Bookmark El Porteno Gourmet in Rome’s Via dell’Umiltà, 37, for amazing South American food and people watching on the ground floor of five star hotel, Umiltà 36.

This sultry Argentinian restaurant in Rome is special occasion dining at its best. Expect the atmosphere of the polo lounge or tango club while you dine – and dont miss its fabulous rooftop for dining and drinks in the warmer months.

The food at El Porteno Gourmet in Rome reflects the smart casual vibe – try easy eating starters like baked cheese and handmade empanadas. But the star of the show is the delicious Argentinian steak – we tried tender sirloin.

Alongside the classic asado, there is no shortage of other typical Argentine dishes, such as the Entraña Fina, or diaphragm, a delicious and tender cut from above the ribs, or the typical Lomo Buenos Aires, grilled beef fillet, that almost melts in your mouth.

Each meat dish is accompanied by an elegant mix of potatoes, pumpkin puree, mashed potatoes, Argentine salad with onions, tomato and cucumber, and Russian salad.

Dulce de Leche is the protagonist of the dessert menu at El Porteno Gourmet in Rome. However, there is no shortage of mousses, soft crepes, soufflés, or flan casero, an aromatic vanilla dessert with cinnamon. La Morenita is a four-chocolate glazed cake, and look out too for homemade cakes such as Lime Pie, a tart with lime cream and flambéed meringue.

The cellar boasts some of the most refined Argentine wines, such as Malbec and Torrontes, as well as prestigious Italian and foreign reds and whites, plus some selected sparkling wines and champagnes.

After, before, or even later on, you’ll want to make a beeline for the refined rooftop. We had dessert here and I swapped my espresso for an espresso martini.

Bookmark El Porteno Gourmet when in Rome – and you’ll be delighted to hear that they have restaurants in the same family in Milan as well as other branches in Rome!

Testaccina was a guest of El Porteno Gourmet in Rome