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Buenos Aires: places to have lunch

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:04:16 +0000

That I love to visit new restaurants all of you already know, so I could had to tell about three fantastic restaurants that we went in Buenos! I will start with one that a lot of followers on twitter told me about: the famous Café Tortoni! This is the oldest cafe BAs and it is a real charm that the gorgeous original environment is all well kept! For all of you that are planning to go there, prepare yourselves for a little wait because it is very famous and a queue at your door is a constant (and the people in the line are not exactly beautiful and look all like typical tourists, but do not give up…)… I highly recommend eating the Churros dessert with lots of “dulce de leche”: absolutely fantastic! I think that it is better to visit Café Tortoni on those rainy days because the place hás no outdoors sitting. If you’re lucky you can even catch a tango show there! (It was not my case… So sad!)

If the day is beautiful and sunny, don’t even think twice and run to the Croque Madame located at the Avenida Del Libertador… What a beautiful and charming place! There you will also find beautiful stylish people! We had to wait about 30 minutes, but the place is so beautiful and it was such a nice area that we didn’t even realize that it took so long! The place is so incredible that I forgot that I was in Buenos Aires and could only think of Paris! Perfect for a nice lunch around a beautiful garden full of trees… It has some delicious sandwiches, but we decided to take the risk and ordered a saffron risotto with a Woki Meat that was just amazing (already tried to repeat the recipe at home and it was really good…)! Since I am a big fan of desserts, I asked for a scoop of ice cream from Persicco (better than the famous Freddo…)!

Another place we loved was the Cabaña Las Lilas… No doubt it was the best parrilla that we ate in Argentina (somewhat ironic, because the restaurant is part of the same group of Rubayat here in Sao Paulo… and the owner of it, for those that are already “wondering”, is not Argentinean nor Brazillian, he is Spanish…)! The food is exceptional, the price compared with the Rubayat in Sao Paulo is almost a bargain and the view of Puerto Madero is simply spectacular! Ask a really cold Quilmes and eat a lot without hurry… The wait is usually about 40 minutes, but it is super worth it. We eat many soufle potatoes (fantastic and hyper crispy) with salad and Vacio (na amazing meat cut)! If you like meat, think twice before asking for the plates alone beacuse they are huge (you can definitely share!)… Be sure to ask for coffee or tea (which by the way is really good) just to eat the famous Rubayat selection of cookies, truffles and other delicious little sweets!

Original post in Portuguese.

About the author:

Camila Penteado Cilento graduated in Business Administration in 2005 and works in the financial market (“the job that pays the rent”)… But the real “Cami”, as she is called by her closest friends, hasn’t found her dream job yet, but she just knows that her real passion is the aesthetics that she finds in fashion, in architecture, in gourmet, and in visual arts. In 2008, she finally had her dream come true and moved to New York City, where she learned that to feel alive you have to run after your dreams! In the end of 2008, she started a blog called “I am leaving today” (http://iamleaving2day.blogspot.com), where she writes about all the discoveries made when she was living her dream for real. While blogging she realized that writing is one of the best ways to communicate her ideas to the world and by doing this she has the opportunity to talk to people that are as far as they are close. Stay tuned…

Buenos Aires: places to have lunch is a post from: www.kristraveler.com

This post was submitted by Camila Penteado Cilento.

Buenos Aires: for those that love bookstores!

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:19:23 +0000

Buenos Aires has two bookstores that are absolutely sensational: a paradise for those who like to get lost for hours and hours among books… Despite my pile of books to read, that is already unbelievable, I needed to visit both and tell you all about each of them: they are a must see for those visiting the capital of Argentina!

The Eterna Cadencia Libreria is in Palermo and reminds me of one of those old bookshops with endless shelves of books! It is a super charming store: that left me just ecstatic, I had the sensation that I entered at that bookstore that shows off at the beginning of the movie “Funny Face” with Audrey Hepburn… It has fantastic books and for those of you who like to read it should be the very image of paradise! Inside there is also a small coffeeshop called Croque Madame (which is great for a Nice simple lunch). And come on, what on Earth are those fixtures? Just amazing!

When I asked for tips for my trip on Twitter on the week before the trip, the El Ateneo bookstore, that is located in Recoleta, was the most recurrent one! When I started the planning I could not help but include this fantastic bookstore that is located within an old theater in the itinerarie. It was fully renovated to house the El Ateneo! I cannot believe how fantastic the environment is: the idea to turn a theater into a bookstore is so terrific! On one hand, the Eterna Cadencia is more intimate. On the other hand, El Ateneo can be compared to a Fnac with the difference that it is in a spectacular place! Really amazing and both a must see!

Original post in Portuguese.

About the author:

Buenos Aires: for those that love bookstores! is a post from: www.kristraveler.com

This post was submitted by Camila Penteado Cilento.

Buenos Aires: amazing street fairs!

