After breakfast, we'll start our exploration of this incredible city. Buenos Aires is one of the most fascinating urban areas in both Latin America and the world. Be it for the splendid and varied architecture, with its old colonial buildings, French palaces and state‐of‐the‐art skyscrapers; for its vibrant nightlife and endless cultural options; or maybe just for the rich identity of the Porteños, who proudly bear the European heritage of their ancestors, visitors are always mesmerized by their stay in the city. We'll visit such iconic sites as Plaza de Mayo, the Presidential Palace, the Cabildo, and the Neoclassical‐styled Metropolitan Cathedral. In Retiro and Recoleta, we will learn about the dream of the local aristocrats in the late 19th centuries, when they sought to build a small‐scale Paris in the heart of Buenos Aires. After visiting the impressive Plaza San Martín we’ll stroll down Avenida Alvear, chosen by the world’s most distinguished brands to install their exclusive boutiques, looking up you can see the many wonderful French style palaces which nowadays house a number of embassies.
Then we’ll visit the Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar, one of the city’s oldest churches, which dates to the colonial era. Finally, we’ll admire the celebrated Recoleta Cemetery, a true labyrinth of ornate mausoleums. We’ll make a stop at Eva Peron’s grave, one of the country’s most recognizable icons. We’ll visit Puerto Madero, the latest addition to the city’s barrios. In 1991, its huge warehouses and silos where remodeled and redesigned, to finally integrate the river to the city and to create a new, residential, hotel and gastronomic district, which has become the playground for the Porteños and the international jet‐set.
Always interesting is a visit to San Telmo, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Buenos Aires. It used to be the residential district favored by the upper class until late 19th century, when a yellow fever epidemic caused the wealthier families to leave northwards. In the 1970s the area was revitalized when many artists and artisans came to San Telmo to install their workshops. Nowadays, thanks to its amazing architecture and hip atmosphere, this ancient neighborhood is blooming. We’ll walk its cobbled streets, where the city’s colonial past seems to come back to life, making a stop at Plaza Dorrego, best known for its traditional antiques fair, held every Sunday.
Leaving San Telmo behind, we’ll continue southwards to La Boca, one of the city’s most authentic and charming neighborhoods. It is a working-class district, heavily shaped by Italian immigrants who came to the country in large numbers during the last quarter of the 19th century. Here, we’ll make a special visit to the mythical Caminito Street, which sums up everything that gives La Boca its distinctive spirit: the strong passion for soccer, the heavy presence of art and color, and the Tango‐esque atmosphere. We'll have lunch at one of our favorite local hangouts...Bodegon El Obrero. Don’t let yourselves be fooled by the unsophisticated atmosphere –El Obrero is undisputedly one of Buenos Aires’ top steak houses, and that’s a lot to say for an all‐beef city like this. Far away from the fleeting gastronomic trends that periodically assail Buenos Aires, this superb establishment needs no other presentation than the quality of its products and the quiet magic of its grill.
Tonight, we have a very special treat for you, a progressive dinner at two of Buenos Aires most iconic establishments. We'll start at a typical regional restaurant for the empanadas and vino, then move to the best steak house in the city, La Cabrera. In a country of cows, La Cabrera was positioned as a cult grill, the best in the city. It is not a traditional grill, Gastón Riveira, its creator, defines it as "bien porteña". Each of the details of La Cabrera were thought out thoroughly. In La Cabrera you will find the best Argentine beef, excellent wines and a selection of side dishes, specially prepared for each dish and served in small casseroles. It is not a grill anymore; the intention is that both Argentines and tourists can live a unique experience. The porteños identify themselves, the foreigners are surprised.