Restaurant in R8400 San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina
Rapanui
Bariloche's famous chocolate and ice cream chain with spectacular views. Artisan chocolate made on-site with organic ingredients.
Rapanui is the most iconic name in Bariloche's chocolatería tradition — a city that has built part of its tourism identity around artisan chocolate production that draws visitors from across Argentina and beyond. The flagship store at Mitre 202, positioned on Bariloche's central pedestrian boulevard, has been a cornerstone of the city's culinary landscape for decades, producing chocolate in-house from single-origin and organic cacao sourced from South American cooperatives. The brand now operates multiple locations across Bariloche and has expanded to Buenos Aires, but the Mitre Street flagship retains the full production operation behind glass and remains the original and definitive expression of the brand. The chocolate programme spans the complete spectrum from simple moulded tablets to sophisticated ganache truffles filled with ingredients drawn from the Patagonian environment: calafate berry, rosehip, dried Andean herbs, mountain honey, and hazelnuts from the Río Negro valley. The Chocolate Sampler — fifteen to twenty individually curated pieces at $15 — provides a systematic tasting across the range, from the single-origin dark to the most complex infused ganaches. The ice cream operation runs with equal technical rigour, cycling seasonal flavours that consistently include burnt dulce de leche, calafate berry sorbet, bitter chocolate chip, and white chocolate with amaretto. The signature three-scoop serving in a house-made waffle cone, priced at $8, is the most repeated order across all Rapanui locations. The flagship store is substantial by Bariloche standards, with a ground-floor sales hall, a visible production floor behind glass, and a seated café section on the upper level. The hot chocolate — prepared tableside using a double-boiler service with single-origin cacao and accompanied by a small plate of house truffles — is Rapanui's cold-weather signature and draws queues on winter afternoons during the Argentine ski season. The café section allows visitors to linger with a cup and a sampler plate without the pressure of the busy sales floor below. The Mitre 202 address is within easy walking distance of all central Bariloche accommodation and the lakefront.
Signature dishes
- Artisan Ice Cream (3 scoops) — $8
- Hot Chocolate — $6
- Chocolate Sampler — $15
Hours: 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM daily
Reservations: Walk-in
Visit / Book / Contact
- Official website
- Phone: +54 294 442-9788
Location
Mitre 202, R8400 San Carlos de Bariloche
-41.1336, -71.3061 — View on map
Highlights
- Artisan chocolate produced on-site from single-origin and organic South American cacao — Bariloche's benchmark chocolatería
- Calafate berry and rosehip ganaches using distinctly Patagonian ingredients available nowhere else in Argentina
- Three-scoop house waffle cone with seasonal flavours including calafate berry sorbet and burnt dulce de leche
- Hot chocolate prepared tableside in double-boiler service — the definitive Bariloche winter café experience
- Chocolate Sampler of 15–20 hand-selected pieces for a systematic tasting of the full production range
Tips
- The hot chocolate paired with the Chocolate Sampler at the upstairs café is the full Rapanui experience — ideal for cold or rainy afternoons.
- Morning visits (10–11 AM) offer the shop at its quietest, before tour groups arrive mid-afternoon.
- The calafate berry ganache is the most distinctively Patagonian piece in the sampler and the most practical edible souvenir to bring home.
- Ice cream queues are longest from 2 to 5 PM on summer weekends; visiting in the morning or after 6 PM avoids the main wait.
- The Mitre 202 flagship is the original and largest store — the production-floor viewing behind glass is not available at all branches.
FAQ
Is Rapanui a local Bariloche business or a national chain?
Rapanui originated in Bariloche and the flagship Mitre 202 store remains its production centre. The brand has expanded to multiple Bariloche locations and several Buenos Aires outlets, but it retains its Patagonian identity and produces chocolate at the original Bariloche site.
What makes Bariloche's chocolate tradition distinctive?
Bariloche's European immigrant community — particularly Swiss, German, and Austro-Hungarian settlers of the early 20th century — established confectionery traditions that became embedded in the city's identity. Rapanui and other Bariloche producers continue this tradition using organic South American cacao and local Patagonian flavour ingredients.
Can visitors watch the chocolate being made?
The Mitre 202 flagship has a production floor visible behind glass, allowing visitors to observe the chocolate-making process during active production hours, typically mornings from 10 AM to 1 PM on weekdays.
Is the ice cream available year-round?
Yes — the ice cream operation runs year-round. Flavour selection narrows slightly in winter but the core range including calafate berry sorbet and dulce de leche remains available throughout the year.
Are there allergen-free or vegan chocolate options?
Rapanui produces a range of dark chocolate items that are dairy-free. Staff can advise on specific allergen requirements and guide visitors through the allergen profile of each piece in the sampler.
Accessibility
The ground-floor sales hall at Mitre 202 is at street level on the pedestrian boulevard, fully accessible without steps. The upstairs café section requires stair access and is not accessible for wheelchair users. Staff can provide café menu service on the ground floor for guests who cannot use the stairs.
When to visit
Winter months (June–August) for the hot chocolate experience and the ski-season atmosphere on Bariloche's pedestrian street. Summer (December–February) is peak ice cream season with the full seasonal flavour range available and the longest shop hours.