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:42:25 +0000

If I could name one thing that I love to do in Buenos Aires is to visit the two famous street fairs that take place in the Argentine capital every weekend! On every Saturday there is na amazing fair in Palermo: full of stalls of local handicrafts, leather accessories, and necklaces and rings, and many other little cute things! To walk around that neighborhood: besides the typical Saturday fair there are lots of small shops… (I will write about that on the next post!)

Every Sunday, the famous Antique Fair of San Telmo takes place and I must say I was very surprised at the amount of fantastic antiques that you can find there! I saw lots and lots of silver cutlery, many fantastic decorations, and I was in love with a wooden old office chair… You have to negotiate to get the best price and I have to confess that if you are looking for something specific, such as pieces of silver by Christofle, find out before exactly how the real pieces should be marked, not to end up buying something that has no value… I saw in one of the shops nearby amazing travelling trunks from Louis Vuitton that were absolutely amazing! Well, you have to go there!!!

About the author:

Buenos Aires: amazing street fairs! is a post from: www.kristraveler.com

This post was submitted by Camila Penteado Cilento.

Buenos Aires: Home Hotel

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:17:39 +0000

I Love boutique hotels!!! They are always more charming and always surprise me more than any other large hotel chain! The service is generally much more personal because usually they don’t have many rooms and this simple detail makes a huge difference!

When I began to plan my trip to Buenos Aires, it couldn’t be different: I found the most amazing “boutique hotel” that was perfect for the occasion, since we’re in the middle of summer and it was the only one that offered a swimming pool! The Home Hotel is located in Palermo Hollywood (a super charming neighborhood of BAs) and it is so gorgeus that I had to show to you!

The hotel won the award for design of the Wallpaper Magazine in 2007, soon after it was renovated… The decor is retro and the entire mixture of several wallpapers, that sometimes is applied directly on the wall ando n other times is framed (a charm!)! They mix well with the concrete and wood and the result is just amazing…

Our room was also fantastic – small and cozy – it had everything we needed: cabinets to store clothes, a comfortable bathroom, space for luggage and little shopping, lcd tv… The bathroom was all finished in cement: just loved it! The attention that the hotel staff give guests is amazing: it was the only hotel I’ve ever been that every day, at dusk, delivers together with cookies a weather forecast for the day after in a very cute card! How has no one had this idea before?!

The breakfast that is included in the daily rate is also very special: it is served in small shots of all the things that are on the menu a la carte… They serve everything in small plates and cups and the selection changes every day which means you will have to wake up early for breakfast every day! Two types of juices are served in special small long glasses, an omelet or scrambled egg is served together with a bread basket accompanied with a special butter, a home made cream cheese, a creamy dark chocolate and jelly… Finally they still serve a special sweet bread (always chose the ones that are stuffed with “dulce de leche”!) The home made yogurt is fantastic! Simply brilliant!

The pool area gives you the impression that you are at a friend’s pool and not a hotel! The chairs are super cute lined with fabric that resemble the patterns of the different wallpapers that are around the hotel! It is right next to a beautiful garden! But be prepared for the mosquitoes that even in the heat of the day insist on attacking: the repellent even in the pool is essential!

For more information on Home Hotel.

Original post in Portuguese.

About the author:

Buenos Aires: Home Hotel is a post from: www.kristraveler.com

This post was submitted by Camila Penteado Cilento.

A Guide to: Argentina

admin — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:20:43 +0000

I often get questions about Argentina, where to go, what to do, how many days in each place, and what are the things one should not miss in a trip to this wonderful country…The latest one was from a family friend that was traveling to Argentina for a 7-10days, and was in doubt if they should stay the whole week in Buenos Aires or what other places were worth visiting during their vacations in the South. Here were my recommendations:

Known for its tango, meat, soccer and few icons in arts & sports (Mercedes Sosa, Piazzolla, Maradona, to name a few), there are attractions for all types of tourists – from the party-all-the-time youngster to the socialite, or the outdoor hikers to the intelectual geek.

“Buenos Aires is indeed a wonderful city, but you can visit the best touristic points and more in about 3-4 days, so I would definitely recommend for you to do a side trip in the remaining days if you can. If you’re really tight in time, one option could be taking a boat or fly to Uruguay - Punta del Este is very popular for their beach and have lots of activities and events going on during summer (though it gets empty during the rest of the year), and you can get to see enough of Montevideo if you stay a day there before going to Punta. If you’re really interested in visiting Uruguay but don’t want to go all the way to Montevideo or Punta, I would suggest a day trip to Colonia, a small town right on the other side of the river from Buenos Aires, that you can go by boat (Buquebus does that trip) and get to know the town on foot in just a day, and you’ll get an idea of the country.

