features sorrentinos, ravioli, or tallarines. The asado al asador is the centrepiece, cooked slowly over wood.
You get a generous portion of beef or pork, often with chorizo and morcilla. Dessert is usually a homemade flan, chocotorta, or fresh fruit.
Coffee and a digestive complete the experience. Salame quintero is a cured salami made by quinteros — Italian market-gardener smallholders of the Mercedes district.
It’s a local pride, celebrated every September in Mercedes.
Restaurant Hours and Names
Silvano opens Friday and Saturday 12:00–16:00 and 20:30–23:00, and Sunday/holidays 12:00–18:00. Fronteras runs Friday 12:00–16:00 and 19:00–00:00, Saturday 8:00–00:00, and Sunday/holidays 9:00–19:00.
Santa Victoria, Antenor, and La Florinda open Saturday, Sunday, and holidays with midday hours: Santa Victoria 11:00–17:00, Antenor 10:00–17:00, La Florinda 11:30–18:00. Reina Mora opens only on Sundays.
La Querencia de Jofré is your only midweek bet, serving Tuesday to Sunday at midday and evening. Santa Victoria takes weekday bookings for pasta only, and Cua Cuá opens other days by reservation.
For dinner on a Friday or Saturday, only Silvano, Fronteras, and La Casona stay open into the evening. On a holiday Monday, don’t count on dinner — most kitchens close by 19:00.
Other names include La Tata, El Rincón de Jofré, and Don Mario. All follow the same holiday pattern.
Most places close completely between 17:00 and 19:00. Arrive before 13:00 for the best selection of tables.
Festivals and Nearby Mercedes
The 9th Fiesta de la Galleta de Campo happened on Sunday 9 August 2026, so you just missed it. But the 51st Fiesta Nacional del Salame Quintero runs 11–13 September 2026 in Mercedes, a 12-km drive away.
Mercedes, the partido capital, offers more dining and a historic center if you want to extend your trip. Just remember that on a holiday Monday, most of Tomás Jofré’s restaurants are open.
They close early, and everything else in town is shut. Plan for a long lunch, not an evening out.
Arrive by 12:30 and eat until 17:00. Then enjoy the quiet countryside before driving back in the late afternoon.
The September festival in Mercedes features salame tastings, cooking demos, and folk music. It draws thousands of visitors from across the province.
If you plan a longer weekend, book a cabin or estancia stay near Mercedes. This lets you enjoy both the festival and the asado town.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tomás Jofré open on regular weekdays?
No, 15 of its 19 restaurants open only on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. La Querencia de Jofré is the only place serving midweek, Tuesday to Sunday, so a non-holiday Monday means everything is closed.
How much does a meal cost in Tomás Jofré?
Expect to pay ARS 35,000 to 45,000 per adult at the fixed-price restaurants. That is about US$23 to US$30 at the 14 August 2026 rate of 1,515 pesos to the dollar.
Can I get there by train from Buenos Aires?
No direct train goes to the town; the tourist train from Mercedes has been suspended since May 2024. Take the Línea Sarmiento to Mercedes, then a taxi or remis for the last 12 km.
What is the food like in Tomás Jofré?
The typical format is tenedor libre: one price covers a picada, homemade pasta, asado al asador, and dessert, usually with drinks. Specialties include galleta de campo and salame quintero.
Connected Coverage
Sources
- indec.gob.ar
- mercedes.gob.ar
- laquerenciadejofre.com
- cronista.com
- canal26.com
- lanacion.com.ar
- noticiasmercedinas.com
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