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[title]Dating apps promised us love (or at least a good story), but most of the time they leave us feeling like we wasted hours on chats that go nowhere. In Buenos Aires, however, new proposals are bringing back the charm of the in-person meet-up: spaces designed for people to connect without algorithms, without filters, and without the pressure of “this has to be a date.” Two standouts: Extraños a la Carta, a series of intimate and memorable dinners, and Vino con Chamuyo, a weekly afterwork that mixes wine, icebreaker games, and good vibes.
Extraños a la Carta
The idea was born out of something deeply personal. “For me, cooking, inviting people, and hosting is pure joy. It’s something I learned growing up, and I always loved gathering people at home,” says Natalia Kim, creator and host of Extraños a la Carta. From there, the project grew into a series of dinners for ten strangers who, between carefully curated dishes and a beautifully set table, end up sharing much more than food.
The format is simple but mysterious: participants know the neighborhood of the dinner but only get the exact address on the same day. That way, the atmosphere of surprise and openness to the unexpected is guaranteed. “Everyone arrives like a blank page, and that makes each night unique. That table will never be repeated, those people will never be repeated. And that makes it truly special,” Natalia explains.
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The dinners are designed so the first introduction isn’t your résumé. “One of the dynamics I propose is to introduce ourselves beyond our jobs, because we usually define ourselves by what we do, not who we are. The nice thing is that once that barrier is broken, everything flows naturally: strangers look each other in the eye, they talk, pour wine for each other. It feels like hanging out with friends,” she adds.
Does it work? Yes—and the stories prove it. Natalia remembers one in particular: “After the last dinner, one of the guys told me weeks later, ‘I ran into the girl who sat across from me three times.’ He had probably crossed paths with her before, but now there was a bridge, an excuse to talk. I loved that because it captures the spirit of the project: leaving the dinner as part of a new, closer, more connected network.”
"We want guests to leave the dinner feeling part of a new network—closer and more connected"
Today Extraños a la Carta is expanding with new formats like El Banquete de Extraños, designed for thirty diners. But the essence is always the same: intimate spaces for authentic connection, without pretenses or preconceptions. And as Natalia makes clear: “The goal isn’t to find a partner. The idea is to walk away with a new friend, someone cool to hang out with. Of course, if romance happens, that’s great—but it’s not the main goal.”
Vino con Chamuyo
The name says it all: a glass of wine, a chat, and letting things flow. The idea started from a viral story shared by Candelaria Zambrana: “I used to say that to meet people you had to go out, go to a bar, ask for a light, ask the time. Lots of people replied, ‘But there aren’t places for that anymore, it’s awkward, you don’t know if they’re single or if they’ll like you.’ That’s when I thought: we need a space where people can meet others in a relaxed, comfortable way,” says Cande, co-founder along with her friend and business partner Mateo Martínez.
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The event takes place on Wednesdays, as a midweek plan to break the routine. When guests arrive, they find a table lined with glasses of Dante Robino wines—Pinot Noir, Malbec, or Cabernet—already poured. “The idea is for people to sit with strangers, not just stick to their group. We want movement and connection,” Cande explains.
Inside, the “cupids” (three team members in Vino con Chamuyo T-shirts) welcome participants, guide them, and spark conversations. At 9 p.m., Cande grabs the mic to talk about how hard it is to meet people nowadays and to share the origins of the project. Soon after, group tables come alive with conversations, wine, and laughter.
To break the ice, there are cards with questions and challenges: from light ones like “Beach or mountains?” to deeper ones like “What are your red flags?” or “What’s non-negotiable in a relationship?” There’s even a game where you’re invited to take a selfie with someone you like or ask for their number. Over the night, attendees enjoy a second complimentary glass of wine and raffles of T-shirts, tote bags, and bottles. “The bar is gorgeous, with a patio, so people move around a lot,” says Cande.
The crowd is mostly between 25 and 35—people who have already tried dating apps and want something more casual and real. The diversity is striking: attendees come from all over Greater Buenos Aires and even from other provinces, taking advantage of a trip to the city to join in. And anything can happen: “Once, this blond guy with blue eyes came in, looked like a Swiss model. The girls were going crazy, but nobody dared talk to him. Then this short, quiet girl walked up with the question cards. An hour later they were making out against the wall and everyone was like, ‘Wow, she did it!’” Cande recalls, laughing.
Beyond quick flings, what really forms is a community. “A lot of people come because all their friends are in relationships, and they want something different. And they end up making new friendships, finding weekend plans, or whatever comes up. We always say: everyone here is on the same page, and that takes the pressure off,” she explains.
"A lot of people come because all their friends are in relationships and they’re looking for something different. And they end up making new friendships, weekend plans, or whatever comes up"
The future looks bright: Vino con Chamuyo is planning to expand to Córdoba, Rosario, Bariloche, and Mar del Plata, and to launch their icebreaker cards as a standalone product anyone can use on a date. “We want to grow as a brand and bring the concept to the whole country,” Cande concludes.
The Verdict
In times when everyone is rushing and looking at their phones more than into each other’s eyes, projects like Extraños a la Carta and Vino con Chamuyo prove that people still crave connection without algorithms in the middle. Whether you leave with a new group of friends, an unexpected date, or just the story of having shared wine with strangers who didn’t feel like strangers at all, it’s worth it.
Because in the end, Buenos Aires has always been like this: a little chamuyo (sweet talk), a little banquet, and the certainty that at the next table—or with the next glass—you might just find the connection you were looking for.