Guatemala 5415 (& Av. Juan B Justo), Palermo Hollywood

Out of the very few strict life rules that I subscribe to, the most important happens to be: “when in Buenos Aires, if a man gives you some delicious cookies for free, you must write about them on your blog”. My dear old grandmother used to say this when I was a child sat on her knee back in the mid-1980s. A magnificent woman, and clearly a technological visionary to boot. However, hard as she tried, she was unable to knock out of me this annoying tendency I have for making ridiculous things up.

And so, this post. Read on for more cookies and assorted photo silliness.

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Billinghurst 2163 (between Juncal & French), Barrio Norte / Recoleta

[Phone number: 4825-3050. Also has another location in Recoleta at Ayacucho 1208 - phone number : 4823-3900]

Maybe you’ve heard that sushi is one of the city’s culinary specialties, but in case no one told you: don’t leave Buenos Aires without indulging in an expertly-prepared sushi feast at one of the many great sushi restaurants in town. For a sushi restaurant that won’t put too much of a dent in your wallet, has a cozy atmosphere with incredibly attentive service, and serves up some of the best lobster, shrimp, and avocado rolls, head to Maki Sushi in Barrio Norte or Recoleta. It’s a great place to have a light meal before an evening of drinks and dancing with friends, or you could come here for a fun and casual date.

[Note from Alan: I'm especially glad that we have Rachel on board to do this sushi review, because I never would have been able to review any sushi bars in Buenos Aires, an important part of the dining scene here - I'm allergic to fish! :(]

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Chicken is a vegetable, right?

[Original photo credit: lonecellotheory]

In Buenos Aires, the land of steak, it’s gotta be hard for visiting vegetarians and vegans [I use the word 'visiting', because surely none of them were actually born here! ;)].

To make this point crystal clear, I have actually heard people ask for meat-free options in restaurants, only for the waiter to offer up dishes with ham or chicken in them, because, after all, they don’t include any carne (beef).

Most people here in Buenos Aires simply cannot comprehend a life without beef, and who could really blame them for this standpoint, when 1. meat is so damn good in Argentina, and 2. eating beef is so ingrained into daily porteno life. However, if you come to Buenos Aires as a vegetarian or vegan, there are still quite a few dining options available…

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Av. Lisandro de la Torre & Av. de los Corrales, Mataderos

All the fun of the gaucho fair

One of the best-kept secrets in Buenos Aires is the Feria de Mataderos, a weekly event that takes place during the fall, winter and spring months (approximately April to December) on Sundays, from about 11am and into the early evening (during January to March a cut-down version of the Mataderos fair is held on Saturdays nights, from 6pm). You may already know about the ferias in San Telmo or Recoleta, but if you want a real South American experience, come to Mataderos to see the gauchos (Argentine cowboys) and friends, who come from the countryside with their displays of horsemanship, handicrafts, live music, folk dancing, and delicious foods.

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Cochabamba 444 (between Defensa & Bolivar), San Telmo

Note from Alan: Taking inspiration from the fantastic team blogging efforts over at both Argentina’s Travel Guide and Expat Argentina, I recently decided to get some fresh blood on board to help with the creation of the Buenos Aires Argentina Guide. There are so many great places in Buenos Aires to review, and only one of me to do so… it would take years if I continued solo! If you think you have what it takes to be a contributer here, even if only for one ‘guest post’, please email me or leave a comment. Right now, I’d now like to cordially welcome our first new member of the team, Rachel Signer, whose bio you can find at the end of this article, and whose first post, about the Cochabamba 444 milonga in San Telmo, I hope you will now read with enjoyment…

An authentic milonga in San Telmo

For an authentic tango experience in Buenos Aires, you don’t necessarily need to go to one of those expensive places that offer Argentina Tango Shows aimed at tourists. Instead, head to Cochabamba 444, the San Telmo milonga where the city’s best tango dancers come to strut across the dance floor with people of all ages, walks of life, and nationalities. The bar is dimly lit by chandeliers with yellow bulbs, giving an aura of antiquity that takes you back to Buenos Aires in its Golden Age of high-society and sizzling tango bars. It’s located on a quiet street just three blocks from Plaza Dorrego, where the Sunday antiques fair is held.

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