From polo at the belle epoque Hipodromo Argentino de Palermo to learning to tango, we discover 8 great reasons to visit beautiful Buenos Aries.
#1
Polo in High Society style
Polo is to Argentina what AFL is to Australia except on a much more elite scale. To honour Argentina’s obsession with horses and polo, catch an early evening race in summer at the belle epoque Hipodromo Argentino de Palermo near the centre of town in Buenos Aries. If your trip coincides with mid-November to December, attend the annual Argentine Open Polo Championship with Buenos Aires high society.
#2
Best Beef/Malbec combo
The logical authentic Buenos Aires dining choice is beef as Argentina produces the finest in the world. And there is no more fitting red wine to accompany red meat than a sticky Malbec, an Argentine wine somewhere between a Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, the best of which are produced in the vineyards of Mendoza. Cut your tender meat with a spoon, sip a Malbec and breathe in the authentic soul of Buenos Aires.
#3
Revive the Evita Myth
We all can still clearly envision the beautiful Eva Peron delivering inspirational speeches while waving from a balcony of the presidential palace in the Plaza de Mayo. Today, the Evita myth remains as strong as ever in Buenos Aires. The First Lady of Argentina, the beloved Eva ‘Evita’ Peron, rests eternally in the Recoleta Cemetery. Opened in 1822 the cemetery has 60,000 square metres of individual grand mausoleums each with uniquely different architectural styles and dedications. All of Buenos Aries’ most illustrious names – presidents, political giants, scientists, artists – are buried here. Walk through the rows of venerated tombs carefully maintained, and feel the ghosts of the city surround you.
#4
Learn to tango
In this city it’s sacrilegious not to attempt the tango and The Confiteria La Ideal is the most authentic place to take lessons. This bastion of belle epoque grandeur and old-school Thonet furniture, La Ideal opened to glory in 1912 and retains most of its grace and charm today. There are tango lessons on week nights and there is milonga on Saturday nights. This is where you come to watch the older local tango dancers strut their stuff. Another great venue for milonga is La Viruta in Palermo.
#5
Study Contemporary Latin American Art
Boasting rave local and foreign reviews, MALBA is the pick for the best museum in the city. The creation of Eduardo Constantini, one of the biggest collectors of contemporary Latin American art in the world, Malba displays works by Frida Kahlo, Antonio Berni, Tarsila do Amaral, Diego Rivera and other notable 20th century artists with new exhibitions and events incessantly. The museum seamlessly blends paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs and installations from Argentina, Mexico and the Caribbean in its avant-garde building.
#6
Check Out the Neighbourhoods
A city of barrios (neighbourhoods), each section of Buenos Aries is entirely unique. Recoleta is the most world-renowned and affluent suburb with its broad tree-lined boulevards with French classicism architecture where the rich eat, shop and live. Palermo, consisting of Viejo, Chico, Hollywood and Soho, is the most vibrant district with an expanding abundance of cafes, bars and restaurants as well as designers and boutique hotels. La Boca’s working class district is famous for its Juniors Football Club (where Diego Maradona started out) and its brightly coloured corrugated iron houses of Caminito. San Telmo, the oldest section of town, is the tango barrio of the city and its flea market in Plaza Dorrego is now a Sunday morning stable. The newest part of the city, the docklands of Puerto Madero, is developing quickly and worth a visit to see the direction of modern Buenos Aires.
#7
Easy Access Uruguay Day Trip
From the Buenos Aires docklands of Puerto Madero, catch a two-hour ferry to Uruguay for a day trip to Punta del Este. A destination for South America’s most glamorous crowd since the 1950s, Punta del Este draws comparisons to the Hamptons, but has a laidback spirit that is uniquely Uruguayan. If you stay in Punta del Este for the weekend, try Hotel Fasano Las Piedras, the Fasano family’s first venture outside Brazil. The resort’s luxurious private bungalows, villas and larger Estancias blend harmoniously between the green plains and River Maldonado. From the decks enjoy sweeping views of the 1000-plus acre estate, all the way to the beachfront that rises in the distance.
#8
Catch a show
With a plethora of nightly tango shows throughout Buenos Aries, it is difficult to choose only one. The El Cabaret at the Faena Hotel & Universe Hotel hosts the most intimate and glamourous cabaret show in town at its opulently draped room rich in red velvet, gold leaf and dark leather dimly lit by chandeliers. Dinner, drinks and show are included in the admission price. Other great tango shows include Esquina Carlos Gardel, La Ventura and Cafe Tortoni.
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