About Buenos Aires
The birthplace of the tango is, like the dance itself, captivating, seductive, and bustling with excited energy. Atmospheric old neighborhoods are rife with romantic restaurants and thumping nightlife, and Buenos Aires’ European heritage is evident in its architecture, boulevards, and parks. First-time visitors tend to associate Buenos Aires with tango, steak, and wine—that trifecta of local passions—but the Argentine capital’s French buildings, Italian food, and Spanish nightlife also tell the story of a city with one foot in Latin America and the other in Europe. Treelined avenues, a thriving nightlife, and great food and wine make the Argentinian capital one of the most exciting cities in the continent.
Things to Do
- Tour the Recoleta Cemetery
- Visit Tigre and explore the delta
- Dance Tango at a Milonga
- Visit the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes’
- Shop at the San Telmo Market
- Watch a Polo Match or Horse Racing in Palermo
- Take in a Show at Teatro Colón
- Wander Puerto Madero
- Check out the Museum of Latin American Art
- Stroll Corrientes Avenue
- Relax in the Botanical Gardens
- Explore the Feria de Recoleta and Plaza Francia
- Meander through the Colorful La Boca Neighborhood
- Head underground and see the El Zanjón de Granados
- Eat Steak, Drink Malbec!
Immerse Your Taste Buds with Argentine Cuisine
Discover succulent dishes that spotlight homegrown ingredients from across the country and enjoy craft cocktails and artisanal breweries from the endless restaurant and bar options. Whichever you choose Buenos Aires has you covered! Here is just a taste of what you can experience.
Eats
El Pobre Luis
Fútbol jerseys line the walls at El Pobre Luis, a bustling Chinatown parrilla. Locals pack the house to order salchicha parrilleras and Uruguayan pamplonas, either beef, chicken, or pork stuffed with cheese, ham, and roasted red peppers, rolled up, and cooked on the parrilla. Head to the bar for the best seat in the house, which overlooks head parrillero Beto Niz on the grill. The crispy sweetbreads, also referred to as the caviar of the parrilla, are a must-order. Website
Mishiguene
This isn’t your Bubbe’s Friday night shabbat dinner. The upscale Jewish eatery recreates Ashkenazi, Sephardic, Israeli, and Middle Eastern dishes using fresh ingredients and modern techniques in a way that both intrigues and invokes nostalgia. The bone-in pastrami will leave you utterly verklempt. Website
Casa Cavia
It’s ideal for a boozy weekday lunch or afternoon merienda (tea time) to soak up the pictureperfect garden. The restaurant looks as if it were taken directly from a Vogue photoshoot and shares a space with a cultural center, publisher, bar, and florist shop. Website
Ceviche at La Mar Cebicheria
Buenos Aires isn’t known for its seafood; generally, what’s available is usually mistreated, unfresh, and overall of poor quality. Luckily, Peruvian powerhouse La Mar came to school Argentines in the art of ceviche making. One step across the threshold to a massive sunny terrace, and you’ll instantly be in the mood for some ceviche and pisco. It’s open for lunch and dinner. Website
Perón Perón Resto Bar
Not many political-themed restaurants serve good food, but Perón Perón — named after the beloved president Juan Perón and first lady Eva Duarte (you know, Madonna in Evita) — is the exception. Loyal followers come to sing the national anthem around a Peronist shrine while downing deep-fried empanadas, polenta with osso buco, and grilled pacú river fish. Just please, whatever you do, don’t start singing “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina.” It’s not a thing here. Website
Other great dining options
Drinks
BierLife
The setting is an old San Telmo house that opens to an inner patio, which in turn leads to various other rooms and spaces. There are mismatched wooden tables, chairs, and stools tucked away in every corner of the place. There’s nothing fancy about BierLife but the atmosphere is warm and friendly. Website
Gran Bar Danzon
This place opened back in 1998 and has consistently catered to a sophisticated looking crowd—think the professional crowd conducting business, 40-something jetsetters, local couples on a first date, and tourists who found their way here thanks to the recommendations of the concierge at the Alvear Palace Hotel. Website
Milion
This isn’t just any bar in any old building. The setting is a stunning Belle Epoque mansion that offers rooms for drinking and lounging. Downstairs is the dining room that spills out onto a open air courtyard with ivy covered walls, leafy trees, and sparkling lights overhead. Up some marble steps and a grand staircase is the first of many high-ceiling rooms with restored oak floors, plush sofas on one end, and a long bar at the other. This place hits all the right notes. Website
Florería Atlántico
If you score a table, this is a place where you might make a night of it. If not, a seat at the bar is good for a couple of drinks before you hit another place. Either way, you’ll have a good time whether you’re on a date or with a couple of friends. Website
El Boliche de Roberto
What this small Almagro neighborhood bar lacks in fancy decor, it more than makes up for in authenticity. The rickety tables and chairs are mismatched; high up on the walls, old wine bottles line the shelves and below hang framed photos and keepsakes. In the corner of the room there’s a local musician singing a tango and the crowd hangs on his every word. Website
Other great places to grab a drink