Anyone who has traveled to Buenos Aires has undoubtedlybecome acquainted with all that it has to offer, ranging from the best wine, to intricate graffiti, to the never ending nightlife. The Porteño lifestyle has so much to offer, and can be overwhelming for foreigners who aren’t yet accustomed to the hustle and bustle of the city. Even after spending a semester in this incredible city, I still feel as if I didn’t have enough time to see and do all that it has to offer.
When it comes to food and drink, steak and Malbec are to Argentina as pasta is to Italy, or deep dish pizza is to Chicago. They are a staple of the Porteño lifestyle, and for good reason. Argentina boasts some of the most delicious steak in the world, and its specialty when it comes to wine is undoubtedly its Malbec. If you have time to venture out of the city, a weekend trip to Mendoza is a must do activity. Here, in Argentina’s picturesque wine region, you can sample some of the very best Malbec in the world amidst the backdrop of the beautiful Andes Mountains. If time is of the essence, there is certainly no shortage of restaurant opportunities in the city to satisfy your cravings. I’d recommend checking out La Cabrera if you’re looking for a place with a nice atmosphere and even better comida.
After a traditional dinner, why not check out a milonga where you can watch a performance of Argentina’s most famous type of dance, the tango. Tango was born in Argentina, and has a deeply rooted cultural significance. The term milonga refers to both an event where tango is danced, as well as the type of music that tango is danced too. Buenos Aires is home to a number of places where you can go watch a professional performance and be awed by the suave and sultry dancers (the men are certainly easy on the eyes!) If you’re in the mood to give it a shot yourself, there are also several bars and milongas that offer lessons for all skill levels. If you’re like me, be sure to ask for the “nivel principiante,” or beginner level.
If you’re looking to get out of the city for some adventure in the countryside, horseback riding in the beautiful pampas is a great option. Only an hour outside of Buenos Aires, you can find yourself in a charming estancia surrounded by traditional gaucho lifestyle. When my parents came to visit me, I took them to one of these charming estancias that goes by the name Los Dos Hermanos. Here, we spent the morning and afternoon riding through the scenic countryside, and were presented with a delicious “asado” in between. An asado is a traditional barbeque that typically consists of some of the aforementioned famous steak, along with homemade empanadas and, of course, wine. There’s no better way to end your stay at an estancia like Los Dos Hermanos than to lounge in the hammocks that overlook the rolling planes, glass of Malbec in hand.
