Rules about closed-door restaurnts etc...

[optcsa]

It's completely illegal in the City of Buenos Aires to have a closed door NOT REGISTERED restaurant. They could be registered for taxes with the AFIP, but still it would be very hard to get a "habilitación" (license) to operate. It's not impossible, BUT VERY DIFFICULT.

 

[RSPlayer]

I really don’t know anything about closed door restaurants, but I have some experience in living and running a business in BA. Many of us (expats) look for clear answers to simple, straightforward questions (for instance to the Municipalidad, or Migraciones, Auduanas). Unfortunately, that just doesn’t seem to be the way here, and believe me; you can drive yourself nuts expecting definitive answers a priori, hard enough getting real answers after the fact! Good Luck.

 

[CarverFan]

I don't want a restaurant, just a small tango club, but was told that to even offer coffee and a tostado I would need a 20 sq m kitchen with 20,000 dollars of equipment!! But I don't get it since these people serve 8 course meals from a regular uninspected kitchen! Plus, habilitacion takes years, but these people operate without it. Just wondering what the hell's going on!

 

[Davidglen77]

The last time I went to one, the closed-door place in question had their little AFIP paper hanging up (a requirement for businesses here) so they must fall into some category. I know that the lady who owns Cocina Sunae sometimes does a cooking show on Canal Gourmet... I doubt she would expose herself like that if her business were illegal.

Just to inform everyone and set the record straight, AFIP has nothing to do with Habilitación. AFIP (Administración Federal de Ingresos Púbilcos) is the equivalent of the IRS (federally run tax collection agency) and habilitación municipal, which is run by the Agencia Gubernamental de Control (city of Buenos Aires agency). Habilitación is the equivalent of a municipal business license, they inspect for things like building codes, fire exits, sanitary conditions, compliance with safety regulations, etc. And of course are glad to collect bribes to overlook many of these requirements.

So, if you want to do a closed door restaurant, then by all means do it, I would if I were you take out a homeowner's insurance policy, with "responsabilidad civil" coverage (civil liability) in case someone has an accident in your home, you have coverage when they sue you.

 

[RSPlayer]

Just wondering what the hell's going on!

CarverFan, I feel your pain, refer to my earlier post. You can keep wondering, but remember, as the Argentines say "this is Argentina".

 

[John.St]

Does anyone know the rules about when a premises has to be habilitated or not? Thanks!

Having read about habilitación on diverse fora I should say it's difficult, especially for a foreigner withoutout a gestor (connections).

In some countries a simple solution has been to start a private club - members only - then charge a small amount at the door for a nice printed membership card, and vupti! this is private, "friends" only and not for the general public, but I don't know if it will work in Argentina.

 

[TheJag]

But Mr. P, who owns the most famous "closed door" restaurant has a website. He's certainly not hiding. One might say that he's "out of the closet". I mean the refrigerator.

Is that the one owned by the chubby Texan, who has only a one week course as a raw food cook as his cooking credentials.

Plus I don't think he runs it for profit, but uses it to augment his having a lack of a social life.

 

[CarverFan]

Ooh, that's a bit of a black mark on your karma, TheJag! Any more heads up on this subject?

 

[DontMindMe]

I can think of at least three business off the top of my head that are completely en negro and regularly advertise/do other marketing. Seems you can be pretty "out" about it, so to speak, and not have any problems. It's either very brave or very stupid to invest time and money into something that could be shut down in an instant. I think after enough time here people develop an "everyone-else-is-doing-it" mentality.

OP, I know a great (and pretty big) restaurant that is completely hidden. They do no advertising and survive via word of mouth, serving a particular Latin American community. The huge kitchen is visible as soon as you walk through the unmarked door. It is very obviously a restaurant, not a house. I think they haven't been caught because they don't advertise, none of the zillions of bloggers write about them, etc. I've actually never seen an Argentine or native English speaker in there.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do. Your idea sounds fun!