Argentina

Me Encanta Buenos Aires

I spent the past week in Buenos Aires and as predicted, fell in love with the city. First, I love Argentine Spanish. Because of the Italian influence, the Spanish sounds so beautiful. Second, everyone was so nice especially the taxi drivers which in New York would be so odd. Every where I went the locals wanted to offer their suggestions for restaurants. It’s the most European looking city out of all the South American capitals. The Portenos (locals) have a penchant for grass-fed steaks, incredible Malbecs, old world cafes, chic boutiques, and a passionate national dance; the tango. These were my favorite things I did in Buenos Aires:

1. La Milonga to see locals dance the tango. We went to Confiteria La Ideal, an exquisite 1912 Viennese style cafe that offers lessons If you’re brave or you can watch the locals dance the night away.

2. Grass fed steak. I had one of the best steaks at La Cabrera in Palermo Soho. The steak had a wonderful crust on the outside and it was perfectly cooked to medium rare in the inside. You should make a reservation before 9 pm because they don’t take them after and the wait can be 3 hours.

3. San Telmo antique market on Sundays. On Sunday afternoons, it seems like the whole city is there grazing the cobbled stone streets.

4. Taste the local wines. We didn’t have time to go to Mendoza so we went wine tasting with Anuva Wines. They have their tastings at a boutique hotel in Palermo Soho. We tasted 5 wines and with each wine, they paired it with local food. It was a great way to meet other tourists and share information about where to eat and what to do.

5. Eva Peron’s final resting place in Recoleta cemetery. There are some of the most elaborate mausoleums that I’ve ever seen. I aimlessly strolled in the peaceful cemetery, which by the way was free.

6. See amazing art. I did the graffiti tour and it was amazing. It was a 3 hour tour showcasing some of the city’s most impressive graffiti murals. I also went to the MALBA which is their version of our MoMA but featuring Latin American artists. They have impressive works by Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo.

7. Boutique shopping in Palermo. Palermo is like our Soho or the West Village. The neighborhood is packed with boutiques for home, leather, clothes, books, and etc. My favorite is Airedelsur for home goods. Their merchandise is a bit pricey so it’s definitely for investment pieces. I just fell in love with their steak knives. My boyfriend noticed them at Tegui when we dined there and asked the manager where they bought them.

{Spring time in Buenos Aires}