Santino vs Santa María — Which Argentinian Grill Is Right for You
Share
Santino and Santa María are both Argentinian live-fire grills, both made from carbon steel, and both built around the same principle: cook over wood or charcoal, control the heat by moving the fire, not a dial. The difference between them comes down to scale, control, and how you plan to use it.
Here is how they actually compare.
Cooking area and footprint
Santa María is the bigger grill in every dimension. Its stainless steel grate measures 80 by 50cm, against Santino's 57 by 46cm, so you get noticeably more room for a full cut of meat, several racks, or cooking for a larger group at once. Santino's smaller footprint, 82 by 47cm for the whole unit, also makes it the easier fit for a compact garden, terrace, or apartment outdoor space.
Heat control
This is the biggest functional difference. Santa María has a gear wheel height adjustment system, so you raise and lower the entire grate to control heat with precision, the same way a traditional Argentinian parrilla works. Santino's grate sits at a fixed height of 98cm. You still control heat by managing the fire and moving embers with the offset firebox, but you do not get the same fine tuned adjustment mid cook that the gear wheel gives you.
Build and included accessories
Both grills share the fundamentals: carbon steel body, offset firebox, refractory bricks, four wheels, a soft protective cover, a fire poker, and a shovel, all included as standard. Santino adds a dome lid with a built in thermometer and two 28cm side trays, giving you roughly 138cm of extended work surface when both are open. Santa María comes with a side table and two storage shelves instead, built for a more permanent setup.
| Santino | Santa María | |
|---|---|---|
| Grate size | 57 x 46cm | 80 x 50cm |
| Height adjustment | Fixed, 98cm | Gear wheel, adjustable |
| Unit footprint | 82 x 47cm | Larger, built for permanent setups |
| Extras | Dome lid with thermometer, two side trays | Side table, two shelves |
| Price | AED 2,995 | AED 5,990 |
Price
Santino is AED 2,995, our entry point into live-fire Argentinian cooking. Santa María is our flagship grill, built for serious, regular use, at AED 5,990. Both qualify for Tamara installments if you would rather split the cost.
Which one is right for you
If you are cooking for a small family, working with a smaller garden or terrace, or want your first proper live-fire grill without a big footprint, Santino is the better starting point. It is a full Argentinian grill in a more compact package.
If you regularly cook for bigger groups, want the traditional gear wheel height control that defines a true parrilla, or are setting up a permanent outdoor kitchen space, Santa María is worth the step up. It is our flagship for a reason.
Still deciding? Read our full Santa María buying guide, browse both models on the Santino product page and the Santa María product page, or message us on WhatsApp and we will help you pick.