If you have a couple more days however, I would suggest going to the Patagonia instead. You can fly to San Carlos de Bariloche, that although it is famous for its ski resort area in winter time, is beautiful during summer time as well, as it is surrounded by lakes and mountains. If you’re interested in outdoor sports, they have options for hiking, horseback riding, golf among other, but also excellent places for dining and shopping. Apart from Bariloche, you can also do some side trips to Villa La Angostura, and San Martin de los Andes, both my favorite in Argentina. They are less popular than Bariloche, thus less ‘commercial’, which some people might prefer. This whole area is called Región de los Lagos (Lakes region), and you can drive from Bariloche to San Martin through the Seven Lakes – a longer but fun drive. A good website to learn about lodging, sports & attractions and general information for this region is: www.interpatagonia.com

Another option is the Wine country, where most of the famous wines (Malbec) from Argentina come from. The main city is Mendoza, very close to the Chilean border in the Andes, and where the mount Aconcagua is located. You can also fly to Mendoza from Buenos Aires, and do side trips from there, such as the wine route, for a tasting in the local wineries. It is also close to the best ski resort in the country, Las Leñas, though in spring/summer it’s also a great place to enjoy the outdoor. (More info on www.welcomeargentina.com/mendoza)

As for Buenos Aires, most guidebooks will probably already give some information on the most important places to visit in the city. The Casa Rosada, Avenida de Mayo (Avenue where the Casa Rosada is), Calle Florida (Florida Street, several shops, where you can buy high quality leather coats too), Boca (where Diego Maradona’s Boca Juniors soccer team’s stadium is located) and San Telmo neighborhoods I would say are the most popular ones and not to be missed.

Apart from those historical sites, the food and music in Argentina are excellent. A typical breakfast would include Medialunas de Manteca (their croissant), Empanadas (a stuffed pastry) for snack or appetizer, and some type of meat in the ‘Parrilla’ (= Grill) and potatoes (baked potato or any other type) for the main meals. The best cuts of meat in the menu are Lomo, Bife de Chorizo and Ojo de Bife. For the more adventurous, a very typical dish is the Parillada, a mix of sausages, blood sausages, kidneys and other ‘interesting’ items… You will probably notice some people in the streets carrying a thermo bottle – they drink Mate (local tea) the whole day, especially in winter, so they carry a big bottle and the Mate herb everywhere they go, especially when going to parks.

For music, the Tango is everywhere. There are some broadway-type shows that include dinner (Senor Tango, Cafe Tortoni or Viejo Almacen), that are a lot of fun, but you can also find the authentic Tango right in the streets, or in a Milonga (Tango Houses where the locals go to dance).If you’re looking for the real experience, I would recommend going to a Milonga to see the locals dancing and enjoying the music – most places also offer tango classes before they open the dance floors. La Viruta is a very popular and known one. You can find out about other ones with a quick search on the internet, but make sure to look for reviews or ask at your hotel about them to make sure you’re going to a good one…

Other favorite places include:

- Restaurants in Puerto Madero, overlooking the river (Cabaña Las Lilas, La Caballeriza and El Mirasol for good options – although the first two are a bit pricier – for Argentine meat, Aires de Patagonia for food from Patagonia). There’s also a Casino close to the main street, in a Mississippi house boat style, at the port, since gambling is not legal in the city.

- Restaurants, Coffee Houses and walking around the streets of Las Cañitas neighborhood, starting at the intersection of Baez and Arevalo streets. Argentines are also famous for their ice cream, and although Freddo is the most popular, the best in town according to the locals is Persicco – you can find a branch also in this neighborhood.

- Craft fair and flea market in San Telmo

- Walk around Palermo Viejo and Palermo Hollywood (one next to the other, new area with several design furniture stores and also good restaurants)

- Tango street dancers in Calle Florida, Recoleta (corner of Av. Quintana and Plaza Francia, this is also a very nice/fancy neighborhood), and in Caminito (touristic neighborhood, next to Boca, where the houses are all painted different colors)

Note to the wise:

- Take sneakers or low heels, as you’ll walk a lot! It is very easy to use public transportation (taxis are very cheap and subways are safe) and as the city is reasonably flat, it’s feasible to do most areas on foot.

- Calle Florida may seem great for shopping, though prices there are typically higher than in shopping centers or other areas in town. It’s only worth buying things there if you don’t have much time, as a lot of stores are concentrated in the same place. Beware of pick pocketing in this area as well, as in any crowded touristic place.

- Fake money in Buenos Aires is very common and unfortunately I was caught with at least one fake bill in my hands every time I’ve been there (costing me several hundred pesos!) as I didn’t know how to detect them. The locals will know how to identify them, being a tourist you’re more likely to end up with one and only to notice when you’re trying to pay something. Smaller currency houses (Casa de Cambio) may give you fake bills, so always look for a larger or a chain brand (i.e. Metropolis or Western Union; see the post I wrote about exchanging money), but the most common is through taxi drivers, who are known to give fake bills. Beyond giving back fake money as a change, a typical situation would be you wanting to pay for the trip with a $100 peso bill, and the driver makes a quick switch and returns the fake $100 saying your bill is not acceptable. To avoid being ripped off, learn how to identify the real bills, and also try to carry smaller bills in your wallet, especially to pay for cab rides.

A Guide to: Argentina is a post from: www.kristraveler.com