In 2006, I spent a semester in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I left the country with a group that to this day encompasses my best friends and a 6 month experience of living a somewhat glamorous life in a beautiful city with a fun culture and mouth watering steak dinners. So there was the few mishaps, disastrous homestays, and bureaucratic head aches. But Buenos Aires is like no other place. It is called the Paris of South America, but it is so much more than that. It's home to tango, asados and parillas, and a unique culture that is neither European nor South American.
Here is the guide my friends and I pass along to those going to BsAs. Recall that this was based off of 2006. A lot of these places are still a must, but I am sure there are new restaurants and cafes that are also a must to visit. Time Out Buenos Aires was our bible while there. It is probably the best guide book on the city and I recommend it for all.
Here is the guide my friends and I pass along to those going to BsAs. Recall that this was based off of 2006. A lot of these places are still a must, but I am sure there are new restaurants and cafes that are also a must to visit. Time Out Buenos Aires was our bible while there. It is probably the best guide book on the city and I recommend it for all.
ACTIVITIES/SIGHTS
On Sunday try the Antique Fair in San Telmo. It’s overrun with tourists now but still worth poking around. Afterwards you can head to the Recoleta Cemetery check out Eva Peron’s grave and then walk through the market/fair outside the church. MALBA is the Latin American contemporary art museum on Avenida Figueroa Alcorta 3415 and is close by to the cemetery.
On Monday evening La Bomba del Tiempo has a show in the Ciudad Cultural Konex, 7pm. They´re a percussion and drum ensemble that have become really popular here in BA over the last few years. They performed during Fashion Week in Feb and were great and the show at Konex has gotten good reviews. Could be a fun thing to check out before dinner.
On Tuesdays you can see Las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo in front of the La Casa Rosada at Plaza de Mayo.
Go to Calle Florida to see street performers and bustling BsAs.
See tango in San Telmo. Where to go for an authentic tango experience? Stick to the older establishments, says author and dancer Patrizia Chen. Start with a class at Club Gricel, followed by a glass of Malbec and acorte especial (strip streak) at La Brigada($$). Later, catch a milonga show at Torquato Tasso.
Plaza Francia on the weekends - they have shops set up for tourists.
La Boca: go only during the day - the poorest part of the city is also the most colorful. Walk down Caminito, a pedestrian walkway that is itself an out door museum. Watch tango dancers dance in the street and buy some funky street art work.
Shopping
* Calles El Salvador, Honduras, Gurruchaga
* Various malls (called "un shopping") throughout the city - they are all really, really nice and rival some of the nicest in the States.
* All through Palermo. Just tell the cab driver to take you to the corner of Armenia y El Salvador and you can start from there. Plan to spend the day shopping in Palermo, it´s an all day affair.
* Avenida Alvear in Recoleta is their swanky wannabe 5th avenue. Nothing you can´t find back in NYC but might be worth walking down.
Advice
* I would recommend avoiding the restaurants in Puerto Madero by the diques. Nice to walk around but don't eat there.
* For some great ice cream hit up Persicco. Spots are around town, just ask someone. Other good ice cream that we enjoyed was Freddo and Munchi's.
* Only take cabs that have RADIO TAXI or TAXI RADIO written on the doors of the car. If the doors are black and have no logo don't get inside.
* No need to carry around your passport and as in any big city, watch watch watch your purses and bags in restaurants or cafes. Especially tourist areas.
On Sunday try the Antique Fair in San Telmo. It’s overrun with tourists now but still worth poking around. Afterwards you can head to the Recoleta Cemetery check out Eva Peron’s grave and then walk through the market/fair outside the church. MALBA is the Latin American contemporary art museum on Avenida Figueroa Alcorta 3415 and is close by to the cemetery.
On Monday evening La Bomba del Tiempo has a show in the Ciudad Cultural Konex, 7pm. They´re a percussion and drum ensemble that have become really popular here in BA over the last few years. They performed during Fashion Week in Feb and were great and the show at Konex has gotten good reviews. Could be a fun thing to check out before dinner.
On Tuesdays you can see Las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo in front of the La Casa Rosada at Plaza de Mayo.
Go to Calle Florida to see street performers and bustling BsAs.
See tango in San Telmo. Where to go for an authentic tango experience? Stick to the older establishments, says author and dancer Patrizia Chen. Start with a class at Club Gricel, followed by a glass of Malbec and acorte especial (strip streak) at La Brigada($$). Later, catch a milonga show at Torquato Tasso.
Plaza Francia on the weekends - they have shops set up for tourists.
La Boca: go only during the day - the poorest part of the city is also the most colorful. Walk down Caminito, a pedestrian walkway that is itself an out door museum. Watch tango dancers dance in the street and buy some funky street art work.
Shopping
* Calles El Salvador, Honduras, Gurruchaga
* Various malls (called "un shopping") throughout the city - they are all really, really nice and rival some of the nicest in the States.
* All through Palermo. Just tell the cab driver to take you to the corner of Armenia y El Salvador and you can start from there. Plan to spend the day shopping in Palermo, it´s an all day affair.
* Avenida Alvear in Recoleta is their swanky wannabe 5th avenue. Nothing you can´t find back in NYC but might be worth walking down.
Advice
* I would recommend avoiding the restaurants in Puerto Madero by the diques. Nice to walk around but don't eat there.
* For some great ice cream hit up Persicco. Spots are around town, just ask someone. Other good ice cream that we enjoyed was Freddo and Munchi's.
* Only take cabs that have RADIO TAXI or TAXI RADIO written on the doors of the car. If the doors are black and have no logo don't get inside.
* No need to carry around your passport and as in any big city, watch watch watch your purses and bags in restaurants or cafes. Especially tourist areas.
EATING AND GOING OUT
Vegetarians beware: Argentina is a meat-loving country. Steak and beef are the way to go. Even "meatless" dishes are a lot of times cooked in beef stock.
RESTAURANTS
Breakfast/Lunch/Brunch
Mark's Deli (El Salvador 4701, Palermo): Excellent salads and sandwiches.
Oui Oui (Nicaragua 6068 y Dorrego, Palermo): You may need a map for this one since it can be difficult to find, but as we both know, well worth it. Best breakfast/brunch around. Hidden gem.
Olsen (Gorriti 5870 y Carranza, Palermo Hollywood). Good for dinner or brunch.
Dinner & Drinks
Gran Bar Danzón: see above
Casa Cruz: Good for classy/fancy drinks and dinner
Milión: see above
Bar 6 (Armenia 1676 y El Salvador, Palermo)
Argentine Cuisine
Lola
Campo Bravo (Calle Baez 292, Las Cañitas) Go here for a late dinner- 11pm on a weekend- and then you can walk around the neighborhood.
La Cabrera (Cabrera 5099, Palermo). You’ll probably need a reservation for La Cabrera, closed Mondays.
Miranda (Costa Rica y Fitz Roy, Palermo Hollywood)
*Asado: Go to an asado if possible, or just to steak house where they have parillas (Argentine bbq's) and make sure you get the piece called vacio. It's a piece of the cow that you can't get anywhere else.
Italian
Filo
Guido's Bar (República de la India 2843, Barrio Norte).
Other
Oviedo Spanish; highly recommended but definitely the priciest of all restaurants
Olsen (Gorriti 5870 y Carranza, Palermo Hollywood). Scandinavian
Azema Bistro French Creole
Dashi Sushi; multiple locations
Kansas (Avenida del Libertador 4625) American (but some of the best burgers and meat dishes)
Green Bamboo Thai CLUBS:
Mint
Pachá
Crobar
Asia de Cuba
Azúcar
Museo
Many will not be open Sun, Mon or Tues (clubs often close at the beginning of the week and some are only open Fri and Sat).
Note: For the most part, this is a cash-only city. Many of the places on this list will accept credit cards but many do not. Just to be safe, have cash on you at all times during your stay.
BARS/LOUNGES
The Kilkenny: fun Irish bar
Bar Unico
Maconda (Plaza Serrano): good for pregaming
Milión (Paraná 1048 y Santa Fe, Recoleta): a beautifully restored Recoleta mansion. A must see! Fancy
Gran Bar Danzón (Libertad 1161, Microcentro): more of a post work crowd (good place to try yummy Argentine wines) - dinner spot as well. Good spot for drinks/dinner during the week. Not as lively on weekends. Fancy
Bar 6 (Armenia 1676 y El Salvador), Palermo.
Alamo (Recoleta) - On Calle Uruguay, near Santa Fe. It's an American bar that plays American sports game if you get homesick. Big pitchers of beer. Warning: very young argentines though/at times sketchy because they are 16.
Unico (Palermo)
La Cigale (25 de Mayo 722-between Viamonte and Córdoba)
Bar Uriarte
Neighborhoods with good bars:
Las Cañitas - Calle Baéz
Strip of restaurants and bars. Check out Van Koning, Kandi, Jackie O
San Telmo
Bars in San Telmo are fun and cheap. Typically packed with foreigners if that’s your mood.
Vegetarians beware: Argentina is a meat-loving country. Steak and beef are the way to go. Even "meatless" dishes are a lot of times cooked in beef stock.
RESTAURANTS
Breakfast/Lunch/Brunch
Mark's Deli (El Salvador 4701, Palermo): Excellent salads and sandwiches.
Oui Oui (Nicaragua 6068 y Dorrego, Palermo): You may need a map for this one since it can be difficult to find, but as we both know, well worth it. Best breakfast/brunch around. Hidden gem.
Olsen (Gorriti 5870 y Carranza, Palermo Hollywood). Good for dinner or brunch.
Dinner & Drinks
Gran Bar Danzón: see above
Casa Cruz: Good for classy/fancy drinks and dinner
Milión: see above
Bar 6 (Armenia 1676 y El Salvador, Palermo)
Argentine Cuisine
Lola
Campo Bravo (Calle Baez 292, Las Cañitas) Go here for a late dinner- 11pm on a weekend- and then you can walk around the neighborhood.
La Cabrera (Cabrera 5099, Palermo). You’ll probably need a reservation for La Cabrera, closed Mondays.
Miranda (Costa Rica y Fitz Roy, Palermo Hollywood)
*Asado: Go to an asado if possible, or just to steak house where they have parillas (Argentine bbq's) and make sure you get the piece called vacio. It's a piece of the cow that you can't get anywhere else.
Italian
Filo
Guido's Bar (República de la India 2843, Barrio Norte).
Other
Oviedo Spanish; highly recommended but definitely the priciest of all restaurants
Olsen (Gorriti 5870 y Carranza, Palermo Hollywood). Scandinavian
Azema Bistro French Creole
Dashi Sushi; multiple locations
Kansas (Avenida del Libertador 4625) American (but some of the best burgers and meat dishes)
Green Bamboo Thai CLUBS:
Mint
Pachá
Crobar
Asia de Cuba
Azúcar
Museo
Many will not be open Sun, Mon or Tues (clubs often close at the beginning of the week and some are only open Fri and Sat).
Note: For the most part, this is a cash-only city. Many of the places on this list will accept credit cards but many do not. Just to be safe, have cash on you at all times during your stay.
BARS/LOUNGES
The Kilkenny: fun Irish bar
Bar Unico
Maconda (Plaza Serrano): good for pregaming
Milión (Paraná 1048 y Santa Fe, Recoleta): a beautifully restored Recoleta mansion. A must see! Fancy
Gran Bar Danzón (Libertad 1161, Microcentro): more of a post work crowd (good place to try yummy Argentine wines) - dinner spot as well. Good spot for drinks/dinner during the week. Not as lively on weekends. Fancy
Bar 6 (Armenia 1676 y El Salvador), Palermo.
Alamo (Recoleta) - On Calle Uruguay, near Santa Fe. It's an American bar that plays American sports game if you get homesick. Big pitchers of beer. Warning: very young argentines though/at times sketchy because they are 16.
Unico (Palermo)
La Cigale (25 de Mayo 722-between Viamonte and Córdoba)
Bar Uriarte
Neighborhoods with good bars:
Las Cañitas - Calle Baéz
Strip of restaurants and bars. Check out Van Koning, Kandi, Jackie O
San Telmo
Bars in San Telmo are fun and cheap. Typically packed with foreigners if that’s your mood.
OUTSIDE BUENOS AIRES
Argentina
Iguazú Falls: At the tres fronteras (Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina). You get to see the awesome waterfall and also sneak into the other countries if you want (careful with Brazil).
Ushuaia: Southernmost city "in the world."
Bariloche: nature/skiing
Salta: desert/heat
Calafate: Location of Perito Moreno, the famous glaciers. By far one of the coolest things to see in the country.
Las salinas (the salt plains in the north): Can be reached by staying in Salta or Jujuy.
Mendoza: wine country!
Uruguay
Punta Cana: Punta is fun and South Beachy but be sure to check out the empty white sand beaches up the coast. If you all have a car, check out Jose Ignacio and La Pedrera (both beach towns).
Colonia: Small Uruguayan town over the river. Take the Buquebus (ferry that leaves from Puerto Madero downtown) to get there. Definitely rent motos! Not much to see there but very picturesque and a nice break from the city. If you go, take the first class seats on the ferry (worth it for a comfy ride and not significantly expensive, for Americans anyways).
Argentina
Iguazú Falls: At the tres fronteras (Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina). You get to see the awesome waterfall and also sneak into the other countries if you want (careful with Brazil).
Ushuaia: Southernmost city "in the world."
Bariloche: nature/skiing
Salta: desert/heat
Calafate: Location of Perito Moreno, the famous glaciers. By far one of the coolest things to see in the country.
Las salinas (the salt plains in the north): Can be reached by staying in Salta or Jujuy.
Mendoza: wine country!
Uruguay
Punta Cana: Punta is fun and South Beachy but be sure to check out the empty white sand beaches up the coast. If you all have a car, check out Jose Ignacio and La Pedrera (both beach towns).
Colonia: Small Uruguayan town over the river. Take the Buquebus (ferry that leaves from Puerto Madero downtown) to get there. Definitely rent motos! Not much to see there but very picturesque and a nice break from the city. If you go, take the first class seats on the ferry (worth it for a comfy ride and not significantly expensive, for Americans anyways).